THE HOLY PLACE BEING BROUGHT INTO ITS RIGHT CONDITION — THEN RELAPSING TO A WRONG CONDITION (Part I)

THE DICTATORSHIP OF THE GOVERNING BODY IV

In the article «Prophetic time periods identify the people of God», I argue that the prophetic periods of 1,260 days, 1,335 days, and 1,290 days are fulfilled on Jehovah’s Witnesses from the year 1914 onward. This identifies Jehovah’s Witnesses as the people of God.

The articles “The holy place being brought into its right condition — then relapsing to a wrong position” (Part I and Part II) argue that the 2,300 evenings and mornings mentioned in Daniel 8:14 were fulfilled on Jehovah’s Witnesses between 1938 and 1944.

The prophecy says that at the end of this time, the spiritual temple of God (= the anointed Christian) was brought into its right condition. This means that the situation in the congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses from 1944 onward was the situation that God wanted — the right condition. The articles show what this right condition was, and that it existed almost three decades after 1944. 

During almost three decadesafter 1944, Jehovah’s Witnesses did not have any government that ruled over them. There were no extra-biblical laws that they had to obey. And each one could make decisions based on their consciences — this is the right condition. In 1971, a government was instituted for Jehovah’s Witnesses — the Governing Body. This was in contradiction to the Bible because no human has the right to rule over another human. (See chapter 4 in my book My Beloved Religion — And The Governing Body.)

The Governing Body started immediately to make laws that were not based on the Bible, laws that all Witnesses had to obey. (For details, see the article “Dictators draw the line — How the Governing Body has restricted the freedom of Jehovah’s Witnesses.”) The gradual restriction of the freedom of the Witnesses, which was the road leading away from the right condition of the hole place (=the anointed Witnesses), reached its climax in the 21st century when the members of the Governing Body gave themselves unlimited dictatorial power. Now the holy place had relapsed to a wrong condition.

The situation of the creation of the Governing Body, the institution of laws that restricted the freedom of the Witnesses, and the introduction of the Governing Body’s unlimited power in the 21st century, is the diametrical oppoasite of the situation between 1944 and 1971. The prophecy says that what happened between 1944 and 1971 was the right condition of the holy place (= the anointed Witnesses). When that what happened after the year 1971 was the diametrical opposite of what happened from the year 1944,  which the prophecy calls “the right condition of the holy place,” we must conclude  that the prophecy shows that what happened from 1971 with the creation of the Governing Body was the wrong condition of the holy place.

The prophecy of Daniel of 2,300 evenings and mornings shows that 1) the creation of the Governing Body, 2) the activity of the members of the Governing Body, and 3) that they have given themselves dictatorial power, are directly contradicted by the Holy Scriptures.

 

The right condition of the anointed —1944-1971	The wrong condition of the anointed — 1971-2015
There was no government ruling the Witnesses.	The Governing Body functions as a government ruling the Witnesses.
The Witnesses were encouraged to make their own decision in all issues that were not mentioned in the Bible.	The Governing Body has made 200+ laws that are not based on the Bible, that all Witnesses must obey.
Witnesses who made decisions that were different from what most people make — for example, using tobacco — would not be punished.	Witnesses who do not obey laws of the Governing Body that are not based on the Bible — for example, using tobacco — will be disfellowshipped.
The Witnesses had full freedom to follow their consciences without any dictate from other persons.	The freedom of the Witnesses was gradually restricted of new laws, and the members of the Governing Body dictate what the Witnesses shall believe and do in more and more situations.
The organization of the Witnesses were theocratic — everything was based on the Bible.	The theocratic side of the organizationwas gradually undermined until the members of the Governing Body in the 21st century gave themselves unlimited power, and the organization became dictatorial.

 

INTRODUCTION

The prophecy dealing with the holy place is found in Daniel 8:13, 14, 26, and I quote verses 9-14 and 26:

⁹ And out of one of them there came forth another horn, a small one, and it kept getting very much greater toward the south and toward the sunrising and toward the Decoration. ¹⁰ And it kept getting greater all the way to the army of the heavens, so that it caused some of the army and some of the stars to fall to the earth, and it went trampling them down. ¹¹ And all the way to the Prince of the army it put on great airs, and from him the constant [feature] was taken away (literally: “thrown down”), and the established place of his sanctuary was thrown down. ¹² And an army itself was gradually given over, together with the constant [feature], because of transgression; and it kept throwing truth to the earth, and it acted and had success.

 

 ¹³ And I got to hear a certain holy one speaking, and another holy one proceeded to say to the particular one who was speaking: “How long will the vision be of the constant [feature] and of the transgression causing desolation, to make both [the] holy place and [the] army things to trample on?” ¹⁴ So he said to me: “Until two thousand three hundred evenings [and] mornings; and [the] holy place will certainly be brought into its right condition.”

²⁶ “And the thing seen concerning the evening and the morning, which has been said, it is true. And you, for your part, keep secret the vision, because it is yet for many days.”

IDENTIFYING THE OBJECTS OF THE PROPHECY

I will now identify the things that are mentioned in these verses:

The holy place

The temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in the year 70 CE, and because the prophecies of Daniel would be fulfilled in the time of the end, “the holy place” must refer to the antitype of this temple. This antitype is mentioned in 1 Peter 2:4-10:

⁴ Coming to him as to a living stone, rejected, it is true, by men, but chosen, precious, with God, ⁵ YOU yourselves also as living stones are being built up a spiritual house for the purpose of a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ For it is contained in Scripture: “Look! I am laying in Zion a stone, chosen, a foundation cornerstone, precious; and no one exercising faith in it will by any means come to disappointment.”

⁷ It is to YOU, therefore, that he is precious, because YOU are believers; but to those not believing, “the identical stone that the builders rejected has become [the] head of [the] corner,” ⁸ and “a stone of stumbling and a rock-mass of offense.” These are stumbling because they are disobedient to the word. To this very end they were also appointed. ⁹ But YOU are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for special possession, that YOU should declare abroad the excellencies” of the one that called YOU out of darkness into his wonderful light. ¹⁰ For YOU were once not a people, but are now God’s people; YOU were those who had not been shown mercy, but are now those who have been shown mercy.

The words of Peter refer to several prophetic types that were fulfilled on the anointed Christians to which he wrote:

• The temple was a type of the anointed Christians who were like living stones that were built into a spiritual house (a spiritual temple)
• The priests in the temple were types of the anointed Christians who should serve as priests for the world.
• The sacrifices in the temple were types of spiritual sacrifices, which according to Hebrews 13:15 are “the fruit of lips which make public declaration to his name.” This parallels the words in verse 9, to “declare abroad the excellencies of the one that called you out of darkness.” The expression “the constant [feature]” in Daniel 8:13 refers to these spiritual sacrifices.

On the basis of the words of Peter, we understand better while the people of God is called “the holy people” in Daniel 12:7.

The constant [feature] 

This refers to the sacrifices that every day were placed on the altar in the temple. And the antitype is the preaching of the anointed ones.

The army — the stars

Daniel 8:12 speaks about “the army” and verse 10 speaks of “the stars.” These expressions are synonyms. Deuteronomy 4:19 says: “and that you may not raise your eyes to the heavens and indeed see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the army (tsābā’) of the heavens.” We can see what “the army” and “the stars” refer to in Daniel 12:3:

³ “And the ones having insight will shine like the brightness of the expanse; and those who are bringing the many to righteousness, like the stars to time indefinite, even forever.

Daniel 12:10 shows that “the ones having insight” are those who will understand the book of Daniel in the time of the end. These are called “your people” in 12:1 and “the holy people” is 12:7. And 11:33 says that they “will impart understanding to the many.” This means that both “the army” and “the stars” are figurative expressions for the members of the holy people that exist in the time of the end.

The small horn

In order to identify this small horn, we must study the context with the different symbolic beasts, and particularly the beast on which the small horn grew. This is outside the scope of this study. So, I only say that I agree with the Watchtower literature that identifies this small horn as the Anglo-American Empire.

IDENTIFYING THE ACTIONS OF THE PROPHECY

The actions are performed by the small horn, which three times is referred to by “it.” The object of the actions is the holy people. They are symbolized collectively as “the holy place” and “his sanctuary,” and the individual members are symbolized as “the army” and as “the stars.”

The small horn caused some of the army and some of the stars to fall to the earth; His sanctuary was thrown down. It kept throwing the truth to the earth. The holy place and the army were trampled on.

Because of the actions of the small horn the constant [feature] was taken away, because of transgression — the transgression causing desolation.

What is described in Danial 8:9-14 is an attack on the holy people. Some of the holy people will fall to the earth, and the holy place that symbolizes the holy people will be thrown down and trampled upon.

As a parallel to this, the “two witnesses” (Revelation 11:7) were killed, and the power of the holy people (Daniel 12:7) was crushed to pieces. There would be an attack in both situations, but the result of the attack described in Daniel chapter 8 does not seem so severe as the result of the attack described in Daniel chapter 12 and Revelation chapter 11.

THE APPLICATION OF THE PROPHECY IN DANIEL CHAPTER 8

During World War I, there was an attack on Jehovah’s Witnesses, and they were killed after a period of 1,260 days, which means that the organization stopped functioning.[1] The only other situation where the people of God was attacked was during World War II. But the organization was not killed, it was only restricted. The Watchtower Society applies the 2,300 evenings and mornings to this period, and this application is logical in my view.

THE BEGINNING OF THE 2,300 EVENINGS AND MORNINGS

The Jewish day started in the evening, and there was an evening and a morning each day. This means that 2,300 evenings and mornings is the same as 2,300 days. Regarding the time of the fulfillment of the prophecy, the angel said to Daniel according to 8:17:

¹⁷ “Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of [the] end.”

In my article “Prophetic time periods identify the people of God,” I showed that the 3 1/2 time, 1,290 days, and 1,335 days that are mentioned in Daniel chapter 12 refer to important events in the history of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the time of the end. We must assume that this is also the case in the fulfillment of the 2,300 days. I quote Daniel 8:13, 14 one time more:

¹³ And I got to hear a certain holy one speaking, and another holy one proceeded to say to the particular one who was speaking: “How long will the vision be of the constant [feature] and of the transgression causing desolation, to make both [the] holy place and [the] army things to trample on?” ¹⁴ So he said to me: “Until two thousand three hundred evenings [and] mornings; and [the] holy place will certainly be brought into its right condition.”

I will first analyze the rendering “be brought into its right condition.” The Hebrew verb is tsādaq, and the nifal stem has the meaning “be brought to its justice, justified” (Koehler and Baumgartner). The Septuagint has the verb katharizō in future passive, with the meaning “will be cleansed”. The rendering “be brought into its right condition” of NWT84 is excellent.

Different important things should happen during the 2,300 evenings and mornings: “And an army itself was gradually given over, together with the constant [feature]” (8:12) The expression “was given over” is ambiguous. However, verse 10 says that some of the army and some of the stars fell to the earth and were trampled upon,” and this must be the meaning of “was given over.” Thus, some of the Christians were “trampled upon” and was persecuted.

There is a contrast between the destiny of the constant sacrifice (tāmīd) in connection with the period of 1,290 days (Daniel 12:11) and the 2,300 evenings and mornings (8:12). At the beginning of the 1,290 days the constant sacrifice was removed (the verb sūr in the hofal stem means “be taken away, removed” BDB). But the constant sacrifice in connection with the 2,300 evenings and mornings were “cast down” (the verb shālak in the hofal stem means “be thrown, thrown down” BDB; Ezekiel 19:12, “thrown to the earth.”) and “given over.” And it is not said that it was removed. This shows that the preaching of the kingdom was restricted in this period but not completely stopped.

This situation with persecution and restriction on the preaching work fits what happened with Jehovah’s Witnesses during World War II. The Watchtower of December 1, 1971 had the two articles, “Bringing Holy Place Into Right Condition” and “What Its ‘Right Condition’ Means for Us Today.” These are good articles that I use as a basis for the following discussion.

No particular event is mentioned as a beginning of the period of 2,300 evenings and mornings. But because the period ends when the holy place is brought into its right condition, the reasoning is that the beginning of the period must be when the holy place previously was in the right condition before the problems and the persecution came.

Immediately before World War II, there was an event that had great importance for Jehovah’s people. The congregations had been democratic, and the elders in each congregation were voted in by all the members of the congregation. This was a system contrary to the Bible, and it caused many problems. In the month of June 1938, this was changed, and Jehovah’s Witnesses from now on, had a theocratic organization. This is viewed as a situation when the Christian organization came into its right condition. I quote from The Watchtower of December 1, 1971, page 719:

⁸ In the June 1, 1938, issue of The Watchtower appeared the first part of the article entitled “Organization.” It was thrilling for worshipers at Jehovah’s sanctuary to read these sentences of the opening paragraph: “Jehovah’s organization is in no wise democratic. Jehovah is supreme, and his government or organization is strictly theocratic. This conclusion is not open to successful contradiction.” The June 15, 1938, issue of The Watchtowerpublished the second part of “Organization,” and it set out a resolution for adoption by the congregations of Jehovah’s witnesses, the opening paragraph of which said: “We, the company of God’s people taken out for his name, and now at ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐, recognize that God’s government is a pure theocracy and that Christ Jesus is at the temple and in full charge and control of the visible organization of Jehovah, as well as the invisible.” (Page 182) This called for appointment theocratically, from the top down, for all officiating servants in all congregations.

The persecution that Jehovah’s witnesses experienced during World War II is described in the following way om pages 721, 222:

¹⁶ The record plainly shows the extent of the wrath of the “king fierce in countenance.” He struck hard against Jehovah’s witnesses worldwide during the dark days of World War II, especially so in countries associated with the British Commonwealth of Nations. On July 4, 1940, the Dominion of Canada, a part of the Commonwealth, banned the work of Jehovah’s witnesses. In that same year New Zealand banned the public declaration of Jehovah’s name. About that same time the work in Gold Coast (Ghana) was banned. From then on the sacrificial “constant feature,” the fruitage of the lips, was indeed interfered with. The work was banned in Australia and Fiji in January of 1941. South Africa, the southernmost country of Africa, took official action against the work in 1941. Bans spread throughout practically all of the British possessions in Africa, including Nigeria on June 17, 1941. The British possessions of Asia also took similar actions. The work was banned in Burma, Ceylon and India in 1941. In 1942 in Great Britain the question of neutrality came to the forefront. When conscription came into force young Christian witnesses of Jehovah refused to engage in war. The British Tribunals hearing the cases convicted 1,593 men and women, sending most of them to prison. Of these, 334 women served prison sentences. This had the effect of taking many active proclaimers from the service of offering the sacrifice of praise to God publicly.

¹⁷ Just a few years before this the Nazi-Fascist-Catholic war drive stampeded throughout Europe. Legal restrictions and imprisonment came upon Jehovah’s witnesses, crushing branch office after branch office of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. The pressure was on to throw down “the established place of his sanctuary.”

¹⁸ In the United States, while the work of Jehovah’s witnesses was not officially banned, there were many attempts made to silence the witnesses. Throughout the then 48 states mob action was employed in many places. To fan the fires of violence and hatred, on June 3, 1940, the Supreme Court of the United States by a decision of 8-1 determined that the flag-salute ceremony was compulsory for citizens of the country. Any schoolchild refusing to perform the act was subject to being expelled from school. Persecution of Jehovah’s witnesses after that ran rampant. On June 16, 1940, the Solicitor General, in a broadcast over a coast-to-coast network of the National Broadcasting Company, said: “Jehovah’s witnesses have been repeatedly set upon and beaten. They had committed no crime; but the mob adjudged they had, and meted out mob punishment. The Attorney General has ordered a immediate investigation of these outrages.” It was not until June 14, 1943, when the Supreme Court of the United States reversed itself in the flag-salute matter that the intense persecution began to subside in the United States.

¹⁹ It is also very interesting to note that in 1938, the year before the outbreak of World War II, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society had 39 branches established throughout the earth to give oversight to the work of Jehovah’s witnesses. By 1942 there were some 106,000 witnesses of Jehovah preaching the Kingdom good news around the earth, but the number of branches had dropped to 25. By then the pressures were great and the ban was on in most parts of the earth. The next three years of the most violent war in history saw the persecution against Jehovah’s witnesses further intensified. Because of the banning of the work more branch offices were closed, until by 1943 there were only 21 branch offices operating throughout the world. Jehovah’s witnesses were tenaciously holding fast to their God-given assignment of preaching the good news, but from 1942 when they had 106,000 publishers they only increased by about 4,000 by the end of 1944. Truly the ‘offering of the constant feature’ was restricted.

It is clear that the persecution during World Wat II did not “kill the witnesses” (stop their work) as was the case during World War I. But the persecution during world War II restricted the work of the Witnesses.

THE END OF THE 2,300 EVENINGS AND MORNINGS

In June 1938, theocratic leadership was introduced into the organization. During World War II, Jehovah’s Witnesses were persecuted, as I have shown above, and the constant feature, the preaching of the good news about the kingdom was “thrown down” and restricted. During the war, there was a theocratic milestone that the leaders of the Watchtower Society have taken as the end of the 2,300 evenings and mornings.

The theocratic milestone in 1938 of making the organization theocratic was related to two articles in the Watchtower of 1 and 15 June 1938. The interpretation of the 2,300 mornings and evenings is that either of the two dates 1 and 15 June 1938, could be the starting point. The calculation of the 2,300 evenings and mornings is found in Watchtower of December 1, 1971, page 725:

²⁹ Remember, this is a prophetic period. So a prophetic year of 360 days is involved. (Rev. 11:2, 3; 12:6, 14) So 2,300 days would amount to six lunar years, four lunar months and twenty days. That amount of time counted from Sivan 2 (June 1), 1938, would end on Tishri 21 (October 8), 1944, or, counted from Sivan 16 (June 15), 1938, it would end on Heshvan 5 (October 22), 1944.

The fulfillment of the 2,300 evenings and mornings is particularly connected with the annual meeting between September 30 and October 2, 1944, when the charter of the Watchtower Society was amended in order to bring the Society in line with the theocratic principles that was accepted in June 1938. I quote from the Watchtower of December 1, 1971, page 726:

³¹ On September 30 through October 2, 1944, a special Service and business Assembly was held at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., where the registered offices of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society are located. On the opening day the Society’s president addressed the gathering of 5,000 on the subject “The Theocratic Alignment Today.” The following day the public address was on the subject “One World, One Government.” The Society’s annual business meeting was postponed from this day to the next day, Monday, October 2. This business meeting, which began at 10 a.m. was noteworthy. How so?

³² After the Society’s directors and its officers were elected by the shareholders there represented, consideration was directed to six amendments that were proposed for the Charter of the Society, which was a Pennsylvania corporation incorporated sixty years earlier, in the year 1884. These would amend Articles 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10. The first amendment resolution that was adopted proposed the enlarging of the purposes of the Society so as to assume properly the great worldwide work that lay ahead. Also, this amendment put God’s name, Jehovah, into the Charter. Amendment Three did away with the original charter’s provision that fixed one’s membership in the Society on the basis of one’s money contributions to the Society; henceforth the membership was to be limited to not more than 500, all of whom were to be chosen on the basis of their active service to Jehovah. As the Watchtowerissue of November 1, 1944, said in its report: “This amendment will have the effect of bringing the charter as near to Theocratic arrangement as the law of the land permits.” All six amendment resolutions were adopted.

Different actions that corroborate with the holy place — the anointed followers of Jesus Christ — being brought into its right condition, is found in the quoted article.

There are two possible calculations of the 2,300 evenings and mornings: From June 1, 1938 to October 8, 1944. From June 15, 1938 to October 22, 1944.

Many people will find it strange that a prophetic period in the Bible should be fulfilled on the basis of articles in The Watchtower. How can we view this? We must remember that it is not the articles in themselves that are important, but the theocratic progress that the articles and the annual meeting indicated.

In order to see the logic more clearly, we should consider the expression “the holy place.” In the time of the end there was no literal “holy place,” no holy temple. But as I have shown, the anointed members of the holy people are “the holy place.” Therefore, the prophetic time periods mentioned in Daniel and Revelation must be fulfilled by important events in the history of the holy people, which are Jehovah’s Witnesses.

There is another situation during World War II that confirm the calculation of 2,300 evenings and mornings, and that is what happened to the abomination causing desolation during World War II.

THE TRANSGRESSION (REBELLION) CAUSING DESOLATION

We read in 8:12 that the constant feature (sacrifice) was gradually given over (thrown down) because of transgression (pæsha‘), and 8:13 speaks of “the transgression causing desolation. The Watchtower connects these expressions with the abomination that causes desolation in Daniel 12:11 and Matthew 24:15. Is this warranted? My answer is Yes!

 

Table 1.1 References of the abomination causing desolation

	Hebrew	Greek Theodotion	Greek Septuagint
8:13	happæshsa‘ ‘shomem the transgression that desolates	he hamartia erēmōseōs the sin causing desolation	he hamartia erēmōseōs the sin causing desolation
9:27	shiqqutsim messhomem abominations causing desolation	bdelygma tōn erēmōseōn abomination causing the desolations	bdelygma tōn eremōseōn abomination causing the desolations
11:31	hasshsiqquts messhomem the abomination causing desolation	bdelygma ēfanismenon (the) abomination being visible	bdelygma erēmōseōs abomination causing desolation
12:11	shiqquts shomem (the) desolating abomination	bdelygma erēmōseōs abomination causing desolation	bdelygma tēs erēmōseōs abomination causing the desolation

Table 1.1 shows the four places where the Hebrew participles ‘shomem and messhomem (“desolating, causing desolation”) occur. In Daniel 9:27, 11:31, and 12:11, each of these words are preceded by the noun shiqquts (“abomination”). However, in 8:12, ‘shomem is preceded by the noun pæsha‘. This is a verbal noun, which means that verbal action is included in the noun. The meaning of pæsha‘ is “rebellion, revolt, sin, transgression (against human or divine authority).” (Kohlenberger and Mounce).

Which of these meanings or references fit pæsha‘ in 8:13? We get a clue from 8:23:

²³ “And in the final part of their kingdom, as the transgressors (pasha‘) act to a completion, there will stand up a king fierce in countenance and understanding ambiguous sayings.

Now we can better understand the relationship between 8:13 and the three other entries in Table 1.1. The words “the rebellion that desolates” point to a rebellion against God that will cause desolation, and 9:27, 11:31, and 12:11 point to the result of the rebellion, namely, the placing or setting up of the abomination causing desolation.

But can we point to events indicating that there was a rebellion that would cause desolation (8:13) during the 2,300 evenings and mornings? At the beginning of World War II, The League of Nations died, and its successor, The United Nations, had not yet appeared on the scene.  But during the war, there were actions that attempted to revive the League of Nations, and I quote The Watchtower of December 1971, page 723:

²² As foretold in Revelation 17:7, 8, that beastly Eighth World Power went into the “abyss” of deathlike inability at the outbreak of World War II. Its chief backer and promoter, the British Empire, was unable to keep it alive in the face of military aggression by Nazism and Fascism backed by Catholic Action.

²³ However, that idolatrous “image” for international worship was not left out of calculation by those who were putting on great airs against the Prince of princes, Jehovah the great Theocrat. On Sunday, December 7, 1941, the American member of the Seventh World Power was forced into World War II alongside the British member of the Anglo-American World Power. Then note what happened with regard to these idolatrous worshipers of a man-made organization for world peace and security. The so-called “Axis Powers” of Nazism, Fascism and Oriental Imperialism were still moving forward aggressively, when a significant event took place on Friday, January 2, 1942. What? According to the Chronology of events of 1942, as published in The Americana Annual “all twenty-six nations at war with the Axis powers pledge themselves not to make a separate armistice or peace and to employ full military or economic resources against the enemy in a ‘Declaration by United Nations’ signed in Washington.”​—Americana Annual for 1943, page 737.

The kingdom of God with Jesus Christ as king was established in 1914, and the holy place was on its way to being brought in its right condition. But instead of accepting God’s kingdom and Jehovah’s holy place, in the middle of the war, the nations worked to establish a counterfeit of God’s kingdom that resembled The League of Nations. This was clearly a transgression and a rebellion against Jehovah God that eventually would cause desolation.

But that is not all. This “rebellion” continued at the end of the war. The 2,300 evenings and mornings ended on October 8 or October 22, 1944, and immediately after each of these dates, there were attempts to revive the abomination causing desolation, as we see in the quotations below from The Watchtower of December 1, 1971, page 725:

October 9​—United States, Great Britain, Soviet Russia, and China announce decision of Dumbarton Oaks Conference to recommend creation of an international security organization, to be called “The United Nations,” and to be empowered “to take such action by air, naval or land forces as may be necessary to maintain or restore international peace and security.”

October 23​—Acting Secretary of State Edward R. Stettinius, Jr., announces official American recognition of the French Provisional Government, raising France to a high place among the United Nations and preparing the way for rapid reconstruction; governments of the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada issue similar announcements.​—The Americana Annual for 1945, page 730.

That there were attempts to rebel against Jehovah by setting up the abomination causing desolation both in the middle and at the end of the 2,300 evenings and mornings, and that Daniel connects this rebellion with the 2,300 days and evenings,  supports the calculation of this time period.

[1] See the article, «Prophetic time periods identify the people of God.” In the category “Bible study.”

WHAT BRINGING THE HOLY PLACE INTO ITS RIGHT CONDITION MEANT FOR INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIANS

Bringing the holy place into its right condition would mean something for the anointed followers of Jesus, who were living stones in “the holy place,” and for their companions with the hope of living in the earthly paradise. Because the organization now had become theocratic, the relationship between the leaders, who appointed servants in the congregations and who published studies of the Bible in the Watchtower, and the individual Witnesses had to be exactly in the way God wanted it to be. The situation in the congregations had to reflect the situation that the holy place had been brought into its right condition.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE LEADERS AND THE  MEMBERS OF THE THEOCRATIC ORGANIZATION

In a theocratic organization, there must be a leadership who arranges everything in accordance with the will of the great Theocrat, Jehovah God. I will now look at how this leadership was defined at the annual meeting in October 2, 1944, at the end of the 2,300 evenings and mornings. I will do this by comparing the different editions of the charter of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania:

CHARTER OF NOVEMBER 12,1884, AND THE AMENDED CHARTER OF AUGUST 8, 1896:

POINT II:

The purpose for which the corporation is formed is, the dissemination of Bible truths in various languages by means of the publication of tracts, pamphlets, papers and other religious documents, and by the use of all other lawful means which its board of directors, duly constituted, shall deem expedient, for the furtherance of the purpose stated.

AMENDED AND RESTATED CHARTER OF OCTOBER 2, 1944:

POINT II:

The purposes of this society are:  To act as the servant of and the legal world-wide governing agency for that body of Christian persons known as Jehovah’s witnesses; to preach the gospel of God’s kingdom under Jesus Christ unto all nations as a witness to the name, word and supremacy of Almighty God JEHOVAH; to print and distribute Bibles and to disseminate Bible truths in various languages by means of making and publishing literature containing information and comment explaining Bible truths and prophecy concerning establishment of Jehovah’s kingdom under Christ Jesus; to authorize and a appoint agents, servants, employees, teachers, instructors, evangelists, missionaries and ministers to go forth to all the world publicly and from house to house…

POINT VII:

The government of the corporation rests in its Board of Directors, a majority of whom shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

POINT VIII:

Directors shall be elected by the members at an annual meeting and hold office until successors qualify.

AMENDED AND RESTATED CHARTER OF APRIL 8 2003:

As stated in its charter, Watchtower’s corporate purposes are: religious, educational, and charitable, including to act as the servant and legal entity for the religious body of Christian persons known as Jehovah’s Witnesses.

The purposes stated in the charter of The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania of 1884 and 1896 was “the dissemination of Bible truths in various languages.” The amended charter of October 2, 1944, showed that in addition of the dissemination of Bible truths, the Society was “the servant and legal world-wide governing agency for Jehovah’s Witnesses, and the Society should appoint servants, missionaries, ministers and other representatives.

How would this influence the individual Witnesses? Until June 1938, the servants in each congregation were voted to their positions by all members of each congregation. But often this created problems because the congregation members who voted did not always consider the spiritual qualifications of those who were voted in. However, the theocratic procedure is found in Titus 1:5-9:

⁵ For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might correct the things that were defective and might make appointments of older men in city after city, as I gave you orders; ⁶ if there is any man free from accusation, a husband of one wife, having believing children that were not under a charge of debauchery nor unruly. ⁷ For an overseer must be free from accusation as God’s steward, not self-willed, not prone to wrath, not a drunken brawler, not a smiter, not greedy of dishonest gain, ⁸ but hospitable, a lover of goodness, sound in mind, righteous, loyal, self-controlled, ⁹ holding firmly to the faithful word as respects his [art of] teaching, that he may be able both to exhort by the teaching that is healthful and to reprove those who contradict.

Titus was an elder with long experience in the Christian service, and Paul told him to act in a theocratic way and appoint elders in the congregations. So, elders should not be appointed in a democratic way by voting. But elders should be appointed by other elders on the basis of the spiritual qualifications that Paul mentioned.

Applied to modern times, elders who were connected with The Watchtower should appoint elders in the congregations, according to its charter. In order to apply this to the whole world, there were elders in the branch offices of the Watchtower Society in different countries. These elders in the USA appointed circuit overseers (called “circuit servants”) in each country who would visit the 20 congregations in their circuit for one week two times a year.

The circuit overseers considered the spiritual qualifications in each congregation, and they recommended which brothers should be appointed as elders and servants in the congregations. These were appointed by a letter from the Watchtower Society. I was appointed as circuit overseer in 1965, and I continued as circuit overseer, district overseer, and teacher for elders until the autumn of 1975. Because of this, I know this system from the inside.

The congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses were independent of the Watchtower Society, and the Society had no practical authority over the congregations — they could not demand any particular actions from the congregations. What kept each congregation as a part of the theocratic organization was the loyalty of the members toward the Society because they had become believers because of the literature published by the Society and because of the preaching of representatives of the Society.

If the members of a congregation wanted to quit their congregation’s ties with the society, the Society did not have any means to force the congregation to stay in the organization. The circuit overseers were the prolonged arm of the Society, and there was a good relationship between the circuit overseers and the congregations. Usually, the congregations looked forward to the visit of the circuit overseer because he would help the congregation members both practically and spiritually. Because the circuit overseers were the liaisons of the Society to the congregations, and the congregations followed the advice of the circuit overseers, the Watchtower Society has a psychological power over the congregations.

The theocratic situation I have described was directly based on the Bible, and it contributed much spiritual wealth to all the Witnesses. And this situation was a good example showing that the holy place had been brought into its right condition.

THE ROLE OF THE LEADERS OF THE THEOCRATIC ORGANIZATION IN CONNECTION WITH TEACHING

The members of the congregations had become Witnesses because of the literature published by the Society and because of the preaching of representatives of the Society. What was the spiritual relationship between the individual Witnesses and the leaders, and how did the leaders view their own position?

When I ask about the relationship between the Witnesses and the leaders, this question should relate to the Witnesses and the Watchtower Society. Because the identity of the leaders was not known to the individual Witnesses. Only the names of two leaders were known by many Witnesses, N.H. Knorr and F.W. Franz because these two often gave talks at international assemblies. But these two also kept themselves in the background.

THE WITNESSES’ VIEW OF THE LEADERS

Because most Witnesses had become members of the congregations on the basis of the teaching of other Witnesses and the Watchtower literature of faith of individual Witnesses, how did they view their leaders. Or, a more important question: How did the leaders want the witnesses to look at them? The article “Let God Prove to Be True” in The Watchtower of November 1, 1946, pages 330–332, shows the contrast between the hierarchical Catholic Church and the Christian organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Below is a long quotation:

The written Word of God, therefore, does not need the addition of traditions which are the private interpretations of men and of religious organizations. It is not on our own authority that we say that the Bible is sufficient without such. . . . (2 Tim. 3:15–17, Douay)

The divisive force among the Catholic and Protestant religionists of Christendom is the religious traditions which they follow.

How is this? How is disunity over each one’s individual interpretation of the Holy Scriptures now overcome and avoided? Is it because they are united around a visible human organization or around a visible human leader? The answer is No.

Hence Jehovah’s Witnesses do not claim the church to be what the religious Hierarchy claim their religious organization to be, namely, the one holding the magisterium or teaching office and hence “the divinely appointed Custodian and Interpreter of the Bible” and whose “office of infallible Guide were superfluous if each individual could interpret the Bible for himself”. Rather than take this religious tradition of the Hierarchy, those who recognize the higher authority of Jehovah God and Christ Jesus will take the inspired and infallible statement of the apostle to Timothy regarding the church. This reads: “Thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”—1 Tim. 3:15, Douay.

Therefore, like a pillar, the church of the living God Jehovah must hold forth and display the truth, which truth, Jesus said, is God’s Word. She must be a sign and witness to God’s truth. (Isa. 19:19, 20) She, the church of God, must uphold and lend support to the truth of His Word, and not be the depositary of religious traditions of men. She [the church of the living God, 1Timothy 3:15] is not the teacher of God’s servants and witnesses, but looks to God as the Teacher by Christ Jesus. As it is written for her benefit: “And all thy children shall be taught of Jehovah.” (Isa 54:13, A.S.V.; John 6:45). . . .

The church’s final days on earth, at this end of the world, fall in that period of human history when Jehovah God stands bound by his own word to prove that he is true. He gives the proof by fulfilling the Bible and its prophecies and thus providing the official interpretation of it. Then Jehovah’ holy spirit discloses such interpretation in the fulfilled Bible. By accepting such interpretation the true church safeguards herself against private, individual interpretation.

The Catholic Church claims that the Church with the leadership of the Pope is the magisterium or teaching office for Catholics. This was not the case with Jehovah’s Witnesses. It is explicitly said that the Church of the Witnesses, which refers to the leaders, “is not the teacher of God’s servants and witnesses.”

This was the viewpoint of the leaders of Jehovah’s Witnesses after the holy place had been brought into its right condition.  This means that this must be how God sees the situation.

INTERACTIVE TEACHING

Interactive teaching is the opposite of what occurs in the Catholic Church and the different other religions. Each religion has doctrines and dogmas that the members of the religion must accept. Interactive teaching means that viewpoints are not forced upon the students by their teachers. But, the student himself or herself has an active part in the teaching process. This means that the teachers show the student how he or she can study the extant data and how he or she can draw balanced conclusions from these data.

Nathan H. Knorr became the president of the Watchtower Society in 1942 when J.F. Rutherford died. And he was a promotor of interactive teaching. In the account of his life as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses for several decades, A.H. Macmillan had an interesting observation about how N.H. Knorr, the president of the Watchtower Society from 1942, viewed unity:

Have you ever noticed how different ministers, representing the same religious organization, teach somewhat different ideas on the same subject? Conferences within their church systems are continually trying to iron out these differences, yet they persist. Knorr believed that not only should all Christians be ministers, but all should teach in exact unity of thought. Would this be possible without making “parrots” of them? Knorr believed it could be, and set out to do it…(some brothers in) the organization were recognized as accomplished speakers…But Knorr wanted everyone in the organization to be “ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you.”

Now the training program began in earnest. In April of 1943 special schools were organized in every congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses which became a regular part of congregational activity. These schools provided for an intensified course in public Bible speaking. All male persons attending the meetings were invited to enroll, since training was to be voluntary, and most did. Each week an instruction talk on some feature of public speaking, composition, grammar and related subjects was considered and, later, the Bible itself was discussed from every aspect. Then three student talks were given by those enrolled, each taking his turn. They spoke on assigned Bible topics and then were given counsel for improvement by the one in charge of the school. These schools, called Theocratic Ministry Schools, are still a vital part of the program of each congregation, and as new male persons become associated they are encouraged to participate.[1]

When I became a Witness in the year 1961, I benefitted much from the program that was instituted by Knorr. The Watchtower literature encouraged me to get a personal understanding of the Bible. Through this literature I learned how to study, and how to dig deep into every subject in the Bible. I also learned how joyful it was to discover new sides of biblical subjects and how to come closer to Jehovah by studying his attributes and his marvelous purpose with the earth and humans.

I give some examples of admonitions of  interactive learning in the Watchtower literature.

:

The Watchtower May 15, 1951, page 320:

Would one of Jehovah’s witnesses be wise to say he accepts as from the Lord and true each issue of The Watchtower even before he opens it? or should he say it is provided by the “faithful and discreet slave” but he will prove everything in it before accepting it?—L. P., Montana.

If the heavenly Father would not give a stone or serpent or scorpion to a child who asked for bread or fish or an egg from him, and if The Watchtower is a gift from Jehovah through Christ by the “faithful and discreet slave”, are we to take each issue of The Watchtower into our hands as if we were going to be bruised by a stone or bitten by a serpent or stung by a scorpion? (Matt. 7:7-11; Luke 11:9-13, NW) Are we to be doubtful and suspicious about each succeeding issue? The Beroeans first “received the word with the greatest readiness of mind”, and then they went to “carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so”.(Acts 17:11, NW) So we should receive The Watchtower as an instrument that is always endeavoring to bring us the truth, if our past experience with it warrants that, and then, not in a combative spirit, we should Beroeanlike prove by the Scriptures what it says. That is what we want you to do, that you may be convinced and make these things your very own.

The Watchtower of February 1, 1952, page 80:

¹² Now some may ask, Should we accept as from the Lord and true the food provided through the discreet slave, or should we withhold acceptance until we have proved it for ourselves? If we have gained our present understanding of the Bible by feeding at the table set by the slave, if we have been thereby freed from false doctrines and built up in the clean and undefiled worship of God and given a new world hope, we should have some confidence in the slave’s provisions. After being nourished to our present spiritual strength and maturity, do we suddenly become smarter than our former provider and forsake the enlightening guidance of the organization that mothered us? “Forsake not the law of thy mother.” (Prov. 6:20-23) And if the heavenly Father would not give a stone or serpent or scorpion to a child who asked for bread or fish or an egg from him, are we to take the spiritual food he provides through the slave into our hands as if we were going to be bruised by a stone or bitten by a serpent or stung by a scorpion? (Matt. 7:7-11; Luke 11:9-13, NW) Are we to be doubtful and suspicious about each new provision? “He who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and blown about. In fact, let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from Jehovah.” (Jas. 1:6, 7, NW) Even the Beroeans first received Paul’s preaching “with the greatest readiness of mind”, and then went to “carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so”. (Acts 17:11, NW) This was the first real contact the Beroeans had with Paul’s preaching, yet they received it readily and then studied the Scriptural support for themselves. How much more readily we can receive the slave’s provisions with confidence, since, unlike the Beroeans, we have much past experience with the precious provisions from the slave. After receiving these food supplies we prove their Scripturalness for ourselves to make the message our own, in a spirit of meekness and trustfulness and not combativeness.

The Watchtower of January 15, 1960, page 42:

How necessary, not only to learn the “first principles” of Jehovah’s teaching, but also to be “carefully examining the Scriptures daily,” by digging down into the Bible with all provided study aids! In this way one will become convinced in his faith and equipped to confidently explain all the wonderful facets of the truth to others. Make the truth your own, and walk in it.—Acts 17:11.

To free heart and mind for dedicated service to the true God, one must know the Bible.

The Watchtower April 15, 1960, page 229:

Instead of saying that beliefs do not matter, God’s Word declares: “Keep testing whether you are in the faith, keep proving what you yourselves are.” (2 Cor. 13:5) There is nothing to fear by making this test, by proving our beliefs by the only standard for judging religious teachings—the Holy Bible. Indeed, we should fear not to make this test. Christians must not be man-pleasers but God-pleasers.

Using the Scriptures to test doctrines is the course commended in the Bible. When Paul and Silas went to Beroea, they preached to the Jews. How did these Jews respond to this Christian preaching? They “were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with the greatest readiness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11) The Beroeans were not being fanatical or unreasonable. They did not rely on the word of man alone. The Beroeans made sure of all things. How? By “carefully examining the Scriptures.” This is the way Christians should test religious beliefs.Let us, then, carefully examine the Scriptures to test some common beliefs.

The Watchtower of September 1, 1963, page 525:

¹⁷ How vitally necessary the study of God’s Word is to human welfare was keenly appreciated by the Christian apostles. At no time did they cast doubt on its dependability and thus contribute to undermining public confidence in it, as some religious leaders have done in the twentieth century. They always manifested deep respect for it, doing their utmost to build up faith in it and appreciation for it. When the Jews of the city of Beroea in Macedonia went to the Scriptures to see if Paul’s teachings measured up to them, Paul did not condemn them. He did not institute an inquisition against them as the Roman Catholic Church has done at times against those who sought to measure her teachings by the Bible. Instead, he spoke highly of those Jews, saying they were nobleminded. He approved of their desire to study the Scriptures and to use them as a measuring rod of faith and truth.—Acts 17:11.

The Watchtower of April 15, 1964, page 227:

Also in need of consideration is the Christian responsibility to share the good things in God’s Word with others. Are you equipped with the Bible knowledge necessary to do this? Jesus Christ himself emphasized the importance of this knowledge by saying: “This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.”—John 17:3.

Is it not apparent, therefore, that to handle the Bible effectively you must read it regularly? Truths quickly slip from mind unless they are reviewed. Even regular attendance at religious services does not replace this need to read the Bible. The Christian apostle Paul showed this when writing concerning the Beroeans. “Now the [inhabitants of Beroea] were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica,” Paul wrote, “for they received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so.”—Acts 17:11.

Notice that the Beroeans ‘carefully examined the Scriptures daily,’ even in addition to attending religious services. This is the course recommended by the Bible. But what is the situation today?

The Watchtower of July 15, 1965, page 420:

Have you ever tried to defend your faith by showing that it was supported by the Scriptures? If someone asked you why you believe the way you do, could you open the Bible to appropriate texts and say, “This is the basis for my faith. It is what the Bible teaches on the matter”? Remember, the apostle Peter said: Be “always ready to make a defense before everyone that demands of you a reason for the hope in you.”—1 Pet. 3:15.

Merely possessing a faith is not sufficient. You must be prepared to defend it. This requires investigation—asking questions, and obtaining answers from God’s Word of truth the Bible. “Keep testing whether you are in the faith, keep proving what you yourselves are,” the apostle Paul encouraged. It is vital that you make this test, examining whether your beliefs are supported by the Scriptures. It is the only way to be sure that you have the true faith.—2 Cor. 13:5.

The Watchtower December 1, 1977, page 723:

²² The Pharisees used the tyranny of authority when officers sent out to arrest Jesus returned without him because they were impressed with Jesus’ teaching. “You have not been misled also, have you?” the Pharisees asked. “Not one of the rulers or of the Pharisees has put faith in him, has he? But this crowd that does not know the Law are accursed people.” The Pharisees did not use reason, but declared that wise people rejected Jesus, only the stupid listened to him.​—John 7:45-49.

²³ When we advise others we should use reason and scriptures, not demanding compliance because of a position we might have. (Phil. 4:5) We should be like Paul, who did not use his position as an apostle to pressure people. Instead, he commended them for checking to see whether his teaching was based on the Bible. “They received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so. Therefore many of them became believers.”​—Acts 17:11, 12.

The two quotations from the Watchtower of 1951 and 1952 illuminate the view of the leaders of the individual Witnesses at this time and throughout most of the 20th century. The expression “the faithful and discreet slave” referred to all the anointed Witnesses, including brothers and sisters. And because the names of these were not known, the expression indirectly referred to the organization and its leaders.

We had the same view of the leaders, whose names we did not know, as pupils in the elementary school has of their teacher. We had learned the truth through the literature published by the Watchtower Society, and we cooperated with others in spreading this literature and to teach others about the kingdom of God. We had full confidence in what The Watchtower published. But we did not view the Watchtower as an authority in addition to the Bible.

All the quotations show how the view of N.H. Knorr of interactive teaching, that every Witnesses should know the Bible and be able to defend his or her faith by using the Bible, permeated the congregations. The first quotation from 1960 stresses the importance of knowing the Bible. The second quotation from 1960 and the quotations from 1963 and 1964 exhort every Witness to test their own faith by the help of the Bible.

The quotation from 1965 stresses interactive learning. Witnesses must not only read The Watchtower as a support for their faith. But they must investigate and ask questions that can be answered from the Bible.

The organization’s stress on interactive learning lasted from World War II and into the 1990s. The way the following three books are written, invite the reader to interactive learning. Your Youth — Getting the Best out of It (1976), United in Worship of the Only True God (1983), Questions Young People Ask — Answers that Work (1989). The two books for Youths invite the readers to make plans for their testing of moral issues, and the United Worship-book is in my view the best book for Bible study that has been published by the Watchtower Society.

[1]. A.H. Macmillan, Faith on the March (1956), pages 169, 170.

SITUATIONS NOT MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE AND INDIVIDUAL CONSCIENCES

I have shown that the leaders of the organization did not view themselves as teachers of the Witnesses in the same way that the Pope and the Catholic Clergy viewed themselves as teachers of the Catholics. I have also shown that the leaders stressed interactive learning to the point that the Witnesses should not succumb to the tyranny of authority —to believe something because of the position of the ones teaching it. But each Witness should test his or her own faith and study the Bible thoroughly to have a sound basis for his or her faith.

The holy place was brought into its right condition in the year 1944, and this led to spiritual blessings and freedom for the believers. This freedom would also include individual decisions in connection with issues that are not mentioned in the Bible.

THE USE TOBACCO

The question about smoking and using other forms of tobacco would be important for many persons who wanted to become servants of Jehovah. Tobacco is not mentioned in the Bible. And sincere persons who wanted live according to the Bible asked the Watchtower Society about it.

The Watchtower of 1942, pages 205 and 206 said regarding tobacco:

The use of tobacco is extremely filthy, regardless of the form in which it is used It befouls the body and dulls the mental faculties. It makes the user offensive to those with whom he comes in contact, and works great injury to the user and is a dishonor to God and Christ… For these reasons those appointed to represent the society as special or general pioneer publishers or as servants in the various company [congregation]organizations are required to refrain from the use of tobacco in any form…To be sure, the Society has no power or authority or desire to say that a person who wishes to use tobacco may not do so. Nor can it say, “You may not witness for the Kingdom.”

This is an answer that excellently stresses the true biblical position of the leaders of the Watchtower Society. Because tobacco is not mentioned in the Bible, the Watchtower Society did not have the authority to tell a Witness not to use tobacco because that would be an intrusion of the Christian freedom of each individual. However, the Society had the right to make rules for those who were special representatives of the Society

ISSUES RELATED TO SECULAR WORK AND PERSONAL ACTIVITIES

The Watchtower of September 15, 1951, page 574, shows that the Watchtower Society would not meddle in issues of secular work and personal activities:

What should be the Christian’s position regarding work in defense plants, serving on juries, selling Christmas cards or trees, etc?—Composite question based on many inquiries.

The Watchtower Society is organized for the purpose of preaching the good news of the Kingdom in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all nations, and it encourages and aids all to have a part in that work, freely advising as to the most effective procedures. As to other forms of activity or work the Society has no specific recommendation to make. To draw up rules for all the possible situations relative to secular work would embark us upon the compilation of a voluminous, Talmudlike set of regulations, seeking to make all the fine distinctions as to when and when not certain work becomes objectionable… The Society’s silence on these matters is not to be viewed as giving consent, nor is it to be viewed as a condemnation we do not wish to openly express. It means that we think it is the individual’s responsibility to choose, not ours. It is his conscience that must be at ease for his course, not ours… So let each one accept his own responsibility and answer to his own conscience, not criticizing others or being criticized by them, when individual consciences allow different decisions on the same matter.

This is also an excellent answer in view of the holy place being brought into its right condition. The important point here is that in relation to situations that are not mentioned in the Bible, the leaders of Jehovah’s Witnesses cannot give any advice in concrete situations. The conscience of each Witness must make the decision, and others have no right to criticize this decision.

One interesting point is that if the leaders made concrete advice, that would lead to a Talmud-like set of regulations. As I will show in part 2 of this study, this is exactly what has happened. The members of the Governing Body have made 200+ Talmudlike laws and rules that are not based on the Bible. The Witnesses must follow these laws and rules or else be removed from the congregation.

GAMBLING

The Watchtower of February 1, 1954, page 94, discussed the issue of gambling, and we read:

Is gambling a violation of Bible principles? Is it wrong for a Christian to have secular employment in a gambling project, such as a legalized lottery or gambling house?—V. W., Haiti, West Indies.

Gambling appeals to selfishness and weakens moral fiber; it tempts many into habits of cheating and crookedness… Can a Christian be employed in a gambling enterprise that is legally recognized and allowed? He may think that he can do so if he refrains from gambling himself or allowing his spiritual brothers to gamble through his services. One may be able to conscientiously do this, while another would not be able to do so in good conscience. Each one will have to decide individually whether he can or cannot do so conscientiously. It is doubtless preferable to be separate from the atmosphere surrounding such activities, and the Christian may wisely arrange to make a change in his occupation. It is a matter each one must decide for himself and in accord with his circumstances and conscience. The Watch Tower Society does not decide as to an individual’s employment, as we previously stated in theSeptember 15, 1951, Watchtower, page 574.

This is again an answer that cherishes Christian freedom. In connection with different forms of gambling, each one’s conscience must decide. And, as in the question in The Watchtower of 1951, it is shown that the conscience of different persons can give different results. The last point is important: The Watch Tower Society does not decide as to an individual’s employment.

NO LEADER HAS THE RIGHT TO OVERTURN THE CONSCIENCE OF OTHERS

In all questions above, the Watchtower Society stressed that in connection with situations not mentioned in the Bible, only the conscience of each Witness could make the decision. And no one had the right to criticize such a decision. I quoted answers given by the Watchtower Society from the years 1942, 1951, and 1954. The holy place continued to be in its right position, and the Christian freedom that was a result of this, continued. We can see this in the article “Facing up to Questions of conscience” in the Watchtower of October 1, 1972. I quote from page 589:

DIFFICULT DECISIONS OF CONSCIENCE

Thus there are many, many acts and practices that are specifically approved or condemned in the Bible. Many, many others are clearly in harmony with, or in violation of, principles contained therein. Yet, particularly in the modern, complex society that has developed in many parts of the earth, there remain situations and circumstances where personal decision, based on the individual conscience of the one involved, is required. So many things in life are a matter of degree. The difference between a gentle pat and a vicious blow is a matter of degree of force. The difference between simple respect​—as, for example, respect to a ruler or a national emblem—​and reverential worship is also a matter of degree. Where extremes are involved there is no real question. It is when the matter comes within what might be called a ‘gray area,’ approaching the borderline between what is clearly right and what is clearly wrong, that questions arise. The closer to such ‘borderline situation’ the matter comes, the greater the part the individual’s conscience must play in his decision. Faced with such circumstances, what should we do?

Jehovah God expects us to use our faculties of intelligence, our knowledge, understanding and judgment, and to do conscientiously what our faith points us to do. God does not place us under the conscience of some other human in such matters. We must each make our own decision in harmony with conscience​—conscience molded by God’s Word. We must also take the consequences of our own decisions, not expect someone else to make the decision and bear that responsibility for us.

It would therefore be wrong in such matters to try to extract from someone else, from a body of elders or from the governing body of the Christian congregation, some rule or regulation that ‘draws the line’ on matters. Where God’s Word does not itself ‘draw the line,’ no human has the right to add to that Word by doing so. God in his wisdom allows us to show what we are in the “secret person of the heart,” and the decisions we make in such personal cases may reveal this. True, we may err at times without wrong motive, and God, who reads our hearts, can discern this.

All the quotations above show how the Watchtower Society lived up to the words expressed in The Watchtower of November 1, 1946, that The Society “was not “the divinely appointed Custodian and Interpreter of the Bible” or “the teacher of God’s servants and witnesses.”

CHRISTIAN FREEDOM CONNECTED WITH THE ELDER ARRANGEMENT

At the end of the 2,300 evenings and mornings in October 1944, the holy place had been brought into its right condition. This led to a situation that at first glance could seem to be contradictory. One the one hand, the servants (elders) in the congregations were now appointed by other elders that were connected with the Watchtower Society and not by a vote from all members of the congregation.  This was clearly in line with the appointment of elders in the congregations in the first century. On the other hand, the Watchtower Society did not “govern” or dictate the individual Witnesses. The Society “was not “the divinely appointed Custodian and Interpreter of the Bible” or “the teacher of God’s servants and witnesses.” It published biblical literature, and it sent out preachers. But each Witness was encouraged to study the Bible and make their own decisions based on their conscience. As the Watchtower of September 15,1951, page 574, said:

As to other forms of activity or work the Society has no specific recommendation to make…

So let each one accept his own responsibility and answer to his own conscience, not criticizing others or being criticized by them, when individual consciences allow different decisions on the same matter.

In 1944, the organization became fully theocratic. But this did not lead to any suppression of the individual Witnesses. On the contrary, it led to a situation of full Christian freedom. The situation was similar to the situation in the Christian congregations in the first century CE, as is described in the book Qualified to Be Ministers (1955) page 351:

The early congregation was definitely organized in a theocratic way. . . . Although all were brothers, on the same level, and there were no clergy and laity classes, and those who were of the governing body and who performed duties of special responsibility were workers, yet the congregation was in no way democratically operated, neither was it communistic, and certainly not dictatorial. (My italics.)

After this situation of a theocratic organization and Christian freedom had lasted for almost thirty years, its peak was reached. This happened in the year 1972 when the elder arrangement was introduced.

THE TRANSFER OF POWER FROM THE WATCHTOWER SOCIETY TO THE BODIES OF ELDERS

I have stressed that the Watchtower Society did not suppress the Witnesses in any way because the Witnesses had full freedom to make their own decisions without any interference from the Society. But nevertheless, the theocratic arrangement that was introduced in 1938 and was perfected in 1944 gave the Society what we can call a “power base” — some power over the congregations.

Each congregation was practically and judicially independent of the Watchtower Society. But the Society still had some power over the congregations through the circuit overseers who visited about 20 congregations in the circuit two times a year.  They were the liaisons between the Society and the congregations. I can tell this because I started as a circuit servant in 1965 and continued with this service until 1972 when I became district overseer.

The responsibility of the circuit servant was to work together with the congregation members in the preaching work, he would give four talks to the congregation, and he would have two meetings with the servants. When he met with the servants, he would discuss the work of the congregation, give advice to the servants and help to solve any problems they had. He also had the duty to decide which brothers had the spiritual qualifications of being servants, and he would recommend one or more brothers so the Watchtower Society could officially appoint them as servants.

It is obvious that the Watchtower Society exercised some power over the congregations through the circuit overseer. He was the extended arm of the Society, and the members of the congregations, including the servants, would work hard to follow the advice the circuit servant had given them.

In the year 1972, there came a big change. In connection with the making of a Bible lexicon (Aid to Bible Understanding), the central words in the original text of the Bible were thoroughly studied, and the leaders of the Watchtower Society realized that they had to make some adjustments to the theocratic procedures that were introduced in 1938 and 1944.

In each congregation, there was one congregation servant who was the leader of the congregation, and there were ministerial servants who were his assistants. The group of servants worked together as a body in different situations. But the ministerial servants were viewed as the assistants to the congregation servant. These could also be viewed as elders. But this word was not often used.

Paul gave instructions of the qualifications of elders and ministerial servants in 1 Timothy 3:1-13. The qualifications of elders are higher than those of ministerial servants. I was one of those who instituted the new elder arrangement: We used many hours in each congregation to discuss the qualifications of all men in the congregation. We decided which brothers qualified as elders and which brothers qualified as ministerial servants. And our recommendation was sent to the Watchtower Society so they could be appointed. The result was the formation of a body of elders and a group of ministerial servants in each congregation

I was a circuit servant in 1971 when all circuit servants got a letter telling us that we no longer had the responsibility that we had before. From now on, we were only traveling pioneers. We would work together with the congregation members in the preaching work, and give talks to the congregation. But we could give advice to the elders and ministerial servants only if we were asked for advice. Previously, the circuit overseers decided who they would recommend to the Society as congregation servant and ministerial servants. This was no longer our duty. But the body of elders should from now on recommend new elders and ministerial servants without the circuit overseer having any role in this.

By relieving the power of the circuit overseers toward the congregations, the leaders of the Watchtower Society took away their own power over the congregations. The body of elders now had full power over the congregation, and the elders were independent of the Watchtower Society.

Making the congregations independent of the Society was a conscious decision of the leaders of the Society because they realized that this was the pattern of the Christian Greek Scriptures. The body of elders in the congregations was encouraged by the Society to find new ways to preach the good news of the kingdom. We were encouraged to make our own outlines of public lectures and also give such lectures in other places than in the Kingdom Hall. The body of elders should make decisions for the congregation. But in issues of the use of the money of the congregation, renting or building a Kingdom Hall, the times for the meeting etc. the body of elders should make a resolution that the congregation members should vote over it.

The theocratic arrangement was introduced in 1938, and the holy place was brought into its right condition in 1944. This had resulted in a prosperous spiritual situation with freedom for the members of the congregations. And this freedom reached its high point in 1972 when each congregation became independent of the Watchtower Society and the body of elders had all power in each congregation.

But this excellent spiritual situation that was similar to the situation in the Christian congregations in the first century CE, did not last. In the year 1976, the members of the Governing Body that had been instituted in 1971, started to take a small part of the power of the bodies of elders and transfer this power to themselves. This developed and it resulted in the relapsing of the holy place from its right position. This will be discussed in part II of this study.

Because the holy place was brought into its right condition in October 1944, everything that happened in the organization and in the congregations between 1944 and 1972, as I have described above, must be how Jehovah wants his organization on earth to be.