Watchman for Jehovah's Witnesses

The Long War Leading to the Abyss

2006-12-01T10:11:00.000-05:00

Shortly after 9-11 the United States military invaded Afghanistan – launching what has been billed as “The Long War.” It is dubbed “The Long War” because military planners envision their “war on terror” lasting decades and involving numerous theaters of operation and dozens of countries. It is apparent that The Long War planners are following the plan. A few months into 2002 the Anglo-American coalition invaded Iraq and has now been embroiled in that war longer than the US forces fought in the Second World War – with no end in sight. A long war indeed! But what’s next? Where is the Long War leading?

Go to e-watchman.co.uk

THE WRITING ON THE WALL

2006-11-19T01:49:00.000-05:00

The evidence is mounting daily: the present system cannot go on indefinitely. The signs are everywhere. It may not end tomorrow or the day after, but we may soon expect this world to be weighed in the balances and to see appear the enigmatic WRITING ON THE WALL!

Last week scientists released a shocking report stating that unless over-fishing ceases, in less than 50 years time the world’s vast oceans will be virtually devoid of fish.

Also The UN and World Bank released reports last week warning of dire consequences to the world’s economy if global warming trends are not reversed.

In what has been termed a “silent pandemic,” a report released this week claims that a toxic soup of environmental chemicals has damaged the brains of millions of children and has contributed to the alarming rise in autism and other developmental disorders in children.

A report released yesterday by the International Energy Agency think tank warns of ‘one crisis after’ another unless something is done to switch from fossil fuel energy production to alternatives.

Of course, the creeping challenges posed by over-fishing, pollution, environmental collapse, energy failures and melting sea ice from global warming are not immediate. There are other more pressing problems confronting civilization. The most urgent of which is the looming threat of world war and global financial collapse.

To read the rest of this blog go to e-watchman.co.uk

Threat to peace and security

2006-10-15T07:47:00.000-04:00

The preparations for World War Three continue unabated.

With the reported underground detonation of a nuclear device on Monday, North Korea became the 9th nation to join the nuclear club, and in so doing has jolted the international community.
The significance of this development in terms of Bible prophecy may be in the official response of numerous entities. For instance, in an emergency session the United Nations Security Counsel swiftly condemned North Korea for what it described as “a clear threat to international peace and security.”

President Bush seconded the U.N.’s condemnation, saying in an official statement: "Such a claim (to have detonated a nuclear test) itself constitutes a threat to international peace and security. The United States condemns this provocative act."

Germany’s foreign minister declared that North Korea was a threat to the world’s peace and security.

A press release from the NATO alliance website states: “This test poses an extremely serious threat to peace and security in the Pacific region and the world.”

the remainder of this article may be read on http://e-watchman.co.uk

PESTILENCE ON THE WING

2006-03-18T11:38:00.000-05:00

Given that the Avian Flu is emerging simultaneously with the growing threat of nuclear war and global financial collapse, the Watchtower’s silence on the significance of these matters is truly baffling. Although boasting of being Jehovah’s sole watchman, the Society has come to resemble the slumbering watchmen of Isaiah 56:10, of whom it is said: “His watchmen are blind. None of them have taken note. All of them are speechless dogs; they are not able to bark, panting, lying down, loving to slumber.”

To read more go to http://e-watchman.co.uk

APOCALYPSE NOW!

2006-02-24T10:48:00.000-05:00

As incredible and ridiculous as it may seem to the uninformed, Jehovah’s Witnesses actually believe and teach that the seals of Revelation were unsealed in 1914-1919 and the awesome apocalypse has since then taken place. Whether explicitly or merely implied, the Watchtower teaches that the sacred secret of God has already been unveiled. It is also implied that Jehovah has disclosed his sacred secrets to the initiates of the Watchtower Society, who have in turn have enlightened a great crowd to the fact that Christ has been invisibly present since 1914. The basis for the Watchtower’s eschatology is founded primarily upon a crude algebraic formula and chronologic calculations.

To read more go to http://www.e-watchman.co.uk

The Secret Society of Lucifer

2006-02-12T02:36:00.000-05:00

Is there such a thing as the occultic Illuminati conspiring to subjugate the world ? What have Jehovah's Witnesses been taught regarding secret societies?

Please see the new e-watchman blog at http://www.e-watchman.co.uk/

What will 2006 bring?

2006-01-01T09:47:00.000-05:00

2005 passed uneventfully – at least from the standpoint of the Apocalypse. But what will the coming year bring?

One financial writer mulls the question of why "it" – referring to a financial collapse – hasn't happened yet and why the likelihood of "it" happening in 2006 is greater than ever.

Perhaps the most significant development of the past year, or at least that is becoming more and more apparent, is that the United States has already traveled far down the road towards becoming a Nazi-like dictatorial police state.

Actually, the Nazification of America has been taking place for many years. But because it is implemented gradually the vast majority of the population remains oblivious to what is taking place.

Not only has the government of the United States been forced to admit that it routinely tortures suspected terrorists and illegally kidnaps and detains suspects in numerous so-called "black sites" scattered around the former Soviet Union, but President Bush even admitted to authorizing illegal wiretaps and email surveillance of American citizens. Worse, it has since come to light that the spying operation is much broader than even the president has admitted. President Bush is said to be the first president to ever have publicly admitted to an impeachable offense.

More disconcerting than the gradual erosion of freedom in the United States and the creeping police-state measures that are becoming more and more commonplace, is that the Anglo-American-Zionist triad is evidently planning to launch new wars against Syria and Iran utilizing the shock and awe of nuclear weapons—and this in the very near future.

Al Jazzera, the Arabic news agency that has been banned from reporting in Iraq in the interest of spreading freedom and democracy, has reported that Israel is intent on launching an attack on Iran by March of 2006. The British Sunday Times carried same story. Der Spiegel also reported a similar story. Iran has warned Israel to beware of a "crushing response" to any attack.

Al Jazzera also reported that the US is holding talks with its European allies preparing them for an inevitable attack on Iran. Meanwhile, Russia is dusting off its nuclear arsenal and stoking fears of a dangerous new arms race – as if the thousands of nuclear weapons the US and Russia already possess were not enough.

But besides the swirling rumors of war, the later part of 2005 was dominated by growing fears of a bird flu pandemic. (BBC published the year-in-review developments of the bird flu.) Although the virus has not yet developed the ability to pass from person to person – only from bird to person – subtle genetic mutations are taking place within the virus that is making a pandemic more likely.

With such ominous storm clouds looming on the horizon, how timely the admonition of Christ: Stay on the watch!

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Revelation of Christ and the Judgment

2005-12-22T05:27:00.000-05:00

The following blog is an excerpt from the Revelation chapter of the book Jehovah Himself Has Become King. It is available as a free e-book and a-book.

The opening words of Revelation locate the events of the apocalypse as taking place during “the Lord’s day.” That is why John states: "by inspiration I came to be in the Lord's day." The Lord’s day is the future revelation of Jesus, as Paul indicated when he wrote: "While you are eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also make you firm to the end, that you may be open to no accusation in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into a sharing with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." (I Corinthians 1:7-9)

The dramatic unsealing of each of the seven seals of the sacred scroll of Revelation sets in motion irreversible events. The significance of the opening of the first six seals is fairly well understood and there is no need to further discuss those aspects of the prophecy here. (The timing of events to 1914 is another matter.) However, what about the opening of the final seal—the seventh seal? What might those apocalyptic symbolisms betoken? The opening of the last seal takes place immediately after the sealing of the remaining 144,000 has been accomplished. Revelation 8:1-4 reads:

“And when he opened the seventh seal, a silence occurred in heaven for about a half hour. And I saw the seven angels that stand before God, and seven trumpets were given them. And another angel arrived and stood at the altar, having a golden incense vessel; and a large quantity of incense was given him to offer it with the prayers of all the holy ones upon the golden altar that was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense ascended from the hand of the angel with the prayers of the holy ones before God.”

It seems appropriate that after the final sealing is accomplished, the prayers of the sealed holy ones should ascend like perfumed incense before God. The Watchtower teaches the seventh seal was unsealed in 1919—or thereabouts. The Grand Climax commentary on Revelation quotes from a Watchtower published in 1919 that comments:

“We believe it is now a true saying that the harvest of the kingdom class is an accomplished fact, that all such are duly sealed and that the door is closed.’ During this difficult period, the fervent prayers of the John class were ascending, as though in the smoke of a large quantity of incense. And their prayers were being heard!”

But, obviously, the sealing was not accomplished in 1919. Neither was the door closed back then. That is evident from the simple fact that virtually every anointed Christian living today was anointed after 1919. Therefore, the opening of the seventh seal could not possibly have taken place back then. But, what do Jehovah’s Witnesses believe the opening of the seventh seal signifies? For example, the opening of the seventh seal results in seven angelic trumpet blasts. The Watchtower has long taught that the blowing of the seven symbolic trumpets occurred back in the 1920’s and was evidenced by specific convention resolutions, which were then mass distributed in the form of tracts and pamphlets as judgment messages against Christendom and the world. For instance, the Grand Climax book states concerning the blowing of the seventh trumpet:

“The trumpet blast of the seventh angel was reflected in highlights of the Bible Students’ convention in Detroit, Michigan, July 30-August 6, 1928. At that time 107 broadcasting stations were tied in to what The New York Times described as ‘the most extensive and expensive radio hook-up in history.’ The convention enthusiastically adopted a powerful “Declaration Against Satan and for Jehovah,” pointing to the overthrow, at Armageddon, of Satan and his evil organization and the emancipation of all who love righteousness. Loyal subjects of God’s Kingdom were delighted to receive a convention release, the 368-page book Government. This supplied the clearest of proofs “that God set his Anointed King upon his throne in 1914.”

As important as the broadcast may have seemed in 1928, needless to say the Watchtower’s proclamations against the world 80 years ago are completely irrelevant today. Those who may have happened to hear Judge Rutherford’s radio broadcast back then are either long-since deceased or were mere children when the supposed angelic proclamations were issued.
The larger question to consider is whether it is even sensible and Scriptural that something as profound as the apocalypse of Jehovah’s judgments could be so easily ignored and forgotten? After all, the 368-page book, Government, which was supposedly the by-product of the “trumpet blast of the seventh angel,” is nothing more than a curious relic of the Rutherford era that now lies moldering on kingdom hall library shelves and is sold on the electronic flea market, EBay, to collectors of Watchtower memorabilia.

It is doubtful that anyone outside of Jehovah’s Witnesses is even aware that the angels have supposedly put Christendom and the world on notice. Even many of Jehovah’s Witnesses privately express skepticism about the Society’s strange interpretations of the meaning of the seven trumpets. Besides, it would seem reasonable that the opening of the seventh seal and the blowing of the seven trumpets signal the actual judgments of God. Surely, they are not mere denunciations and more advance warnings of coming judgments in future generations.

“AND WHEN HE OPENED THE SEVENTH SEAL”

After the opening of the sixth seal, the vision depicts four angels standing upon the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of destruction. And the angels are commanded: “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until after we have sealed the slaves of our God in their foreheads.” Next, after the sealing has taken place, the seventh and final seal is broken. The unsealing of the last seal reveals seven angels blowing upon trumpets to begin God’s awesome judgments. The blowing of the first trumpet initiates the destruction of a substantial portion of the earth, sea, and trees. Hence, we read: “And the first one blew his trumpet. And there occurred a hail and fire mingled with blood, and it was hurled to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees was burned up, and all the green vegetation was burned up.” (Revelation 8:7)

In order to decipher this part of Revelation it is necessary to consult the Hebrew prophecy of Zechariah. Zechariah 13:7 says: “O sword, awake against my shepherd, even against the able-bodied man who is my associate,” is the utterance of Jehovah of armies. “Strike the shepherd, and let those of the flock be scattered; and I shall certainly turn my hand back upon those who are insignificant.”

The prophecy of Zechariah was initially fulfilled when the good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, was struck by the executioner’s sword and the apostles were all momentarily scattered. Nevertheless, the prophecy has an application to God’s judgments during the Lord’s day. That should be plainly evident by the context of the following 14th chapter of Zechariah, which describes Armageddon as immediately subsequent to the scattering of the flock. To what degree is the flock scattered? Jehovah answers at Zechariah 13:8-9, saying:

'“And it must occur in all the land,’ is the utterance of Jehovah, ‘that two parts in it are what will be cut off and expire; and as for the third part, it will be left remaining in it. And I shall certainly bring the third part through the fire; and I shall actually refine them as in the refining of silver, and examine them as in the examining of gold. It, for its part, will call upon my name, and I, for my part, will answer it. I will say, ‘It is my people,’ and it, in its turn, will say, ‘Jehovah is my God.’”

Realizing that the prophecy of Zechariah was written after the Jews had returned from exile in Babylon, it becomes apparent that the destruction of Jerusalem applies to Christ’s congregation, also designated as Zion. The two parts that are destined to be “cut off and expire” pertain to God’s organization—his land. Not coincidently, the expression “in all the land” may also be translated “the earth.” So, it appears as if “a third of the earth” that “was burned up” upon the blowing of the first trumpet corresponds to the third part of God’s earthly organization that is to be burned—as with fire.

What might the “trees” represent, a third of which are also “burned up”? Again, Zechariah 11:1 provides the chilling answer, saying: “Open up your doors, O Lebanon, that a fire may devour among your cedars. Howl, O juniper tree, for the cedar has fallen; because the majestic ones themselves have been despoiled! Howl, you massive trees of Bashan, for the impenetrable forest has come down! Listen! The howling of shepherds, for their majesty has been despoiled. Listen! The roaring of maned young lions, for the proud thickets along the Jordan have been despoiled.”

Since, as mentioned, Zechariah was written after Jerusalem was originally destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, the symbolic trees represent the men of stature in the Christian congregation. That is why the prophet depicts “the howling of shepherds”—the majestic ones—in connection with the symbolic congregational forest going down. But, Zechariah foretells that two-thirds of God’s nation will be destroyed, not merely one third—as does Revelation. The denunciation continues:

“And the second angel blew his trumpet: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was hurled into the sea. And a third of the sea became blood; and a third of the creatures that are in the sea which have souls died, and a third of the boats were wrecked.”

“The great mountain burning with fire” that is “hurled into the sea” likely symbolizes that which is associated with the mountain-like kingdom of God, as it becomes subjected to God’s burning anger. Jeremiah penned a lamentation portending Jehovah’s coming judgments upon Mount Zion, saying: “Jehovah has accomplished his rage. He has poured out his burning anger. And he sets a fire ablaze in Zion, which eats up her foundations.” (Lamentations 4:11)

The vision of Ezekiel also symbolizes a similar fiery destruction of God’s temple and city. After describing the marking of those who were sighing and groaning over all of the detestable things being done, Ezekiel 10:2 says: “And he proceeded to say to the man clothed with the linen, even to say: ‘Enter in between the wheelwork, in under the cherubs, and fill the hollows of both your hands with coals of fire from between the cherubs and toss them over the city.’”

The denunciation against Israel in the 2nd chapter of Isaiah is quite similar to the judgments connected to the blowing of the first two trumpets. For example, the prophecy calls for all mountain-like institutions and massive treelike personalities, as well as “all desirable boats,” to be brought low before Jehovah’s “splendid superiority.” Isaiah 2:10-16 reads:

“Enter into the rock and hide yourself in the dust because of the dreadfulness of Jehovah, and from his splendid superiority. The haughty eyes of earthling man must become low, and the loftiness of men must bow down; and Jehovah alone must be put on high in that day. For it is the day belonging to Jehovah of armies. It is upon everyone self-exalted and lofty and upon everyone lifted up or low; and upon all the cedars of Lebanon that are lofty and lifted up and upon all the massive trees of Bashan; and upon all the lofty mountains and upon all the hills that are lifted up; and upon every high tower and upon every fortified wall; and upon all the ships of Tarshish and upon all desirable boats. And the haughtiness of the earthling man must bow down, and the loftiness of men must become low; and Jehovah alone must be put on high in that day.”

As was the case with God’s dealings with apostate Israel and Judah, God did not simply remove wicked men from his holy mountain, he destroyed the entire kingdom and demolished his own temple as an expression of his indignation and rage—bringing down “every high tower”—as Isaiah says. So, when the house of God comes under divine judgment, that which is condemned by God will be completely and utterly thrown down. The denunciation continues:

“And the third angel blew his trumpet: And a great star burning as a lamp fell from heaven, and it fell upon a third of the rivers and upon the fountains of waters. And the name of the star is called Wormwood. And a third of the waters turned into wormwood, and many of the men died from the waters, because these had been made bitter.”

“The great star burning as a lamp,” which falls from heaven, polluting the rivers and fountains of waters, turning them to wormwood; causing many men to perish; similarly would seem to picture the lamp of the congregation—or what had been looked to as a lamp—as a lighted city on a hill. For example, Jesus told the congregation in Ephesus: “Therefore remember from what you have fallen, and repent and do the former deeds. If you do not, I am coming to you, and I will remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.” The implication is that if Christians did not repent, their light would be removed. There would be dire consequences indeed for all those dependent upon the light that was snuffed out. Elsewhere, Jesus exhorted his disciples to walk while they had the light before them, because the night was coming.

To read more go to Jehovah Himself Has Become King.

The Future New World Order

2005-12-13T05:31:00.000-05:00

Continued from part one—

What happened to the New World Order?

From a political perspective the new world order is synonymous with world government. Its human architects and original visionaries have typically been associated with the British Empire and the scheme is to use the United Nations as the administrative capitol of a yet-to-be created world government. Obviously, the new world order, which President Bush spoke about in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union and the resurgence of the UN, did not bring about world government.

As the Watchtower has pointed out on occasion, a genuine world government must have supranational powers—that is, it must posses powers that supersede that of any and all individual nations. At present the United Nations does not possess supranational authority over the nations. However, the ultimate goal of the new world order visionaries is the abolition of the nation-state system and the submersion of individual national sovereignties. The question is, will that actually come about? What does the Bible say about it, if anything?

According to Revelation 17:12-13, there will ultimately be a world government—a new world order. This will come about when the nations of the earth—represented by the ten horns of the scarlet-colored wild beast—forfeit their sovereign authority to the wild beast for a symbolic one hour. Revelation says: “And the ten horns that you saw mean ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom, but they do receive authority as kings one hour with the wild beast. These have one thought, and so they give their power and authority to the wild beast.”

The scarlet-colored beast is itself an eighth king that springs from the seven; which Jehovah’s Witnesses believe was originally the now-defunct League of Nations, and that, presently, the United Nations is the 8th king of prophecy. But if that is true, in what way have all the kings of the earth given their authority and power to those agencies? (The United States wasn’t even a member of the League of Nations.)

One of the most common criticisms of the United Nations is that it does not possess sufficient authority to override national interests. In fact, the Watchtower also seems to agree that uncooperative nations are one of the main reasons the UN has thus far failed to bring peace and security. Here is a quote from the October 1st Watchtower, 1995, which was written to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations:

“As powerful as the United Nations may appear to be, its efforts are often thwarted by politics and the media. The United Nations is powerless if it lacks the support of its members. But without the public’s approval, many UN members will not support the United Nations.”

On the one hand, the Bible says that the kings of the earth will unreservedly give their power and authority to a wild beast-like supranational king in order that the word of God might be accomplished, which the Watchtower insists has already occurred. But conversely, the Watchtower Society is forced to acknowledge the reality that the United Nations does not have the power and authority necessary to over-ride national interests.

When it is pointed out to them, clear-thinking Jehovah’s Witnesses ought to recognize this glaring contradiction.

The implications of the Watchtower’s failure to correctly interpret the prophecy of Revelation (and numerous other prophecies) are hard to under-estimate. Needless to say, shocking events are destined to transpire. Contrary to the Watchtower’s assumption that the new world order has disintegrated, the transferal of power and authority from the ten kings to the eighth king is something that has not occurred yet. The implications are that the rise of the eighth king will mean the end of the nation-state democratic system of things, and with it the constitutional protections that Jehovah’s Witnesses have heretofore enjoyed in many lands. It means that the new world order will be the successful imposition of a totalitarian world government. And indeed, numerous Hebrew prophecies foretell the emergence of a final king variously referred to as “the depot of the nations,” and “a king fierce in countenance.”

For a more detailed discussion of the new world order and its impact, see the following e-watchman essays:

The Ultimate Final Solution

A King of Fierce Countenance

The Dawning of a New World Order

The Last Hour and the Eighth King

See also—Jehovah Himself Has Become King

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What Happened to the New World Order?

2005-12-11T02:35:00.000-05:00

There was a time in the early 1990’s when the Watchtower seemed to have quite a bit to say about the so-called new world order. Although not really offering any substantive definition of what exactly the new world order is all about, at least the Watchtower raised awareness of the concept and the ongoing drive to create a new world order in opposition to God’s kingdom.

Although the term itself has been used for many decades, it was in the context of the break up of the Soviet Union and the run-up to the UN-sanctioned Desert Storm military operation that George H. Bush publicly spoke of the “new world order.”

The Society cited Bush’s remarks in the June 1st, 1991, issue of the Watchtower:

“For the first time since World War II the international community is united. The leadership of the United Nations, once only a hoped-for ideal, is now confirming its founders’ vision. . . . The world can therefore seize this opportunity to fulfill the long-held promise of a new world order.”—President Bush of the United States in his State of the Union message to that nation, January 29, 1991

The following month the July 15th issue of the Watchtower made 10 references to the “new world order.” Suddenly, though, in 1996 the Society dropped all mention of a new world order in both the Watchtower and AWAKE magazines. Not only that, but the much more prevalent term—“new order”— was also dropped from Bethel’s publications that same year.

This is especially odd since the new order is understood by Jehovah’s Witnesses to mean the new world of God’s making; and in fact, the original Greek used the expression “order of things” in reference to the present system of things—as it is translated by the NWT. Nevertheless, for the past decade the Society has not mentioned the “new world order” or “new order.” It appears as if there is a determined effort to remove the terms from Jehovah’s Witnesses theocratic lexicon. But why? Is it because the political new world order has become irrelevant? If it is to alleviate confusion between the political new world order and the biblical new order why drop all mention of either?

Curiously, the Society’s last mention of the new world order appeared in the July 22nd AWAKE, in an article entitled “The New World Order Off to a Shaky Start.” With that article the Society essentially declared that the new world order was dead. Specifically, the article stated: “The United Nations, as Boutros Boutros-Ghali, its secretary-general, recently said in its defense, has scored many triumphs. But it has not succeeded in fulfilling its charter purpose, namely “to maintain international peace and security.” Often its troops have tried to maintain peace in places where there was no peace to maintain. As of 1995, it had failed to breathe life into a shaky new world order. ..In view of the political, economic, and religious instability that caused their vision of a new world order to disintegrate before their very eyes, some people began speaking of a new world disorder. In this development Jehovah’s Witnesses saw further proof that only a new world of God’s making will enjoy stability in human society.”

While it is true that no political system will be able to accomplish what only God’s kingdom can, is it in accord with the facts that the new world order has disintegrated? To better appreciate the answer to that question we might ask—just what, exactly, is the new world order anyway?

To be continued…

World war watch update

2005-12-06T12:13:00.000-05:00

“And it performs great signs, so that it should even make fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the sight of mankind.” –Revelation 13:13

In order to coerce mankind into worshipping the image of the beast the two-horned beast (Anglo-American dual world power) performs great signs and even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the sight of mankind. What might this entail?

Of course, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been led to believe that the 13th chapter of Revelation has already been fulfilled. Here is what the Watchtower had to say in their most recent Revelation commentary: “This two-horned wild beast performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven. This latter sign reminds us of Elijah, the ancient prophet of God who engaged in a contest with the prophets of Baal. When he successfully called down fire from heaven in the name of Jehovah, it proved beyond doubt that he was a true prophet and that the Baal prophets were false. Like those Baal prophets, the two-horned wild beast feels that it has adequate credentials as a prophet. Why, it claims to have vanquished the forces of evil in two world wars, and now it stands firm against so-called godless communism! Many, indeed, view the modern counterpart of the two-horned wild beast as a guardian of liberty and a font of material good things.”

That is it. That is the extent of the Society’s "explanation."

So, how has the beast conjured fire from heaven? Read the above quotation again if you must, but the answer is the Watchtower has no comment. They merely wish to give the impression of having adequately explained the verse in question without having done any such thing. And regrettably Jehovah’s Witnesses are oblivious to the Society’s clever sleight-of-hand method of Bible interpretation.

It is true that WWII ended with the horrific, first and only detonation of nuclear devices during wartime; but the Society does not even point to that as a possible fulfillment of the Apocalypse. Instead they point to the mere fact that the United States is a powerful and wealthy nation. But are we really supposed to believe that mankind has already witnessed the beast performing great signs and conjuring fire from heaven in the form of American consumerism and democracy? It is not sensible.

The fact is, the Watchtower Society applies virtually all Bible prophecy to the past 20th century; meanwhile, the United States and other nations are quietly preparing to for yet another world war.

As of the first week of December, 2005, the US Strategic Command’s Global Strike initiative is fully operational. Under Stratcom Global Strike has successfully integrated all elements of the US military, including a preemptive nuclear strike force, in order to rapidly attack any nation on earth that is deemed to be a threat to American security. The US now stands poised to unleash a terrifying form of warfare the world has never before experienced.

The recent military operation called Exercise Global Lightning may well be a rehearsal for making fire fall from heaven—quite literally.

"The pestilence causing adversities"

2005-12-04T04:03:00.000-05:00

According to the WT's interpretation of the 91st Psalm " the pestilence causing adversities" is nationalism. Quoting from their stable of British imperialists/historians the November 15th, 2001, Watchtower states: "The psalmist cites the pestilence causing adversities. Like a contagious epidemic disease, there is something that causes “adversities” for the human family and for upholders of Jehovah’s sovereignty. In this regard, historian Arnold Toynbee wrote: “Since the end of World War II nationalism has doubled the number of local sovereign independent states . . . Mankind’s present mood is increasingly divisive.”

So, according to the Watchtower Jehovah’s Witnesses are immune to the “pestilence causing adversities” simply because Jehovahs Witnesses are not nationalistic. But is that an accurate interpretation of the 91st Psalm? To determine that consider verses 5-8: "You will not be afraid of anything dreadful by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in the gloom, nor of the destruction that despoils at midday. A thousand will fall at your very side and ten thousand at your right hand; to you it will not come near. Only with your eyes will you look on and see the retribution itself of the wicked ones."

Again, the Watchtower teaches that the Psalm applies in some spiritual way; that God’s retribution is being expressed right now upon people who are no longer associated with the congregation as Jehovah’s Witnesses. According to the Watchtower all who leave the organization, for whatever reason, have experienced a spiritual death at God’s hand! The same article as cited above states: “Because of failing to make Jehovah their refuge, many “fall” in spiritual death at our “very side.” In effect, “ten thousand” have fallen at the “right hand” of today’s spiritual Israelites. (Galatians 6:16) But whether we are anointed Christians or their dedicated companions, we are secure in God’s “secret place.” We merely ‘look on and see the retribution of the wicked,’ who are reaping trouble in commercial, religious, and other ways.”

The Society’s teaching is actually blasphemous. It makes Jehovah out to be a vindictive hit man who smites individuals who may merely have been stumbled by the misdeeds of others. In reality, Jesus said his Father makes the sun shine upon both wicked and good and makes it rain upon righteous and unrighteous.

The day of “retribution” the Psalm speaks about is judgment day. Judgment day involves war between the nations. God allows it to happen but he himself does not cause it. Jehovah promises to be a refuge for any and all who seek him during that time. No doubt the plague and pestilence that cause ten thousands to fall are very real—not symbolic.

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More pandemic planning

The new heavens created in 1914?

2005-11-15T10:47:00.000-05:00

1914

1914

1914

It is hard to over-estimate the importance the Watchtower Society attaches to 1914. Virtually all prophecy, excepting the actual war of Armageddon, has been attributed to the period of 1914-1919. At one time the Society even taught that the great tribulation began in 1914 but that it was cut short. Even now, besides teaching that Satan was thrown down from heaven and the kingdom of God began ruling in that year, the Society also asserts that Babylon the Great fell in 1918-19 and that Jesus came to his Father’s spiritual temple and cleaned house and gave the Watchtower Society his unequivocal approval.

Not only that, but most of Jehovah’s Witnesses might be astonished to know that the Watchtower even teaches that the new system went into operation in 1914! Incredible, but true.

The so-called new system is depicted in prophecy as a new heavens and new earth. The new heavens symbolize the new government God will set up in heaven, otherwise known as the kingdom of God. It will replace the old heavens--the demonic overlords presently ruling the world. The new earth symbolizes a righteous new society on earth. And according to the Watchtower the new heavens and new earth were created in 1914 and 1919. Incredible, but true.

The August 1st, 1960, Watchtower states: “Has this promised planting of the “new heavens” taken place? Indeed it has! It was A.D. 1914, as this journal has often explained, when Jehovah empowered his Son to rule as King, giving him “dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses are generally aware of the fact that there are four places in the Bible that foretell a new heavens and new earth. Two places in Isaiah, one in 2nd Peter the third chapter and in the opening verse of the 21st chapter of Revelation. In all four places the new heavens and new earth come about after the old heavens and old earth are done away with. In Isaiah the new heaven and new earth were created after the Jews returned from exile in Babylon. The old heavens and earth was the corrupt Jewish system. Undeniably the new heavens and new earth came about after the remnant of Jews were released from Babylon.

Similarly, 2nd Peter and Revelation depict the new heavens and earth coming into being after the old heavens and earth are destroyed. However, if the Society’s view is correct, that the new heavens and earth were established in 1914 and 1919 respectively, then we would also have to conclude that the world ended in 1914!

In accord with the established pattern of prophecy, the destruction of the present heavens and earth would include the elimination of the corrupt element among God’s organization. The implementation of a new heavens and new earth would logically take place after Jehovah sells spiritual Israel into captivity to Babylon the Great. The ultimate creation of the new heavens and new earth will be characterized, among other things, by the absence of the hierarchal institution known as the Watchtower--which corresponds with the old Jerusalem prior to Nebuchadnezzar‘s invasion. In its place must stand the actual kingdom of God--the New Jerusalem--coming down out of heaven.

Of course, the Watchtower also points forward to a future time of fulfillment for the creation of a new heavens and new earth, but that is merely in keeping with the Society's penchant for practicing what Jehovah referred to as "double-faced divination." In other words the Watchtower divines the prophetic word so as to conveniently suit its own purposes, as it sees fit.

On the one hand the notion that the new heavens and earth were estalished in 1914-1918 has been vigorously promoted over the years in order to embellish the role of the Watchtower Society as being the permanently appointed faithful slave. But, the very same prophcies are also applied to a future creation of the new heavens and new earth.

The envelopment that is enveloping

2005-11-08T07:18:00.000-05:00

For decades the Watchtower has boasted that Jehovah’s Witnesses have been set free from spiritual captivity to the modern Babylon the Great—the world-wide system of false religion—with Christendom as the main component. Typical of such boastfulness, the March 1st, 2001, Watchtower says on page 16:

"After liberating his people from Babylon the Great in 1919, he [Jehovah] set before them a victory banquet, an abundant supply of spiritual food. This was foretold at Isaiah 25:6, where we read: “Jehovah of armies will certainly make for all the peoples, in this mountain, a banquet of well-oiled dishes, a banquet of wine kept on the dregs, of well-oiled dishes filled with marrow, of wine kept on the dregs, filtered.” How blessed we are to share in that feast! “The table of Jehovah” is truly laden down with good things to eat. Through “the faithful and discreet slave,” we are given everything we could ever need in a spiritual sense."

According to the Watchtower’s grandiose interpretation of prophecy, all of the published material of the Watchtower Society over the ensuing decades from 1919 constitutes a “victory banquet” of spiritual food, in fulfillment of Isaiah 25:6.

But is that really true? Is the Watchtower’s interpretation authentic and reliable? Consider the context on the prophecy, of which the preceding verses say:

“O Jehovah, you are my God. I exalt you, I laud your name, for you have done wonderful things, counsels from early times, in faithfulness, in trustworthiness. For you have made a city a pile of stones, a fortified town a crumbling ruin, a dwelling tower of strangers to be no city, which will not be rebuilt even to time indefinite. That is why those who are a strong people will glorify you; the town of the tyrannical nations, they will fear you. For you have become a stronghold to the lowly one, a stronghold to the poor one in the distress that he has, a refuge from the rainstorm, a shade from the heat, when the blast of the tyrannical ones is like a rainstorm against a wall. Like the heat in a waterless country, the noise of strangers you subdue, the heat with the shadow of a cloud. The melody itself of the tyrannical ones becomes suppressed.”

Jehovah’s intervention and liberation comes at a time when the tyrant, “the town of tyrannical nations,” is terrorizing mankind—like a relentless blasting rainstorm—or parching heat in a shadowless land. According to Habakkuk the anti-typical Chaldean is going to enmesh all the nations in his net and eat them as hapless fishes. (See essay on Habakkuk entitled The Ultimate Final Solution) Apparently that is what Isaiah is foretelling as well, where we read:

“And in this mountain he will certainly swallow up the face of the envelopment that is enveloping over all the peoples, and the woven work that is interwoven upon all the nations. He will actually swallow up death forever, and the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will certainly wipe the tears from all faces. And the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for Jehovah himself has spoken it.”

“The envelopment that is enveloping” is not mere Adamic death as the Watchtower supposes. Since Adam and Eve rebelled against God mankind has continuously been subject to the tyranny of death. It is doubtful that Jehovah would describe something as constant as Adamic death as if it were suddenly enveloping all the peoples like some sort of enmeshing net.

Likely, the “envelopment” corresponds to the genocidal fisherman’s net of Habakkuk. The fact that Jehovah’s intervention brings an immediate end to death is indicative of the fact that the envelopment that is at that time in the process of “enveloping over all the peoples” relates to the “town of tyrannical nations,”—which is apparently the 8th king of prophecy, as he goes on a genocidal tirade.

The Watchtower’s self-serving interpretation of the meaning of the well-oiled dishes is simply nonsensical. Jehovah provides his people with such a banquet only after the town of the tyrant is destroyed—not before. And it comes at the same time that Jehovah abolishes death.

As it stands presently, Christendom is every bit as viable today as it was in 1919—if not more so. And it is fairly obvious that death has not been done away with. The fall of religion only exists as a figment of Watchtower folklore—it being one aspect of the “artfully contrived false stories” connected to the Society’s 1914 parousia doctrine. As for the Watchtower’s boastful assumption that Jehovah’s Witnesses will never be dominated by Babylon the Great—think again.

In the United States the so-called Patriot Act has already seriously undermined basic individual liberties. In the event of war or even a flu pandemic it is feared that a military dictatorship and police state will be imposed and the many of constitutional guarantees that Jehovah’s Witnesses have come to take for granted would be abolished overnight. The situation in the UK is likewise, precarious. Related link

Most soberingly, many well-known evangelical leaders of Christendom are mere agents of tyranny, who have been covertly working to bring mankind under a one world dictatrorship. See link

In view of the present state of affairs there is no reason to assume they will not succeed.

The reader is left to ponder the ramifications of such an eventuality.

NAZI WATCH

2005-11-04T02:37:00.000-05:00

As the leading representatives of the modern configuration of the Anglo-American Special Relationship, what do George Bush and the visiting Prince Charles have in common?

Answer: Both of their families were enthusiastic supporters of Nazism.

Prince Charles' father, Prince Phillip, was a great admirer of Hitler. Phillip's four sisters (Charles' aunts) were all married to Nazi officers during Hitler's reign. (As fodder for psychiatrists, Prince Harry, the son of the presumptive heir to the throne, recently attended a party dressed in Nazi garb. What was that all about anyway?)

As for George Bush's Nazi pedigree, his grandfather, Prescott Bush, was instrumental in procuring the Nazis loans before and during WWII and also apparently assisted the Nazis in alluding justice after the war. Additional link

Not surprisingly, then, the US and UK seem to be creeping down the same path as their Nazi predecessors. For example, in response to 9-11 the US, in particular, appears to have taken a play out of Hitler's playbook in connection with the infamous Reichstag Fire.

Most recently it was revealed that the CIA has maintained secret prisons, so-called "black sites" in Third World countries, where suspected Enemies of the State are detained. In the wake of the Abu Ghraib prison torture revelations, one shudders at the thought of what has taken place in those "black sites."

Back during the Nazi reign of terror the Watchtower was most vocal about the threat Nazism posed to the world. And Jehovah's Witnesses showed tremendous resolve in the face of Nazi terror. Now, though, with the most powerful nation in history teetering on the edge of becoming a fascist state, the Watchtower has nothing to say.

Is it due to their abiding trust in Jehovah, or is Bethel simply oblivious to the looming peril?

Time will tell.

H5N1 Watch Update # 5

2005-11-02T07:38:00.000-05:00

Jesus charged his disciples to stay on the watch for his sudden stealthy return. But since Jesus' parousia is invisible what are Christians supposed to keep on the watch for?

Christians are to watch for the sign of his presence. The primary feature of the sign is that warfare will erupt---pitting nations and kingdoms of the world against each other. There will also be noteworthy food shortages and pestilences (pandemics). The Watchtower Society insists that the sign of Christ's presence was fulfilled nearly a century ago---ostensibly negating any further need for watchfulness as regards that crucial aspect of the sign.

However, in the spirit of true Christian watchfulness the presently developing series of crises; namely the looming world war, conceivably accompanied by global financial collapse ushering in food shortages, and a developing super-bug pandemic---bears watching as having the potential to far surpass the events on 1914 as regards their impact upon the world.

Since war is clearly not a natural phenomenon but is the product of human and demonic wickedness, it stands to reason that other accompanying features of the sign are also a result of man's inability of rule himself successfully. Take pestilence for example.

The Black Death, which decimated Europe in the 1400s, is believed to have been caused by bacteria, carried by fleas that were hosted by rats. But should we consider the resulting plague to have been a natural phenomenon? No, not at all. The cause of the plague was the enforced ignorance and economic backwardness that marked the Dark Ages. Sanitary conditions in densely populated centers were deplorable and the feudalistic system insured that the population remained uneducated. Civil planning and engineering was non-existent.

What about now though? True, modern cities have vastly superior sanitation systems and infrastructure; not to mention amazing medical and scientific breakthroughs that have allowed mankind to gain control over the world of the microbe---to a degree. Still, many parts of the world remain enslaved in poverty and ignorance by the global financial system---living in appalling squalor and filth, rivaling Medieval Europe at the time of the Black Death.

One of the reasons flu epidemics seem to originate in South East Asia is because of poverty conditions that bring poultry into close proximity to human living space. The barbaric practice of cockfighting is also seen as one source of perpetuating Avian flu. Even though most people living in the West don’t give much thought to the plight of impoverished peasants in Asia, virologists and world leaders are well aware of the fact that any place that serves as an incubator for H5N1 to recombine avian and human genetic material poses a threat to the rest of the world. That's because not only can migratory birds potentially spread a new strain of virus, but merely one air traveler from an infected source can serve as a modern day Typhoid Mary and spread the disease far abroad in a single day.

Ironically, while technological advances have empowered man to control the outbreak of numerous dieseases; technology has also shrunken the world and made global pandemics much more likely.

Yesterday President Bush announced an emergency initiative in the fight to minimize the risk of an eventual H5N1 pandemic.

We'll see what happens.

Economy Watch

2005-10-25T10:16:00.000-04:00

It is becoming more evident by the day that the once-mighty U.S. economy is nearing collapse.

Huge chunks of the auto industry -- once the bedrock of the economy -- are going into bankruptcy.

The most recent casualty is Delphi – the largest auto parts maker in the world – which filed bankruptcy last week. Workers and retirees are facing huge pay and benefit cuts. There is concern that Delphi's collapse will topple GM as well.

The airlines are also teetering on the edge of the financial abyss -- Delta and Northwest airlines filing bankruptcy in recent weeks.

What is happening is that corporations are entering into the final phase of globalization. (The final phase being the destruction of the working class – the so-called middle class.) Companies are using bankruptcy as a means of permanently busting unions, outsourcing the last remaining skilled labor jobs in order to shed costly workers benefits and wages.

But perhaps the most significant recent bankruptcy is the one you may not have heard much about – Refco.

Refco – once touted as the world's largest derivatives broker – is now referred to as the new Enron.

Shortly after going public in August the company simply imploded. The company reportedly left open derivatives positions estimated to be in the range of $150 billion!

So far in the immediate aftermath of Refco’s collapse there is no apparent contagion, but derivatives trades are described as being in a state of suspended animation.

Derivatives are supposed to spread risk through out the financial system – but in reality they concentrate financial risks to a few players that hold enormous multi-trillion dollar obligations.

Here is a recent history of the growth of derivatives as reported by EIR.

It is also reported that the US now has to attract capital inflows of over $1,000,000,000,000 anually simply to offset the collapse of the US economy. Whereas, most of the inflows used to come from China and Japan recycling their dollars, now the inflows come from London and their off-shore hedge fund operations. (Many hedge funds are simply shells set up by huge banks to manipulate the markets and launder illicit monies. It would seem that the hedge funds are being used as a last gasp, end-game scheme to stave off the inevitable collapse a little while longer)

At any rate, with the underlying physical economy – upon which everyone depends – in an undeniable state of disintegration, and the gambler's side bets known as derivatives growing exponentially, it is only a matter of time before the financial system rips apart.

Not coincidently, the letter of James foretells of a fiery judgment during the last days that will consume the material wealth of Christians.

This does not bode well for the multi-million dollar enterprise known as the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society Inc. and the thousands of Jehovah's Witnesses who are supported by it.

"Come, now, you rich men, weep, howling over your miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted, and your outer garments have become moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are rusted away, and their rust will be as a witness against you and will eat your fleshy parts. Something like fire is what you have stored up in the last days." (James 5:1-3)

http://e-watchman.com/

Day of tyranny

2005-10-23T08:42:00.000-04:00

According to prophecy there is an appointed time for the nations to be subjected to a tyrant. Once in power the tyrant will, well, do what tyrants do: he will tyrannize the nations and peoples. And in so doing he will also accomplish Jehovah's will by destroying Babylon the Great. Ultimately, Jesus Christ will destroy the tyrant. But it is during the reign of the tyrant, or the "despot of the nations," as recorded in the 31st chapter of Ezekiel, that Jehovah offers the lowly ones of his people refuge from the storm of tyranny. The 25th chapter of Isaiah foretells:

"That is why those who are a strong people will glorify you; the town of the tyrannical nations, they will fear you. For you have become a stronghold to the lowly one, a stronghold to the poor one in the distress that he has, a refuge from the rainstorm, a shade from the heat, when the blast of the tyrannical ones is like a rainstorm against a wall. Like the heat in a waterless country, the noise of strangers you subdue, the heat with the shadow of a cloud. The melody itself of the tyrannical ones becomes suppressed."
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Has the tyrant begun his reign of terror yet? Jehovah's Witnesses say yes. And stranger still, according to the Watchtower's interpretation, the despot and tyrants of the nations is none other than Jesus Christ himself and the holy angels. Here is an excerpt from the May 15th, 1977 Watchtower.
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"Who is the modern "despot of the nations," and who are the "strangers, the tyrants of the nations"? They are the fear-inspiring Communist bloc of nations, are they not? To this we flatly answer, No!. . .So, then. . .who will be Jehovah’s instrument that will do a work like that of the "despot of the nations," or the "strangers, the tyrants of the nations," back in the prophet Ezekiel's day? It will not be Jehovah’s Christian witnesses, who today number just some two million scattered among 210 lands around the globe. They are not despotic, not tyrannical, and strike no terror in people's hearts, for which reason they are openly persecuted as a helpless, defenseless religious minority. Not a puny earthly instrument, but a mighty heavenly instrument is what Jehovah will use. Jehovah's instrument is the glorified Jesus Christ and his armies of heavenly angels. Hardheaded politicians of today may laugh at such a thought.”
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Hopefully it is obvious to thinking persons that Nebuchadnezzar's nation-crushing tyranny did not foreshadow the activities of God's kingdom. Jehovah will not need to intervene to protect the lowly ones from being tyrannized by Jesus Christ and the holy angels.
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The Watchtower's bizarre and blasphemous interpretation aside, it should be apparent that God's prophetic word calls for the present world-wide system of things to be subjected to a dictatorial tyrannical regime during the last hour. That being the case, where are we in the stream of time? Indeed, what time is it?

It appears to be very, very late. Consider one aspect of the present state of affairs in the United States.

Since 9-11 the executive branch of the government has been given a blank check to fight its global war on terror. But although not covered in the mainstream media, opposition to the war has also been steadily growing. Not only is that the case, but key supporters and officials within the administration are now facing criminal indictments for a variety of crimes.

Those who are opposed to the neo-cons apparatus see this as a positive development. Other observers, though, caution that the intense political pressure might actually drive the administration into launching new wars or perhaps even orchestrating a terror attack in order to assume dictatorial control over the United States. A former CIA analyst has warned of this very thing. An editorial in the London Sunday Telegraph warned that an attack on Iran was inevitable unless the United Nations intervenes. EIR reports that the political pressures being brought against the Vice President of the United States may tempt him into attacking Iran, which could very easily ignite world war three.

Even though Satan the Devil is the unseen ruler of this system, humans are endowed with free will. That being the case, it stands to reason that men must be skillfully maneuvered and pressured into choosing a course the demons lay out for them. It would appear that the day of tyranny is looming larger by the day as men proceed step by step toward the trap laid for them.

The Future Judgment View Debacle

2005-10-22T11:09:00.000-04:00

The Future Judgment View is a term coined by an Englishman named Al. What is/was his purpose in setting up a website in which he once espoused his own interpretation of prophecy based upon e-watchman? Al explains in his own words: (ostensibly his words)

What is the Future Judgment view? It is the possibility that we, Jehovah's Witnesses, were not cleansed and refined in 1919 as our current interpretations teach.

We consider that Jesus Christ may not have yet come to his spiritual temple to cleanse us, and that such an event will happen in the future. There are variations on this idea. Some wonder if the "last days" are seperate from the "time of the end", and that perhaps we're in the last days but the time of the end is yet future. We do not attempt to rewrite our basic doctrines. We are strictly considering the possibilities that our prophetic interpretations need readjusting or reapplying to different time periods. Yet we are not advocating 'reform'.

At the same time, we have no right to say that the current official interpretations of Bethel are wrong. Only Jehovah has the authority to make such definitive pronouncements. True humble servants would never think "I am definitley right, the society is definitley wrong". So if you are a real true Christian, and wish to consider alternative possibilities, while remaining loyal to both Jehovah and the brothers, then welcome to our webiste. (Spelling errors are his, or more than likely that of the spelling-impaired 11th Hour Fred)

Curiously, though, in the last few weeks Al has had a sudden change of mind. Perhaps a dozen or so essays that he had written on various prophetic matters have been removed from his website. What has happened? Originally Jehovah’s Judgment website maintained a link to e-watchman explaining that his interpretations were intended to expand upon the writings of e-watchman. However, now the link to e-watchman states:

It was e-Watchman that first introduced me to what I call the possibility of a future judgment. He thinks he's one of the anointed and a foretold watchman to be raised up by God. He writes letters trying to cause divisions among the brotherhood, and slanders the GB by calling them money-making "liars". His followers congratulate each other when they get disfellowshipped for standing up for "truth". Any people who oppose them are from "the devil".

What can account for the sudden change? Has e-watchman changed, as is implied? No. I have not changed. From the very beginning I have been intent on exposing, among other things, the Watchtower's phony 1914 teaching; their political partnership with the UN as well as the deplorable way in which the organization has dealt with child abuse. For example, the very first essay posted on e-watchman in September of 2002 took up the 1914 topic. A few weeks later I wrote the piece called Justice for the Silentlambs, which forcefully called attention to Jehovah's judgments contained in the book of Hosea. Shortly after that came the essay entitled The Watchtower as an NGO, which not only exposed the Watchtower's treachery and duplicity to public view, but explained how such an apostasy was foretold in the prophets--and in so doing I basically called the Watchtower a liar.

Al was well aware of my strong views from the very beginning when he jumped on board with his own version of "future judgment." What can account for the sudden change in his viewpoint then? Indeed, even making an allowance for my own defection from my original mission, even if that were true, why would Al remove his own writings? Why not pick up the standard of the fallen prophet and carry on?

Obviously, Al was never really committed to the concept he himself espoused. Otherwise he would not have cut and run. It is clear by his own mission statement quoted above that Al was hobbled by limping upon two opinions. On the one hand he aspired to announce Jehovah's judgments; but on the other hand he was terrified of being disfellowshipped for his activities. Clearly, Al was not cut out for the work he presumed to undertake.

It would seem that Al is merely a pawn in a demonic scheme, not to espouse Jehovah's judgments as his website proclaims, on the contrary--it would appear that the purpose all along was to conceal them! At least that is the small-scale end result of his activity. By insinuating himself into the work I had been doing, and passing himself off for a time as one committed to the same work, but then suddenly denouncing the very work he had promoted just a weeks before, the intent is obviously to discredit the work--and e-watchman in particular .

Bible students will recognize that this is a ploy used by the demons over and over. For example, in the 16th chapter of Acts a demonized girl followed Paul around for days echoing Paul's message, seemingly. The question is, why would the demons call attention to the good news? It was because they wanted to give themselves credibility by insinuating themselves into Paul's company to further their own agenda.

Same thing in the 19th chapter of Acts with the seven sons of Sceva pretending to cast out demons in the name of Christ. There are, in fact, many other examples.

The point is, though, that the demons seek to slither their way into the work that Jehovah's servants are doing--whatever that work may be at any given time. At first they appear as friends and sharers, so that they may stake out a claim. Then when their masters pull the string they are used to discredit the work they once claimed as their own. In reality, Al's erratic behavior is a reflection of his own mental instability more than any thing else.

That's not to say I consider Al to be demonized. He is apparently just a weak minded individual who is easily influenced and who has been manipulated by Hector Heinz Schmidt, 11th Hour Fred and who knows who else?

In any case, let it be duly noted here: I am fully committed to the work which I initiated over three years ago, and by Jehovah's help I am confident that I will finish it. Jehovah's judgments are sure to come. It is not a “view” or an opinion that one can change like a dirty shirt. It is not even my intention to discuss Jehovah's judgments as though they were uncertain and open to revision. The judgments of Jehovah are as certain as the sun rising tomorrow. My purpose is to announce Jehovah's judgments--not debate them or conceal them.

The Watchtower Society cannot prevent it. And wanna-be prophets and pretenders can't either.

Rebuttal part III

2005-10-21T12:13:00.000-04:00

In the 13th chapter of Ezekiel, Jehovah charged his prophet to notify the "stupid prophets" that their whitewashed wall was doomed to fall. The Watchtower's entire prophetic framework, which is undeniably built upon the foundation of 1914, certainly fits the description of a whitewash-plastered wall. (See previous blog The Wall Must Fall)

And unquestionably the tendency of the Watchtower is to whitewash its past history and current misdeeds. The organization must be cast as the beaming city on the hill--above reproach--the very city of God.

So, every effort is made to present the organization in the most favorable light--even if it means using trickery and deception to accomplish that end. The Watchtower's stable of lawyers are especially charged with the task of plastering coat after coat of whitewash upon the organizational wall.

The Watchtower's official explanation of their partnership with the United Nations is a study in the art of twisting the truth by means of skillful lawyering. Unquestionably, Bethel's lawyers are adepts in the art. How so?

Knowing that in all likelihood the branch overseers who inquired of Bethel knew nothing about NGOs, the Watchtower's carefully crafted response was obviously intended to take advantage of that ignorance. The art of clever lawyering involves saying as little as possible and avoid devulging details; while at the same time imperceptibly misdirecting those entitled to know the truth by emphasizing half-truths and irrelevant facts. Let's see how the Watchtower's law department has done that very thing.

Continuing with Third Witness's self-described "surprising in-depth report," he next republishes three Watchtower letters defending their NGO partnership with the UN and poses the question: Are these letters full of lies and cover-ups to hide the 'secret affair' of the WTS and the UN? Let's examine them in detail.

Defender goes on to write:It is here acknowledged that critics claim these statements are untrue. That anyone could have access to the library materials. They quote statements that the Dag Hammarskjold library and depository libraries were accessible to everyone. But please note even in the 1994 brochure that "For NGOs associated with DPI, the United Nations provides: . . .use of the Dag Hammarskjold Library." This at least demonstrates that sometime before 1994 NGO status was apparently necessary to access that library. But even if you disregard that, if you look closely you will see that the WTS did not say they registered as a NGO just to get a library card for the "main library." They also wanted to gain access to research material at the "extensive library of the United Nations" and at the UN "library facilities." The extensive library facilities include more than just the Dag Hammarskjold library. It includes audio, film, and photo libraries, access to selected meetings, briefings, seminars, conferences, film screenings, commemorations, concerts, language courses, and the NGO Resource Center that offers current UN documents. Were all these resources accessible without a NGO pass? No they were not.

Obviously, Defender is no Watchtower lawyer. Whereas, the Society's adepts deliberately kept details to a minimum, Defender blithely goes into great detail on the perks that came with being an approved NGO; citing how associate NGO status allowed the Watchtower access to "meetings, briefings, seminars conferences, film screenings, commemorations, concerts, language courses, and the NGO Resource Center that offers current UN documents."

The Society's lawyers will surely cringe over the fact that Defender is obviously oblivious to the implications of his frank admission that NGO status involved much more than merely accessing a library. Defender's stupid defense opens a whole new can of worms that Bethel would most assuredly prefer to stay closed. But, Defender's blunder now raises the additional question as to what extent Bethel directly participated in political meetings, conferences, commemorations and so forth.

One thing in this regard is known at the present time: The Watchtower definitely got more than a library pass. That is evident from the fact that the Watchtower participated in the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the UN Declaration of Human Rights--even sending a representative from Bethel to the 29th floor of the UN sanctuary to interview a high ranking UN official for the occasion. (See the subheading A view from the 29th Floor)
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While the UN has pointed out repeatedly that any qualified researcher could use the UN library before 9-11, we may be sure that the 29th floor of the UN tower was strictly off limits to mere library pass holders who were not representatives of active DPI approved NGOs. To what extent Bethel may have participated in other political activities at the UN remains to be seen. No doubt Jehovah will reveal the full extent of Bethel's prostitution in his own time and way.

Defender next supports the Watchtower's absurd assertion that some guy at the UN lied to them and told them they had to become an approved NGO--so they did.

Defender states: The WTS here explains how their representative was told that he could not have access to a certain facility unless he had an NGO pass. Maybe it was an employee who was mistaken, as is sometimes the case with government employees or any employees for that matter. I'm sure most of us have had that same type of experience. If we are honest and have dealt with the government we know that different responses are sometimes given depending on whom you talk to. I, myself, have received different responses from IRS agents on the same question. This is not unheard of and is very plausible. On the other hand perhaps he was trying to use a facility that contained books or documents that was only for those with NGO status. At any rate, he was told he needed a NGO pass and therefore an application was requested.

This defense is so ridiculous it is laughable. It is noteworthy that this particular line was not offered to the Guardian. More than likely the Watchtower lawyers were shrewd enough to know that nobody outside of Jehovah's Witnesses would swallow such nonsense. The Watchtower evidently only peddles this version to individual JWs who inquire directly to Bethel.

At any rate, the absurdity of the suggestion that the Watchtower committed themselves to a ten-year political alliance with the UN based upon the misinformation of some UN clerk is laid bare by the facts already presented. Namely, there is no way the Watchtower could have become an approved NGO by merely by signing an application. As already pointed out, all applying NGOs were required in 1992 to submit 6 samples of their work along with the application. Not only that, but all applying NGOs had to make a full financial disclosure as well. That means that the Watchtower had to open their financial records to the UN.

Surely no one is so naïve to believe that the Watchtower would turn over their financial records because some guy at the UN told them they had to in order to get a library pass. Yet, this is the kind of nonsense that the Watchtower and their apologists peddle.

Interestingly, Third Witness' Watchtower apology bears an uncanny resemblance to the Hector Heinz Schmidt's "defense" of the Watchtower. It would appear that Third Witness either plagiarized Schmidt or he is Hector Heinz Schmidt. Funny how what goes around comes around.

http://web.archive.org/web/20040625093125/hector3000.future.easyspace.com/ngo.htm

Rebuttal part two

2005-10-20T07:49:00.000-04:00

This is part two of yesterday's blog

If you are not already befuddled by Defender's hand-waving routine, you are sure to be bedazzled by his next slight-of-hand "defense" of the truth.

Defender would have the credulous mind believe that there were no requirements in place for NGOs before 2001. The official line is that the Watchtower merely signed an application and that was it. Nothing more was required.

So, toeing the company line (lie in this case) Defender cites a UN press release published in Science Blog from December 2001, which stated, among other things: "The DPI Committee on NGOs also confirmed the disassociation of 251 NGOs that no longer meet the requirements of the Department. The decision brings the number of NGOs associated with the DPI to 1,480. During the year the DPI has instituted a review process for the first time, in order to better measure the effectiveness of its liaison activities with associated NGOs."

So, according to Defender, the fact that DPI "instituted a review process for the first time" in 2001, a month after the Watchtower beat a hasty retreat from the NGO list, that there must not have been any obligation before that on the part of NGOs to cooperate with the UN.

This is a lie. Defender is counting upon you being blind and stupid so that he can dazzle you with his amateur card tricks. How so? Well, the very Science Blog article he linked to clearly states in the second paragraph:

"The newly associated organizations conform with the principles of the United Nations Charter, operate solely on a non-profit basis and demonstrate a long-standing involvement with United Nations issues. Most importantly, they have the information programme infrastructure in place to reach a broad audience about United Nations activities. This information dissemination capacity is a unique criterion for association with the DPI."

Were these requirements newly instituted in 2001, as Defender would have the slow-wits believe? No. They are the very same requirements that were in place in 1992; the year the Watchtower's application to join the DPI was originally accepted. (Defender is well aware of this as well, but his religion requires that he defend lies, so that's what he does--for the sake of the truth, of course.)

Here is a link to a UN press release issued in August 1992 that uses nearly identical language. The last paragraph of the document states: "To be granted association status with DPI, NGOs must. . .support the charter of the United Nations; have broadly based membership; and possess the resources necessary for effective outreach." (Click here and then click on the first link1992. To read the document, hover your mouse cursor in the lower right corner of the document until a cursor button appears. Click on it and the document will enlarge.)

"Resources necessary for effective outreach" relates specifically to the ability of an NGO to disseminate UN propaganda to a broad audience. And indeed, the UN itself has officially weighed in on the controversy to state, unequivocally, that the Watchtower not only agreed to the terms of the NGO covenant, but Bethel willingly met the requirments. (Click here & scroll to bottom of page and click on Watchtower Bible and Tract Society)

So what does it mean that the UN instituted a review process in late 2001?

Apparently a more rigorous review procedure was instituted in that year. Does that mean that prior to 2001 NGOs were not required to meet the criteria of association? No, not at all. For example, the same UN press release linked to above states: "Ten applications were rejected by DPI, and the association of one inactive NGO was terminated."

The fact that 10 NGOs were rejected indicates that there were certain requirements in place in 1992. An NGO could not simply sign an application and become approved. Furthermore, one NGO was determined to be inactive and was delisted. So it is apparent that there was a review process in place--just not as stringent as it became in 2001. If someone is naive enough to believe Defender's tripe, such persons should ask themselves: How does an NGO become "inactive"? And if there was no review procedure in place in 1992, what difference would it make if an NGO was inactive? Does being inactive mean that they failed to use their library for a certain period of time? According to the Watchtower's armchair apologist that is the only way an NGO could possibly become "inactive." Obviously, though, in light of the DPIs requirements for NGOs, inactivity relates to NGOs not fulfilling their obligation to propagandize in behalf of the UN.

The fact that the Watchtower was approved and that they were not judged to be inactive during their 10 year tenure as an approved NGO is proof that they met the requirements.

to be continued . . .

The Watchtower's NGO Affair: A Rebuttal

2005-10-19T09:45:00.000-04:00

For the reader who has accessed this blog but may be unacquainted with the author's main site, I have written extensively over the past three years on the topic of the Watchtower's secret 10 year partnership with the United Nations; and specifically, its implications from the standpoint of Jehovah's judgment. For a comprehensive treatment of the topic please first read the essay entitled Strange Bedfellows.

In the spring of 2004 I mailed an 8 page letter documenting the Watchtower's NGO connection to every kingdom hall in the United States and Canada; as well as to every assembly hall and branch office of the Watchtower Society.

In the wake of that widespread exposure, one of Jehovah's Witnesses has taken it upon himself to defend the Watchtower's secret political partnership with the UN on a blog entitled The Truth about the Truth about the Truth. Although his blog maintains no link to e-watchman, which in itself is an indication of the bloggers underhandedness, it is apparent that the Defender's blog is a response to it. This blog is a brief rebuttal to his defense. (His comments are in red)

In 1992 Jehovah's Witnesses (JW's) became associated as a non-governmental organization (NGO) with the United Nations (UN) in association with the Department of Public Information (DPI). Ten years later they withdrew their membership and sent out letters explaining exactly what happened.WT letter to branches

In the opening sentence the WT defender misleads the reader. The truth is that the Watchtower was publicly exposed by the London Guardian. That is why the Watchtower responded. They were forced to. The Defender wishes to give the impression that the Watchtower volunteered a full disclosure of their secret doings. That is a blatant lie.

The truth is a few days before the Guardian article went public the Watchtower withdrew their membership from the UN, no doubt because the Guardian had contacted them asking for a response, which is the jouralistically responsible thing to do. Shortly thereafter, the Watchtower concocted a lie that did not begin to explain the depth to which Bethel went to comply with the UN's requirements for all affiliated NGOs. They also issued the same lies to inquiring branch offices, which were apparently inundated with inquiries from Jehovah's Witnesses in the field who read about the story on the Internet. But, to this day the Watchtower has never acknowledged in any of its publications that it was ever an NGO. Millions of Jehovah's Witnesses have no clue what an NGO is, let along that the Watchtower was an UN-approved NGO.

Next the WT Defender dismisses everyone who criticizes the Watchtower's hypocrisy as mere opposers, apostates, accusers and disgruntled witnesses. After slyly cultivating the notion that no loyal Jehovah's Witness should have any problem with the Watchtower's political partnership with the UN, he then shamelessly invites the reader to set aside all prejudice and examine the facts--honestly and with an open mind.

The Watchtower Defender then launches into an extensive hand-waving exercise apparently intended to befuddle and disorient the uninformed reader with irrelevant facts. There is no need to reproduce any excerpts here; but the gist of his hand-waving has to do with the difference between two classifications of NGOs; that being NGOs with Consultive status and Associate NGOs. There was never any dispute as to the Watchtower being an associate NGO.

However, Defender asserts that NGOs with only Associate status are not required to support the UN. This is an outright lie. Defender even quotes from an online UN document that clearly states that all NGOs are required to use their resources to inform the public about the UN's activities. But because the application did not specifically state that NGOs were required to do so, Defender wishes to convince gullible minds that it is not really required.

Defender's "defense" is sheer nonsense.

In actuality, there was much more to becoming an NGO than merely filling out an application. The requirements for all applicants are listed on the UN's DPI/NGO website. (Also see part IV of Strange Bedfellows) About half way down the page are listed eight requirements for all applying NGOs. Filling out an application was merely one requirement. The 6th bullet point explicitly states:

*** Evidence of an active information programme relevant to the UN: at least six (6) different types of samples of the organization's most recent information materials (e.g. newsletter, periodicals, tapes of radio or television programmes, conference reports, web site, news clippings)

Not only are the requirements spelled out on the DPI/NGO website, but they are also reiterated on the original application. (Click here to see a copy of the third page of the application) So, while the original application may not have explicitly stated that NGOs are required to propagandize in behalf of the UN, it was certainly implied--as is evidenced by the fact that the application specified that applying NGOs had to list their publications and submit samples of their work.

The reason being that the Department of Public Information wanted to make sure the applicant had the means to carry out their obligation to disseminate information to the public in behalf of the DPI. The fourth page of the application requires the applicant to state whether or not the applying NGO has ever engaged with the UN in joint information campaigns in the past. And article 17 asks if the NGO wishes to undertake joint information projects in the future.

Contrary to the ridiculous notion that the Watchtower had no idea that Associate NGOs are required to conduct an information campaign in behalf of the UN; the truth is that the Watchtower had to demonstrate that it was doing that very thing before its application would even be considered. The application form the Watchtower signed in 1991 very clearly spelled out the nature of the DPI-NGO relationship.

E-watchman has posted reams of material demonstrating that the Watchtower did exactly that. For example, consider part VI, part VII, part VIII, part IX , and part X, of Strange Bedfellows to approximate the extent to which the Watchtower went to fulfill it obligation as a UN NGO.

End of part one...

WWIII WATCH update

2005-10-12T06:03:00.000-04:00

Speaking of hearing rumors of war. . .

The drums of war are beating more insistently: Britain has formally accused Iran of supporting Iraqi insurgents. It would appear that an attack on Iran by Britain and the US or Israel, or all three, is inevitable. No one knows the day or hour but historian Webster Tarpley suggests that the attack could come on one of the next new moons in order to make attack planes more difficult to see at night--as was done in the attack on Iraq.

Meanwhile, it appears as if the United States is maneuvering to put in place a military dictatorship under the pretext of handling the Avian flu. That would seem to be a necessary recourse in the event that Iran is attacked.

Apparently the driving force behind the relentless push for global war and military dictatorship is the fact that the global financial system is in the final phase of the end game--as LaRouche calls it. The banking oligarchy wants to insure that the constitutional republic of the United States is destroyed first before the financial system comes completely unraveled. Otherwise the US could conceivably assert its national sovereignty and act against the private corporate interests. As it stands, the corporate elites are using the unwinding economy to shed themselves of pension and health care obligations. Ultimately the destruction of the middle class would mean a return to a sort of corporate feudal system--or perhaps futile system might be a more appropriate term.

FAMINE WATCH

2005-10-10T17:40:00.000-04:00

The sword, the famine and the pestilence--Those were the means by which Jehovah put himself on judgment with his people in times past. For instance, Jeremiah 24:10 states: "And I will send against them the sword, the famine and the pestilence, until they come to their finish off the ground that I gave to them and to their forefathers." And again at Jeremiah 29:17-- "Here I am sending against them the sword, the famine and the pestilence."

Not coincidently, the final judgment of the house of God and the world is also initiated by war, famine and pestilence--symbolized by the three trailing apocalyptic horsemen.

While Jehovah's Witnesses and the Watchtower Society believe that the four horsemen of the Apocalypse were unleashed in 1914, the evidence is mounting that the potential for a much greater upheaval of war, famine and pestilence then ever occured since 1914 is looming larger by the day.

According to the United Nations World Food Program hunger map the nations shaded in dark red are experiencing severe food shortages. (Lighter shaded nations to a lesser extent) Largely these are under-developed African nations that have suffered political chaos, civil war and drought and consequently have suffered chronic food shortages and periodic famine conditions. (Please note that it is not necessary to belong to a DPI approved NGO to access this information) The nations shaded in green are largely unaffected by food shortages. However, that situation may be about to change.

The foundation for food production in the industrialized nations is the plentiful supply of affordable petroleum-derived fertilizers, pesticides and, of course, diesel fuel to power tractors, harvesters and combines. All phases of food production, from drying, to production, to delivery, requires energy and fuel--and lots of it.

Now, though, with the recent hedge-fund induced, hyperinflationary, spike in the price of gas and oil, farmers are being squeezed and the food chain is being threatened. Some farmers are faced with the decision of which crops to harvest and which to leave in the field to rot. Farmers have warned of an impending crisis.

In order to cope with rising fuel costs, President Bush suggested that Americans drive less and conserve fuel. One farm leader responded: 'You can't carpool in a combine.'

An article contributed to Rense.com entitled The Coming Starvation in America presents the case that the United States used to have several years worth of food stockpiled but that now the national pantry is virtually empty.

Given the combined growing threats of nuclear war, a viral pandemic, along with the collapse of the economy and with it food production, it appears as if the long-dreaded perfect storm--the tempest of Jehovah--is ominously gathering itself.

Expressions Inspired by Demons?

2005-10-07T07:42:00.000-04:00

Picture credits Guardian

We live in a world of lies. And no wonder. . . the world is ultimately dominated by the Devil, whom Jesus said was "the father of the lie."

Appropriately Jehovah's judgment is that the world shall be lured to its doom as a result of paying heed to propaganda that issues forth from the Devil himself and is broadcasted through Satan's political apparatus on earth. The 16th chapter of Revelation words it this way:

"And I saw three unclean inspired expressions that looked like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the wild beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. They are, in fact, expressions inspired by demons and perform signs, and they go forth to the kings of the entire inhabited earth, to gather them together to the war of the great day of God the Almighty."

Since the Devil and his demons are the ruling principalities of this evil world and they seem perfectly content to continue on indefinitely in that position, thinking people naturally raise the question as to why the demons would want to deceive their world into a conflict with Almighty God--knowing as they must the outcome. The answer is they have no choice. Jehovah has an appointed time for the demons to be removed from power when Jesus Christ is given the kingdom of the world.

Actually they do have a choice. They can go quietly into the abyss or they can fight. Being fighters against God by their own evil nature, the demons are determined make a last ditch stand by attempting to destroy the world in order to destroy the children of God. Their intentions are to take all mankind with them when they go down.

What might the demonically inspired expressions be? Can we discern their propaganda in the world in which we live? It may not be possible at the present moment to say with absolute certainty; however, the torrent of lies presently streaming from the Anglo-American dual world power certainly has the potential to lead the world into the unimaginable catastrophe of nuclear war--which is a precursor to the actual war of the great day of God the Almighty @ Armageddon. What lies might these be? Let's consider a few.

In a speech yesterday President Bush stated that radical Islamic terrorists are trying to establish an empire, with the ultimate intent of destroying the United States and Europe.

The irony is that the United States and Great Britain have military bases scattered all over the Arab and Islamic world. People tend to forget that Anglo-American imperialism in the Middle East goes back over a century. Upon the discovery of huge pools of oil the Anglo-American duo has been especially intent on subjugating the Islamic world. For instance, it is well known that the US funded and armed both sides during the war between Iran and Iraq--which took the lives of over a million men. During the Soviet Afghan war the Anglo-American duo created the Muhajadeen, which has since morphed into al-Qaeda. And of course the US and Britain have virtually destroyed Iraq in the past 10 years. Are we to suppose that Islamic nations have no right to denfend themselves against aggression or to strike back at their enemies? (See article outlining the British Empire's history of looting the Middle East.)

Most recently the US president, in concert with Britain's prime minister, are accusing Islamic terrorists of meddling with Anglo-American interests in the Middle East. Iran has been specifically targeted as a doer of evil. Iran denies the charges.

Of particular interest is the fact that President Bush apparently claims that he is simply following orders from God--that God told him to attack Iraq. The White House naturally has denied that Mr. Bush ever said that -- calling it "absurd." Astutely, though, one observer of world affairs poses the question: How does George Bush know that it is God and not the Devil giving him his marching orders?

Good question.

Perhaps the question should also be asked: Has "God" told George Bush to attack Iran too?

Is that next?

Actually it is not so absurd for the "born again" President to claim he had been given divine orders. He would not be the first "Christian" conqueror to claim that he received a command from heaven to wage war. In fact, the very Founder of Christendom, pagan Emperor Constantine, claimed to have had a vision of a flaming cross in the sky and was ordered: "By this sign conquer."

What makes this situation uniquely critical, however, is that George Bush sits at the controls of the most powerful weapons arsenal the world has ever known. Not only that, but the US has made it clear that it reserves the right to use preemptive nuclear warfare against nations which it deems to be potential enemies.

Clearly, Iran is between the nuclear cross-hairs.

Whether the propaganda inexorably leading to war against Iran is a result of the demonic croakings described in Revelation remains to be seen. But one thing ought to be clear. Any attack using weapons of mass destruction will be the proverbial crossing of the Rubicon for the Anglo-American king-- setting in motion irreversible events that are beyond imagining.

H5N1 Watch Update #4

2005-10-06T03:40:00.000-04:00

Infirmary in 1918 filled with victims of the Spanish flu

Suddenly, the media have all picked up on the H5N1 story. The news-stand copy of the October National Geographic features an in depth article on the origins of the virus and possible extent to which it may yet develop.

Business Week Online also raises the specter of another 1918 outbreak.

This week the United States is hosting a two day conference with representatives from 65 countries to discuss a strategy for dealing with the impending catastrophe.

Even the President of the United States has weighed in on the possibility of another 1918 pandemic. Mr. Bush proposes using the U.S. military to impose quarantine on the citizenry. One can only muse over the ramifications of the president's proposal if the nation's capitol or his hometown of Crawford Texas is hard hit by the plague.

Some people may be inclined to dismiss all the Avian flu talk as nothing more than scare mongering--another Y2K farce. But we should not be too quick to dismiss it. After all, unlike the Y2K hoax, it has happened before--as Jehovah's Witnesses are well aware.

One of the great ironies of the looming mega-epidemic, though, is that for decades the Watchtower Society has drawn attention to the great flu pandemic that swept the globe in 1918 as having great significance as one of the central features of the sign of Christ's presence. For most people living now, however, the Spanish flu of generations past has had little significance--until now. The irony is that the bird flu has the potential to be even more deadly than the Spanish flu--yet Jehovah's Witnesses see no prophetic significance in it. Yet, coupled with the likelihood of another world war and the collapse of the economy--bringing with it food shortages and famine-- it would appear as if conditions are ripe for the sign of Christ's presence to be fulfilled in a way that far surpasses what took place in 1914-1918.

Strangely, the Watchtower and Awake magazines--which continually boast of their prophetic acumen and ability to see into the future, so as to announce the things that are coming--have had virtually nothing to say in regards to the threat posed by H5N1.

While the world's mainstream media and Internet this week are filled with dire warnings of the possibility of a pandemic of apocalyptic proportions, the Watchtower's website this week features mundane articles such as The Internet--How to Avoid the Dangers, Electronic Games--Is There a Dark Side? And Do You Worry About Your Hair?

It is indeed a world gone mad.

H5N1 Watch Update # 3

2005-10-02T05:47:00.000-04:00

The outbreak of the next global flu pandemic and the arrival of Jesus Christ have something in common: No one knows the day or hour--but they are coming.

According to virologists following the development of the H5N1 virus though, at this point a pandemic is inevitable in the near future. The World Health Organization just released a statement saying that an outbreak could erupt at anytime. In a worse case scenario the UN official stated that upwards of 150 million people could potentially succumb to the Avian Flu. However, the following day another UN spokesman downplayed the numbers and said no one could predict the extent of the looming pandemic. So, conceivably the pandemic could be even more deadly!

The reason epidemiologists are so concerned about the potential threat this particular virus presents is because of its lethality. Whereas, the deadly Spanish Flu outbreak of 1918-19 had a 5% mortality rate the H5N1 virus takes more than half of its unfortunate hosts.

The virus itself goes through various stages of development. In the earlier stages the contagion was only capable of spreading from bird to bird. Then humans who worked in close proximity to infected birds began contracting the disease. The final phase will be reached when the virus acquires the ability to spread from human to human via the air. Some researchers fear that that stage has now been reached in Indonesia.

Most disconcerting is that Hong Kong virologists suspect that the virus is already acquiring a resistance to one of the major antiviral drugs being used to combat it.

An Open Letter to the Watchtower

2005-09-28T05:22:00.000-04:00

"THE WALL

MUST FALL"

"Say to those plastering with whitewash that it will fall.
A flooding downpour will certainly occur,
and you, O hailstones, will fall,
and a blast of windstorms itself will cause a splitting.
And, look! the wall must fall."

It is a weighty thing to speak and teach in the name of Jehovah, which is why the inspired letter of James cautions Christian men that not many should become teachers: "knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment."

But the sobering question posed here is: If teachers within the congregations will unavoidably receive a heavier judgment for even inadvertently stumbling others, what about the teachers of the teachers; those who serve as organizational prophets; who interpret the prophecies for the entire congregation; but who mislead God's people by concealing Jehovah's judgments from them?

Their judgment shall be heavy indeed!

The 13th chapter of Ezekiel contains the judicial decisions of Jehovah scheduled to be levied against those who are called the "stupid prophets." That the prophecy has relevance in the Christian era is evident from the fact that the judgment occurs during "the day of Jehovah." (Verse 5)

But just who may be foreshadowed by the "stupid prophets" and why are they judged adversely?

According to the Watchtower the "stupid prophets" of Ezekiel's day typify the clergy of Christendom today. However, if that is true how is it that the "stupid prophets" are condemned for misleading Jehovah's people? For instance, at Ezekiel 13:10 Jehovah states the reason for his denunciation: "For the reason, yes, for the reason that they have led my people astray."

More than that, the prophecy goes on to say: "In the intimate group of my people they will not continue on. . ."

But how is it possible for the clergy of Christendom to reside in the "intimate group of my (Jehovah's) people," up until the day of Jehovah-- when God's judgment is unveiled against them?

Obviously, they cannot.

In order to mislead Jehovah's people it is necessary for the false visionaries to have authority directly over the organization.

Besides that, the clergy do not speak in the name of Jehovah. Yet, the "stupid prophets" do. According to the prophecy they preface their lying visions by invoking the name of Jehovah, saying: "The utterance of Jehovah is. . ."

The "stupid prophets" of Ezekiel's prophecy can only prefigure Bethel's own securely ensconced institutional visionaries; those who speak in the name of Jehovah and who presently enjoy a monopoly on biblical interpretation in God's household. It is they who are misleading Jehovah's Witnesses into believing that '"there is peace' when there is no peace" -- as the prophecy accurately describes.

This is most apparent as regards the oft-repeated notion that the Watchtower Society is a verdant "spiritual paradise"-- supposedly completely devoid of animalistic predators-- as foretold in prophecy. (This in spite of the fact that thousands of children of Jehovah's Witness parents have been raped, seduced, or otherwise sexually molested and a few even murdered by Jehovah's Witnesses.)

Another aspect of how Bethel has falsely prophesied peace in the name of Jehovah has to do with the teaching that the judgment upon the house of God commenced in 1918 and that a faithful slave class has already been appointed over all of Christ's belongings since 1919. By situating the judgment upon the house of God in the distant past the Watchtower has deluded Jehovah's Witnesses into believing that there is no future day of reckoning for the organization. In this way "the prophets of (spiritual) Israel. . .are prophesying to Jerusalem and. . .are visioning for her a vision of peace, when there is no peace."

Unquestionably, the teaching that Jehovah's kingdom came to power in 1914 is the central doctrine of the Watchtower Society. In that respect 1914 is the foundation of what has come to resemble a whitewashed, plastered wall. Ever since 1914 "they have waited to have a word come true" -- as the prophecy of Ezekiel astutely foretells -- but in vain. In order to conceal Bethel's failure to divine the day and hour of Christ's arrival, year after year the "stupid prophets" have resorted to plastering more prophetic whitewash on their organizational wall. For example: re-defining "this generation."

The book Jehovah Himself Has Become King tests the Watchtower's "inspired expressions" that Jehovah became king in 1914 and again in 1919; exposing "the prophets that are visioning untruth and that are divining a lie"; while announcing Jehovah's oncoming judgments, part of which are expressed at Ezekiel 13:14: "And I will tear down the wall that you men have plastered with whitewash and bring it into contact with the earth, and its foundation must be exposed. And she will certainly fall, and you must come to an end in the midst of her; and you will have to know that I am Jehovah." (See chapter "Collapse of the Watchtower")

Just as Ezekiel, Jehovah's original watchman to the ancient house of Israel, put the "stupid prophets" on notice that their whitewashed wall was going to come crashing down, this campaign is intended to serve notice upon Bethel and the Watchtower Society that their whitewash-plastered organizational wall is doomed to collapse at the earliest outbreak of the now-onrushing day of Jehovah.

This open letter, along with a copy of the book Jehovah Himself Has Become King--Announcing Jehovah's Judgments, has been sent to various brothers and departments at Brooklyn Bethel, Patterson, Wallkill; as well as English speaking branch offices of the Watchtower Society around the world and dozens of assembly halls and randomly selected congregations in the United States.

It is also available for free on the world-wide-web at http://jehovah-has-become-king.com/

Jehovah Has Become King

2005-09-24T09:36:00.000-04:00

Most assuredly
the ascendancy of
God Almighty
to universal kingship is no
commonplace
affair. It must inevitably
be an earth-shaking event,
one without precedent.

Regrettably, the Watchtower's dogma dilutes its uniqueness. That is because the Watchtower counts two instances in modern times when Jehovah has already become king--with one more to go!

As yet another example of interpretive sophism and "double-faced divination," as Jehovah calls it in Ezekiel, in commenting on the verse in the title caption, the Isaiah's Prophecy Volume I states:

"In modern times, Jehovah 'became king' in 1914 when he installed Jesus Christ as King in His heavenly Kingdom. He also 'became king' in 1919 when he demonstrated the power of his kingship by liberating spiritual Israel from bondage to Babylon the Great. Jehovah will again 'become king' when he brings an end to Babylon the Great and the rest of this wicked system of things.?

The Watchtower makes the incredible claim that Jehovah became king in 1914 and then again in 1919; and he will also become king, yet again, sometime in the future. Honestly, though, if the Watchtower did not unremittingly pound the 1914 drum, how many of Jehovah's Witnesses would even give it a second thought? Phrasing the question another way: If Jehovah really became king in 1914 and then again in 1919, why is such a significant [event] of such little consequence in the real world? It is because the notion that Jehovah became king in 1914 is mere Watchtower folklore.

The organization of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society may well have served Jehovah's purpose in reestablishing true Christianity in the modern era, but it is certain that nothing in the history of the International Bible Students or Jehovah's Witnesses even comes close to fulfilling what was foretold in the Scriptures pertaining to Jehovah becoming the Repurchaser of his people from Babylon.

Excerp from last chapter of Jehovah Himself Has Become King Announcing Jehovah's Judgments

Weather watch

2005-09-22T13:08:00.000-04:00

With the second monster hurricane in less than a month menacing the Gulf Coast, it seems timely to consider wether global warming is playing a part.

Photo of Katrina by NOAA

First, although the cause of global warming is a hotly debated issue, there is no question that there is a direct correlation between elevated water temperatures and the intensity of oceanic storms. The warmer the water the more water is evaporated and drawn up into the atmosphere to feed the storm. But are temperatures rising? Yes. According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2005 has been one of the warmest summers on record. Many scientists are certain that warmer than normal temperatures are causing more powerful hurricanes to develop. See Live Science article. Related article.

What is disputed is whether the warmer temperatures are caused by man-made greenhouse gasses; or if the warming trend is simply a naturally occurring cycle. Obviously, the oil and coal industries deny that fossil fuels are responsible for global warming.

While Bible prophecy did not foretell any sort of increase in storms as a sign of the end, the book of Revelation does state that God is going to ruin the ruiners of the earth. To what extent the earth may yet be ruined through some sort of sudden cataclysmic phenomenon, such as the sudden reversal of the Gulf Stream, or environmental ruination from nuclear war, the Bible principle certainly applies to this world: You have sown the wind--you must reap the whirlwind.

The Judgment Begins

2005-09-21T12:51:00.000-04:00

"Mankind has entered a period of judgment--a judgment of professed Christian organizations that has been apparent since "the last days" got under way with the slaughter of World War I during 1914-18." --April 1st, 1996, Watchtower

According to the Watchtower article cited in the title caption of this chapter, Jehovah supposedly became king in 1914 and shortly thereafter is when the judgment presumably commenced; not only for the house of God, but even merely "professed Christian organizations" came in line for judgment as well.

But more than that, the Watchtower also claims that God passed judgment upon all of Babylon the Great back in 1918-19, which includes non-Christian religions too. As recently as 1989, the Watchtower stated: "By 1919 it was apparent that Jehovah had passed judgment on Christendom--and indeed on all false religion." (Watchtower, 4-15-1989)

Negating their own teaching, in reality the Watchtower makes no distinction between the judgment that begins with the house of God and the period of judgment upon the world's religions.

The Watchtower's assumption that by 1919 God had passed judgment on all religion, true and false, is based upon the mere fact that some prominent clergymen once hailed the League of Nations as "the political expression of God's kingdom on earth." The Bible Students back then saw the League as a counterfeit of God's kingdom, and so the Watchtower has since then used that as the rationale for jumping to the conclusion that all of Christendom failed to pass the inspection then, since the churches evidently did not view the League in the same way as the International Bible Students.

Really, though, Christendom has always been part of Satan's system, so it is a foregone conclusion that they have failed to pass the test--whatever test of integrity might have been or will yet be imposed upon them. But coupled with that, because the Society went through a brief period of persecution during the First World War, but then afterwards experienced a revival, it has only reinforced the notion that the judgment began back then, and that the faithful slave has already passed the test.

Excerpted from the chapter entitled The Judgment Begins. To read more go to Jehovah Has Become King

Press Release

2005-09-20T05:32:00.000-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Royal Oak, Michigan, September 21, 2005. A new book entitled: Jehovah Himself Has Become King--Announcing Jehovah's Judgments--expounds upon biblical eschatology; presenting fresh insights from the unique perspective of Jehovah?s Witnesses.

Why the book?

Never before has civilization been confronted with such peril as at this present moment. Past generations have, of course, been menaced by wars and revolutions, famines and plagues, and genocidal tyrants; but the presently looming series of potential global catastrophes are unprecedented in scope and scale. For instance: Virologists have sounded the alarm that an emerging Avian flu pandemic may potentially kill hundreds of millions worldwide. Some economists fear that record levels of debt, speculation and mal-investment have made the economic collapse of the United States inevitable--ushering in a great global depression.

And how can we forget the menace posed by terrorists with weapons of mass destruction?

Now, with the United States fully committed to a hair-trigger policy of preemptive nuclear warfare against enemy nations comprising the Axis of Evil, the question is posed: Will the world succeed in muddling through these threatening crises-- or are the four horsemen of the Apocalypse about to be unleashed?

Robert King, the author of a new book entitled Jehovah Himself Has Become King, has situated the world's critical state of affairs in the context of Bible prophecy and history. For instance, the chapter entitled The Downfall of America posits that the conquest of Egypt, prophesied in Ezekiel and Isaiah, casts a recognizable prophetic pattern for the sudden crash of the United States.

The 500-plus page book is available for free download in electronic and audio format at http://www.jehovah-has-become-king.com/. The book is also published in traditional printed page by Authorhouse.com.

While there has been a surge of interest in Bible prophecy in recent years, fundamentalists' notions regarding the return of Christ are rooted in Zionism and popularized in paperback fiction such as the Left Behind series. Ironically, it is Zionism that has now led the nations to the brink of a nuclear Armageddon. Rather than adopting the popular view that the literal state of Israel has any relevance in the fulfillment of prophecy, the author makes the case that the Watchtower Society and Jehovah's Witnesses more closely fit the profile of a spiritual Israel; the primary reason being that Jehovah's Witnesses bear the personal name of God before the world, as did Israel and Judah in Bible times. It is from that standpoint that the author examines the Watchtower organization and Jehovah's Witnesses under the prophetic lens of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, Zephaniah, Hosea, Zechariah and Revelation.

Jehovah Himself Has Become King debunks the Watchtower's doctrine regarding Christ's kingdom supposedly having been established in 1914. Instead, the prophecies are interpreted so as to relocate the unveiling of Jehovah's judgments to the immediate future. Of particular interest to Jehovah's Witnesses, the chapter entitled Strange Bedfellows documents the Watchtower's secretive 10-year NGO partnership with the United Nations.

Robert King has been one of Jehovah's Witnesses for nearly 30 years. He has served in various capacities as an elder and a full-time pioneer minister. As this book went to press, he was disfellowshipped (excommunicated) for making this information available to the public.

Contact information:
Phone: XXX-XXX-XXXX
512 S. Washington St. #137
Royal Oak, Michigan 48067
Website: http://www.jehovah-has-become-king.com/ Email: rking@jehovah-has-become-king.com

Conspiracy Watch

2005-09-18T12:29:00.000-04:00

Some otherwise intelligent people seem proud of the fact that they do not believe in so-called conspiracy theories. While, indeed, many popular conspiracies are far-fetched, absurd or simply unproven, the evidence is overwhelming that there exists a sinister, centuries-old, conspiracy among the banking ruling class--the so-called financier oligarchy. What is the intent of the conspirators? Their goal is to weaken and ultimately destroy the democratic, republican form of government.

Does Bible prophecy confirm the existence of such a conspiracy? Yes, it does. Daniel 11:24-26 says in part: "Plunder and spoil and goods he will scatter among them; and against fortified places he will scheme out his schemes, but only until a time?And he will not stand, because they will scheme out against him schemes. And the very ones eating his delicacies will bring his breakdown."

(For a detailed discussion of how the prophecy may have been fulfilled in the 20th century see the essay The King of the North Conspires for World Domination.)

The oligarchy's scheme to dominate the world has many facets. One aspect of the conspiracy has to do with grooming individuals in institutions of higher learning in order to install them in positions of power later. Prospective individuals may be inducted into a secret society in order to test, assure and maintain their loyalty to the oligarchy. Those who prove loyal and useful are given every advantage to insure their success.

One such secret society is called the Skull and Bones. CBS News reported that both the current president of the United States and the Democratic candidate during the 2004 elections are so-called Bonesmen.

Skull and Bones was established in 1832 on the campus of Yale by a member of the British East India Company, who made his fortune pushing opium on the Chinese people. In fact, the skull and crossed-bones logo chosen for the Yale club is a reflection of the pirate mentality of the drug runners associated with the British Empire of yesteryear.

After the British Empire lost their American colony and failed to reclaim it by military measures in the War of 1812, the European-centered oligarchy found it necessary to infiltrate the newly born nation with agents loyal to the Crown in order to subvert it from within. One aspect of how the oligarchy has sought to gain sway is through control of the media. The Founder of Time magazine was a member of Skull and Bones.

The final showdown between the independent nation-states and private banking interests is looming larger by the day as the world's financial systems lurches toward collapse. The oligarchy is determined to either control or destroy the democratic institutions that are capable of intervening in behalf of the people in general. Let no one doubt that they are determined to stay on top even if they have to set off world war three to do it.

UN Watch

2005-09-15T08:41:00.000-04:00

This week marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. The United Nations has called for a High Level Plenary Summit to mark the occasion. One of the purposes for the summit is to "revitalize" the UN.

The very founding of the United Nations has great importance for Jehovah's Witnesses. That's because the Watchtower Society actually prophesied the birth of the United Nations three years in advance. Here is what the April 15th Watchtower had to say on the matter:

"By divine providence, Jehovah's Witnesses received enlightenment on that mystery in 1942. World War II was then raging at its height, and many thought it would escalate into Armageddon. But Jehovah had a different thought! There was still much work for his Witnesses to do! At their New World Theocratic Assembly of September 18-20, 1942, with the key city Cleveland, Ohio, tied in with 51 other locations in the United States, Nathan H. Knorr, president of the Watch Tower Society, gave the public talk, "Peace--Can It Last?" Therein he reviewed Revelation 17:8, which says of the "scarlet-colored wild beast" that it "was, but is not, and yet is about to ascend out of the abyss, and it is to go off into destruction." He showed how the League of Nations "was" from 1920 to 1939. Then the "is not" stage was reached because of the League's demise. But after World War II, this combine of nations would ascend out of the abyss. Was that Bible-based forecast fulfilled? Truly it was! In 1945 the international "wild beast" emerged from its abyss of inactivity as the United Nations."

But was it really by "divine providence" that Nathan Knorr was able to predict the re-emergence of the League of Nations. As remarkable as his insights appear to have been, the Society's forecast is predicated on the premise that the League of Nations was the beast that went into the abyss. However, there is another possibility.

The apostle Paul foretold that Jehovah would allow Satan the Devil to create an operation of error through an apostate man of lawlessness within the spiritual temple of God using "every powerful work and lying signs and portents and with every unrighteous deception?"

The Society's apparent divining of the birth of the United Nations fits the description of one such satanically inspired lying sign; intended to enhance the Watchtower's prophesying prowess, while blinding Watchtower adherents to future judgments.

Sound reasoning dictates that there are not two separate symbolic wild beast that go off into an abyss on two different occasions--as Jehovah's Witnesses presently believe. Furthermore, it is simply not in the realm of reality that the Anglo-American 7th head of the beast was slaughtered during WWI.

The death and seemingly miraculous resurrection of Satan?s political system is a future event.

See essay Judgment Day: The Last Hour of the Eighth King

H5N1 Watch update

2005-09-12T10:42:00.000-04:00

The good news is that the Avian Flu virus has not developed the ability to spread from human to human, yet. The 63 known deaths from the virus have all come about from humans contracting the pathogen directly from poultry. The bad news is that the avian virus will probably acquire the ability eventually to spread by human contagion. And because air travel has shrunken the planet considerably, it is feared that H5N1 could develop into a global pandemic that makes the Spanish flu of 1918 pale in comparison. News article

Some have contemplated the economic impact if the chickens come home to roost, literally.

As for the human toll, Revelation foretells that one fourth of the earth will fall victim to war, famine and pestilence during the Lords day. Will H5N1 play a role? Time will tell.

Disaster Survivor

2005-09-08T08:37:00.000-04:00

Instead of posting my own thoughts here is a link to a firsthand account from a survivor of the New Orleans catasrophe. It is a story that deserves to be heard.

http://www.counterpunch.org/neville09072005.html

video interview click #3

http://www.wafb.com/Global/SearchResults.asp?qu=neville&x=17&y=11

A Time of Testing

2005-09-05T10:55:00.000-04:00

By now everyone has seen images and read the horrific accounts of the ongoing catastrophe in New Orleans.

It has been observed that disasters inevitably bring out the best and worst in people. How evident that has been in the aftermath of Katrina! While some people selflessly arise to the occasion to do whatever they can for the hapless victims; others think only of themselves. Truly, everyone affected has been put to the test in many respects as to what they value.

On the one hand an elderly woman stranded on the upper floor of her home waved off rescuers and told them to go next door first and rescue a house full of children. Truly a selfless act.

Nurses in an inundated hospital pumped each other with IVs to stave off exhaustion and collapse, as they worked around the clock to tend to the broken.

On the other hand, a band of lawless thugs opened fire on workers merely trying to do their job.

In an ugly example of unbridled hedonism and decadence, some gays in the French Quarter (which was not flooded) were determined to hold their annual gay pride celebration in spite of the misery all around them. With the rotting corpses of flood victims floating in the putrid waters a few blocks away and countless people still trapped in their homes with time running out for them, a few dozen gays held their appropriately named Southern Decadence celebration.

In some respects the calamity that has befallen New Orleans is a small-scale preview of the great earth-sweeping tempest of Jehovah that is destined to be unleashed. How so?

In Revelation Jesus foretold that the entire inhabited earth would be subjected to an hour of test like no other. Just what will that test involve and how will it come about? The test will come about as a result of the collapse of the Anglo-American dual world power along with the entire system it dominates. It will cause the complete breakdown of society to the extent that the continued existence of the present civilization will be called into question. The test will definitively determine whether we trust Jehovah and look to him for salvation or to men.

How will you respond to the test to come? That will largely be determined by the kind of people we are now. What do we value most now? Pleasure? Material things? Spiritual things? If we put our faith and trust in Jehovah now we will most likely continue to do so even when great hardships come upon us. On the other hand if we do not put God first in our lives now it is doubtful that we will then either.

Folly Watch

2005-09-03T09:02:00.000-04:00

The disaster wrought from Hurricane Katrina has dramatically underscored a basic Bible truth. Long ago the prophet Jeremiah stated: "I well know, O Jehovah, that to earthling man his way does not belong. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step." How true that is. Mankind simply does not have the competence to successfully govern our own affairs.

While hurricanes and storms are a natural phenomenon, the calamities they bring are compounded by human short-sightedness, greed and just plain stupidity. Just consider a few realities from the still-unfolding disaster.

Perhaps the most glaring folly is that so many people build homes on beaches that are routinely raked by powerful tropical storms. Sure, everyone loves the ocean, but is it wise to build one's family home right on the ocean's edge? Not only that, but homes are often rebuilt on the exact same spot after being destroyed. Can it be called an act of God when disaster strikes if a person knowingly puts themselves in such a situation? Sheer folly!

The Gulf Coast casino industry is a showcase of foolishness. Instead of investing in productive pursuits that would generate real benefits for its citizens, besides creating a tax base, Mississippi and Louisiana nurtured the counter-productive gambling industry. Dozens of casinos were licensed as a means of generating tax revenue for the state. Fully 25% of Mississippi's tax base is dependent upon the gaming "industry." As a means of circumventing laws banning gambling houses the authorities came up with a scheme to build floating casinos on the edge of a gulf of the often-tempestuous Caribbean Sea. Of course, the huge tidal surge from the monster hurricane broke the gaming barges from their moorings and crushed them like toy boats in a bathtub. And just like that, the state lost a source of funds. No doubt the states will be forced to cut back on vital services at a time when they are most needed. What stupidity!

Then there is New Orleans: Built below sea level from reclaimed swamp land, the famed Crescent City depends upon a series of levees and gigantic water pumps to keep the city from being inundated. In spite of the fact that engineers knew that the levees were not designed to withstand more than a category three storm, in recent years the federal government has slashed funding for vital infrastructure projects.

The USA TODAY reported: "Each year since 2001, the Bush administration has slashed Louisiana's requests for flood control funds. Congress did only slightly better in its final budgets. Whatever the reasons, less than 2% of the Army Corps of Engineers' $4.7 billion budget this year was set aside for three crucial New Orleans levee projects. Now it's hard to fathom why such urgent needs were such low priorities."

Not only were the levees neglected but the USA TODAY also reported that the system of giant pumps, which have now been rendered inoperable, are virtually irreplaceable. There are no pumps such as these available anywhere. The pumps that are presently submerged have to be reclaimed and repaired before the water can be pumped out. It will take months for the waterlogged city to be reclaimed. What short-sightedness!

The heart-rending scenes of people stranded in the heart of New Orleans waiting help that has taken days to arrive is due in large measure to the fact that thousands of national guardsmen from Louisiana and Mississippi were pressed into service in far away Iraq, fighting a senseless war. Helicopters that could have been used to in search and rescue operations are also overseas and unavailable. Sheer madness!

The ripple effects extend far beyond the Gulf Coast. Because there has not been an oil refinery built in the United States in the last 30 years aging oil refineries are running at full capacity. There is no allowance for unseen occurrences. As a result of the disruptions brought on by the hurricane the price of gasoline has sky rocketed, with dire implications for the debt-bloated economy. It is feared that a cold winter could stretch oil and gas supplies to the breaking point. What lack of foresight!

But as horrible as the recent disaster is, it is nothing compared to the catastrophe that will eventually descend upon the world at the culmination of thousands of years of accumulated folly.

Watching the Watchtower

2005-09-01T08:40:00.000-04:00

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is an extraordinary publishing organization--publishing material in over 400 languages.

The Society has a long history of taking bold innovative steps to publish their message to the world. Perhaps one of the most inventive and imaginative productions of the time was the PhotoDrama of Creation , which was released in 1914. The eight hour production was part slide show--part movie. It was the first color motion picture ever produced--many of the frames being painstakingly hand painted. It was also the first ever talking movie--sort of. In order to add sound to the mix a record was synchronized to play along with the film. The Society even used time-lapse photography to show a flower blooming--a marvelous prodution for the time. The PhotoDrama was viewed by a reported nine million people around the world. For many of them it was the first motion picture they ever saw.

It could be said that the Watchtower Society used cutting edge technology of the day to publish their message. Years later a long-time Bethel member commented on the success of the PhotoDrama: "The PhotoDrama was a masterpiece of a project, when we consider the small number of Bible Students and the proportionately small amount of finances available. It really had Jehovahs spirit behind it!"

Following on the success of the PhotoDrama of Creation, in 1924 the Watchtower Society began broadcasting regular programs from their own radio station in Staten Island, New York--Radio station WBBR. Eventually the Society developed a network of stations across the United States. Keep in mind that radio was a novelty in the 1920s; and while religious radio broadcasts are quite common today, at the time the voice of J.F. Rutherford was one of the most prominent voices on the air. However, the Society discontinued using the radio and sold WBBR in 1957.

Then came the Internet. According to an Internet usage statistics web site, nearly one billion people around the globe now use the Internet in some form. It really is a world-wide-web. Strangely, though, the Watchtower Society seems to have little interest in exploiting this powerful new medium of communication. True, the Watchtower has a web presence, but considering the vast resources the organization has at its disposal, it is apparent that there is an unrealized potential. As evidence of its resources and the potential power that it possesses, the Society's web site has information in over 250 languages. That is simply astounding. Yet, what sort of information is provided? For the most part the Society only publishes very elemental doctrinal information and backdated material of little depth or substance.How disappointing!

For example, as of the last week of August, the Watchtower's English language homepage features an article about The Hanbok-Korea's National Costume. No doubt as a result of the still-unfolding catastrophe associated with hurricane Katrina, the Watchtower posted a backdated Awake article, which was originally published over two years ago, questioning if the weather is changing!

Whereas virtually every newspaper and television network now have web sites presenting the latest up-to-the minute news and information, the Watchtower is content to use their web site to publish mundane Awake articles and archaic material. To its shame numerous publishers of religious material have a greater web presence than the Watchtower does. As an example, the publication Christianity Today maintains an informative and up-to-date website. True, it is commercially oriented, but still, it quite likely draws more Internet traffic than the Watchtower's website based upon the fact that it has a higher Google Page Rank. One nice feature of the Christianity Today website is that you can listen to sermons. (For a fee)

Instead of publishing articles like Should I Have a Credit Card? just think if the Watchtower would utilize the Internet to publish convention sermons or special talks, or even videos of Bible dramas! Even publishing the Daily Text online would be a blessing for many individuals who may not have access to the Society's printed material. To their credit they finally put the New World Translation online. But it is incomprehensible why an organization that prides itself on publishing Bible study aids in such great quantity has not made such material available online; especially since it makes those publications available on the street for free. And it is most perplexing, even inexplicable, why the Society maintains a web page that lists the Publications Available when there is no way a person can even read so much as an excerpt or order the publication online. What a squandered opportunity to reach people with a positive message!

Stranger still, the Watchtower may be the only organization of any consequence on the entire Internet that does not publish a contact email address.

The message is clear: Don't call us, we'll call you--that is if we can find you @ home.

World War Three Watch

2005-08-28T05:26:00.000-04:00

"You are going to hear of wars and reports of wars; see that you are not terrified. "

It was recently revealed that the Vice President Cheney has ordered the United States Strategic Command (STRATCOM) to devise a plan for a massive military strike against Iran using both conventional and nuclear weapons against hardened underground facilities. The pretext for war is another 9-11 attack upon America. Apparently it does not matter if the Iranians are responsible or not. Presumably any attack against America will result in the unleashing of Shock and Awe. The vast US nuclear arsenal has seemingly been put on a hair trigger waiting for the next terrorist attack.

In a recent interview on Israeli TV President Bush issued a veiled threat of nuclear attack by saying that all options are on the table; this in response to a question posed about solving the Iranian nuclear dilemma.

In response to the increasing threat of Anglo-American imperialism, Russia and China have now entered into an unprecedented military alliance and have begun staging mock up war games. The US and South Korea have countered with their own situational war games, which North Korea has described as 'a prelude to war.'Link

Who could reasonably disagree with that assessment?

Additional links: The Great Game

First time ever war plans drawn up for waging war within the United States: Link

President of the United States said to be on medication for mental illness: Link

H5N1 Watch

2005-08-27T08:22:00.000-04:00

What exactly is H5N1, otherwise known as the Avian flu? It is a particularly potent strain of virus that infects birds and which is contagious from bird to human. Those most at risk are farmers and poultry workers. In 1997 an H5N1 contagion first broke out in Hong Kong. The swift action by authorities in destroying over a million infected birds is believed to have averted a pandemic.

But in 2004 the bird flu re-emerged in Vietnam. Eight people were diagnosed with the disease, six of which died. Again, another massive culling of infected birds was ordered by health officials. LINK However, this year (2005) 52 people contracted the bird flu in Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, 42 succumbing to it. No flu has ever exhibited that degree of lethality. It is described as highly pathogenic.

While the bird flu has not developed the ability to pass from human-to-human some scientists fear that it is only a matter of time before it does. Most worrisome at this stage is that H5N1 has jumped a critical fire-line and has been found in migratory birds all across Asia. U.S. health officials have confirmed that migratory waterfowl in Mongolia are infected with H5N1. It is said to be the first instance of this viral strain occurring in wild migratory birds with no apparent contact to domestic poultry. H5N1 has also been found in wild geese in China and Siberia and it is believed that migrating birds will inevitably carry the virus to the Western Hemisphere.

Still, that does not necessarily mean that the virus will acquire the ability to pass from person-to-person, but it does greatly increase the chances that it will eventually, especially if migrating birds spread the virus to the huge domestic poultry markets in Europe, Canada and the United States.

Recent deaths from H5N1 in Indonesia have prompted the United Nations World Heath Organization (WHO) to issue an advisory that the long-dreaded global influenza pandemic may be approaching. WHO has in fact warned that a flu pandemic is a certainty. The only thing that is uncertain is when the pandemic will begin and its severity.

One of the largest brokerages in Canada issued a statement saying that a potential Avian flu pandemic could trigger a global Great Depression.

Bible prophecy also reveals that a global pandemic is certain, pestilence being one of the features of the sign of Christ's presence. And as the WHO also notes, no one knows the day or hour of the event.

If indeed H5N1 develops into a global pandemic, accompanied by world war three, it would most certainly constitute the actual sign of Christs presence, as opposed to the pseudo sign the Watchtower has attributed to the First World War and the Spanish Flu of 1918.

Interestingly, the 91^st Psalm connects a deadly plague with the judgment of Jehovah and offers the assurance that Jehovah will be a refuge for his people during the day of retribution.

A thousand will fall at your very side

And ten thousand at your right hand;

To you it will not come near.

Only with your eyes will you look on

And see the retribution itself of the wicked ones.

Because you said: 'Jehovah is my refuge,'

You have made the Most High himself your dwelling;

No calamity will befall you,

And not even a plague will draw near to your tent.

Pat Watch

2005-08-26T07:39:00.000-04:00

In the aftermath of the recent uproar over Pat Robertsons call for the democratically elected president of Venezuela to be assassinated, the real question is why the big deal? After all, it would seem that Pat's call for Chavez to be "taken out" is simply pragmatic. As Robertson noted, killing one guy is a lot cheaper than fighting a war. Who can argue with that? On the other hand, World War One was sparked by the assasination of one guy.

Actually, clergymen have a long history of doing the bidding for the powers-that-be. Why should Robertsons latest antics come as such a shock? Or have we already forgotten the mouth-frothing, war-mongering, vitriol that spewed from prominent clergymen in the days and weeks following 9-11?

The truth is, clergymen who speak for peace are rarely vocal during times of war. If that is not the case then why have not prominent religious leaders stepped forward and voiced their opposition to the present war in Iraq?

The reason is because the institutions of Christendom are part of the symbolic harlot of Babylon. And as such they willingly commit spiritual fornication with the kings of the earth; as is described in the 17th and 18th chapters of Revelation. That means that they do 'favors' for the political powers. Whenever there is some killing that needs done, the harlot is always there to muster support for the cause. That is why Revelation indicates that Babylon the Great is responsible for all the blood that has been spilled in warfare. Without her immoral support people would be much less willing to give their support for the wars of the nations.

"Yes, in her was found the blood of prophets and of holy ones and of all those who have been slaughtered on the earth." --Revelation 18:24