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

By 23. October 2024November 10th, 2024Bible study

WHAT THE RIGHT CONDITION OF THE HOLY PLACE IS

The holy place, which is a symbol of all the anointed Jehovah’s Witnesses, would be brought into its right condition after a period of 2,300 evenings and mornings, according to Daniel 8:14. In the first part of this study, I showed that the organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses became theocratic in June 1938 and that The Watchtower Society became fully theocratic in October 1944. Between these dates, there are 2,300 days, and The Watchtower has written that this is the fulfillment of the 2,300 evenings and mornings in the prophecy of Daniel. I agree with this understanding.

THE RIGHT CONDITION OF THE HOLY PLACE IS THE THEOCRATIC ORGANIZATION

Because The Watchtower shows that the right condition of the holy place was reached by leaving a democratic organization in favor of a theocratic organization, we must assume that the way the organization functioned from 1944 onward was the way Jehovah God wanted his organization — his holy place — to function.

The theocratic organization was built on three fundamental truths:

  • The leaders of the congregations (elders and ministerial servants) are appointed by elders connected with the Watchtower Society.
  • The members of the congregations have full Christian freedom to make their decisions based on their understanding of the Bible and their consciences.
  • Where God’s Word does not itself ‘draw the line,’ no human has the right to add to that Word by doing so.

From the year 1944 onward, the leaders of the Watchtower Society had the power over the congregations by their appointment of elders and ministerial servants in the congregations. The liaisons between the Watchtower Society and the congregations were the circuit overseers, who visited the congregations two times a year. They gave talks to the congregations and taught the members the principles of the Bible. And most importantly, they decided which brothers they would recommend for appointment by the Society as the congregation servants and ministerial servants. This theocratic arrangement contributed to the spiritual prosperity of the congregations.

However, in the year 1972, there came a change that affected the relationship between the Watchtower Society and the congregations. The leaders realized that there should be an adjustment to the theocratic arrangements that were made in the years 1938 and 1944. The congregation servant and some of the ministerial servants, who were his assistants, were called “elders.” But this expression was rarely used. In accordance with the Bible, the Watchtower Society decided that each congregation should not be led by one man, the congregation servant, but by a body of elders who were equals.

The preparation of this new arrangement started in the year 1971, when we circuit overseers received a letter indicating that we had lost all power vis a vis the congregations. We should work together with the congregation members in the preaching service and give talks to the congregations. But we were not allowed to give any advice to the brothers who led the congregation, except when they specially asked for advice.

When we and all congregations in 1972 got letters describing the new elder arrangement, the circuit overseers should lead the first discussion of which brothers should be recommended as elders and ministerial servants. But after that, the body of elders should recommend new elders and ministerial servants, and the circuit overseers should not play any role in this.

By taking away the power of the circuit overseers over the congregations and giving the full power to the bodies of elders, the Watchtower Society gave away a great part of the power they had over the congregations. Each congregation was legally and practically independent of the Watchtower Society, and the power of appointing elders was based on the consent of the elders in the congregation. If a congregation wanted to quit its ties with the Watchtower Society, the Society did not have any power to force the congregation to change course. So, the relationship between each congregation and its body of elders and the Watchtower Society was based on trust and not on force.

This was clearly an expression of the right condition into which the holy place had been brought:The body of elders had full power over their congregation, and each member of the congregation had full Christian freedom to make their own decisions.

THE INTRODUCTION OF THE DICTATORIAL ORGANIZATION

The charter of the Watchtower Society of Pennsylvania says that this Society should be “the servant of and the legal world-wide governing agency for that body of Christian persons known as Jehovah’s witnesses.” I quote The Watchtower of July 15, 1943, page 216 (above), and The Watchtower November 15, 1950, page 448 (below):

(Matt. 24: 46,47) Such prophecy makes certain that Jehovah’s “servant” class would prove faithful down till the Lord’s coming to the temple in A.D. 1918. At that momentous date, as is well known, the remnant shall dream dreams, your young men shall see of Jehovah’s “people for his name” were colaboring with the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society as their legal governing body.

32 According to the theocratic arrangement today there must be a governing body for the congregation of Jehovah’s witnesses throughout the earth. The facts show these to be associated with the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. 

The  “governing body” mentioned in The Watchtower must be the same as “a worldwide governing agency” mentioned in the Charter of the Watchtower Society of Pennsylvania. Both according to the Watchtower of 1943 and 1950, this governing body is associated with or identical with the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.

The leaders of the Watchtower Society have since 1944 and until the elder arrangement served as a governing agency or governing body for Jehovah’s Witnesses. This has been an excellent expression of the right condition into which the holy place was brought because it has meant full Christian freedom for the members of the congregations. And in accordance with the Bible, in 1972, The Watchtower Society gave the power they had over the congregations to the bodies of elders in these congregations.

But then there came a change.

THE REVERSAL OF CHRISTIAN FREEDOM

As an elder and as a member of the congregation, I appreciated very much the Christian freedom that was connected with the elder arrangement. Even though the body of elders had power over the congregation, and the elders and the congregation members could make their own decisions, we were still loyal to the Watchtower Society. We had learned the truth through the publications of the Society and through the preachers that were sent out. And we wanted to take part in the worldwide preaching of the kingdom of God.

In 1971, one year before the start of the elder arrangement, a government of Jehovah’s Witnesses was instituted. Until this time, the expression “the governing body” had been applied to the leaders of the Watchtower Society. And as I have shown in the first part of this study, these brothers did not govern the congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses. In other words, they did not make laws and rules that all Witnesses had to obey.

But now, in 1971, a group of 17 elders was instituted as the “Governing Body,” a government for the worldwide community of Jehovah’s Witnesses. These elders had meetings, and during these meetings, they made decisions that were binding for all Jehovah’s Witnesses. I will discuss different sides of their work and discuss how the members of the Governing Body started to change the power structure of the organization and give themselves more power.

The first time I realized any change in the power structure was in 1976, when a small step was taken to centralize the power of the organization. The Society had encouraged the bodies of elders to find new ways to preach the good news in our territory. We should consider which subjects could interest the public and make our own outlines for public talks that could be held in the Kingdom Hall or other places in the territory. In 1976, this arrangement was canceled, and from now on, we could only use the Society’s printed outlines for public talks, which could only be held in the Kingdom Hall. We were also told to “slavishly” follow these outlines in our talks.

The recommendation of new elders that would be appointed by the Society was made by the body of elders without the participation of the circuit overseer, as the organization book from 1972 says:

Appropriately, therefore, in each congregation of Jehovah’s Christian witnesses, once a year, about September 1, those who are already appointed elders prayerfully consider whether any additional brothers who are active in service on behalf of the congregation now qualify to become elders.[1]

A letter of August 1, 1976, made a change in the procedure expressed in the Organization book of 1972. It indicated that the circuit overseers would get more responsibility. It said that from now on, the circuit overseer could be present when the body of elders discussed if a brother was qualified to become an elder without saying anything. The letter said:

Even though the circuit overseer will not say anything when the elders make their final decision and will not have any part in the final decision in each case, he will give his opinion when he sends the recommendation on the forms that are made for this purpose.

This situation developed, and after some time, the consideration of new elders would happen when the circuit overseer visited the congregation. The circuit overseer discussed possible new elders with the body of elders, but he had the final say in the recommendation that would be sent to the Watchtower Society. Today, recommendations are no longer sent to the Society. But the circuit overseer himself appoints new elders, and then he notifies the Watchtower Society of which persons he has appointed.

The position of the circuit overseer as the liaison between the Society and the congregations was now restored. And through the circuit overseer the Watchtower Society has power over the congregations.

By clever maneuvering, the members of the Governing Body have now also the power over the money and Kingdom Halls of all the congregations. A detailed discussion of this is found in my book, My Beloved Religion — And The Governing Body, pages 141-151.

 

Today, The Governing Body has unlimited dictatorial power over the doctrines, the money, and the properties of the congregations. The right condition of the holy place, — the theocratic organization — has been abandoned. The holy place has relapsed into a wrong position — the dictatorial organization.

BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER THE SON AND THE GOVERNING BODY

Baptism is the step that makes a person a part of a congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Before a person is baptized, three different elders have separate meetings with him or her in order to find out whether the person has the right faith so he or she can be baptized. Sixty questions about the Christian faith and life, found in the book Organized to do Jehovah’s will (2015, revised 2023) are discussed with the candidate.

Quite early in his Bible study, the interested person is introduced to Jehovah’s organization and the role of the Governing Body. In the Organization book with the questions that the candidate for baptism must answer, the submission to the Governing Body is stressed. Chapter 3 is entitled, “Remember those who are taking the lead among you,” and we read:

5 So “the faithful steward, the discreet one,” is made up of a small group of anointed brothers who are directly involved in preparing and dispensing spiritual food during Christ’s presence. (Luke 12:42) Throughout the last days, the anointed brothers who constitute “the faithful and discreet slave” have served together at headquarters. Today, these anointed brothers make up the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

6 Christ uses this body to publish information about the fulfillment of Bible prophecies and to give timely direction regarding the application of Bible principles in daily life. This spiritual food is distributed through the local congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses. (Isa. 43:10; Gal. 6:16)

10 It is vital for us to be submissive to those who keep watch over us for our spiritual well-being.

The 11 members of the Governing Body apply the expression, “The faithful and discreet slave” to themselves. They claim they are appointed by God to serve as a government for Jehovah’s Witnesses as well as interpreters of the Bible. The extreme reverence the Witnesses have for the members of the Governing Body is early in the interested person’s Bible study transferred to him or her. And this is also reflected in the questions he or she must answer at his or her baptism, as I will show.

I was baptized on  November 30, 1961, and while I do not remember the exact words in the questions that I answered, I am certain that they harmonized with the words of The Watchtower of December 15, 1956, page 763:

A Christian . . . cannot be baptized in the name of the one actually doing the immersing or in the name of any man, nor in the name of any organization, but in the name of the Father, the Son and the holy spirit. This shows, among other things, that Christianity is not a denominational affair.

I have given the talk in connection with baptisms at several assemblies, and I remember that my outline several times has said something like: “You are not symbolizing your dedication to a work, or to an organization, but to a person, to Jehovah God.” Corroborating these words in the outline are the questions that I asked at the end of the talk:

  • Have you recognized yourself before Jehovah as a sinner who needs salvation, and have you acknowledged to him that this salvation proceeds from him, the Father, through his Son Jesus Christ?
  • On the basis of this faith in God and in his provision for salvation, have you dedicated yourself unreservedly to God to do his will henceforth as he reveals it to you through Jesus Christ and through the Bible under the enlightenment of the holy spirit?[1]

But in 1985, the words of the baptismal questions were changed, and the focus was now on the organization instead on the holy spirit. The questions are listed in The Watchtower of June 1, 1985, page 31:

1) On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?

2) Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in association with God’s spirit-directed organization?

The book Organized to Do Jehovah’s will (201’9), page 206 contains the two baptismal questions:

1) Have you repented of your sins, dedicated yourself to Jehovah, and accepted his way of salvation through Jesus Christ?

2) Do you understand that your baptism identifies you as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in association with Jehovah’s organization?[2]

The questions from 1985 and 2021 are quite similar; the difference is that the second question from 1985 uses the expression “God’s spirit-directed organization,” but the question from 2021 uses “Jehovah’s organization.” Jesus said that his followers should be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the holy spirit. (Matthew 28:19) Between 1956 and 1985, the holy spirit was mentioned in the second question. From 1985 on, the holy spirit was implied by the use of the expression, “God’s spirit-directed organization.” But in the questions from 2021, the holy spirit is not mentioned at all.

However, the biggest difference between the two questions that were asked before and after 1985 is that after that time, is that persons were baptized to, or into the organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses. So, formally speaking, Jehovah’s organization had taken the place of the holy spirit. Why was this change made? The Watchtower of April 15, 1987, page 15, footnote, has an explanation:

Recently the two questions addressed to baptismal candidates were simplified so that candidates could answer with full comprehension of what is involved in coming into intimate relationship with God and his earthly organization.

This explanation is strange indeed. The use of the word “simplified” means that a saying is expressed in basic, simpler words, or it is abbreviated, so it is easier to understand. But what actually has happened with the baptismal questions is that something has been deleted, namely, the holy spirit, and something has been added,  namely, (first) “in association with God’s spirit-directed organization,”  and (second) “in association with Jehovah’s organization.”

These additions change the focus of one’s dedication. My focus when I gave the baptismal talks was: “You are not symbolizing your dedication to a work, or to an organization, but to a person, to Jehovah God.” Now the focus is that a person has dedicated himself to Jehovah and to Jehovah’s organization, which means that the dedication is really to the Governing Body who has dictatorial power in the organization. This is a clear violation of the command of Jesus to baptize persons in the name of the Father, the Son, and the holy spirit.” And in the baptismal questions that are used at present, the holy spirit is no longer even mentioned.

So, even before a believer has dedicated his or her life to Jehovah and has become baptized, the oppressive and totalitarian  spirit of the members of the Governing Body are forming his or her mind to become a submissive member of the dictatorial organization.

From 1956 to 1985, believers were baptized in the name of the Father, the son and the holy spirit.

From 1985 to 2019, believers were baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and God’s spirit-directed organization.

From 1919 to 2024, believers were baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and Jehovah’s organization.

Because “Jehovah’s organization” stands for the Governing Body believers today are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Governing Body.

[1]. The Watchtower of July 1, 1956, page 407.

[2]. Organized to Do Jehovah’s Will (2019), page 206. It is possible that the questions were changed before the year 2019. But I have not found any evidence of this.

THE TALMUDLIKE LAWS AND RULES MADE BY THE GOVERNING BODY

I have borrowed the word “Talmudlike” from the article I quoted from The Watchtower of September 15, 1951.[2] The point was that if the Watchtower Society should make decisions regarding activities and works, that would result in a Talmudlike collection of laws and rules that was not based on the Bible.

The holy place was brought into its right condition in the year 1944, and therefore we must conclude that the teachings of The Watchtower Society and the procedures followed by the members of the congregations from that time accorded with the will of God. I will now show that after the elder arrangement was instituted, the teachings and procedures of the organization between 1944 and 1972 have been turned upside down. This also means the relapse of the right condition of the holy place into the wrong condition. This must be against the will of God.

WHO SHOULD BE THE TEACHER OF GOD’S PEOPLE?

At one time, the Jews began to murmur at Jesus, and he said:

45 It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by Jehovah.’ Everyone that has heard from the Father and has learned comes to me.

It is interesting to see how differently the words “They will all be taught by Jehovah,” are interpreted by the leaders of the Witnesses between 1944 and 1972 and by the members of the new Governing Body.   The Watchtower of November 1, 1946, page 330, says:

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”…

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 view of the present members of the Governing Body is the diametrically opposite of the view presented above. The Watchtower of July 15, 2013, page 22, said:

10 Who, then, is the faithful and discreet slave? In keeping with Jesus’ pattern of feeding many through the hands of a few, that slave is made up of a small group of anointed brothers who are directly involved in preparing and dispensing spiritual food during Christ’s presence. Throughout the last days, the anointed brothers who make up the faithful slave have served together at headquarters. In recent decades, that slave has been closely identified with the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Today, there are 11 members of the Governing Body, and they claim to be “the faithful and discreet slave,” which means that they are “the divinely appointed Custodian and Interpreter of the Bible.”

The members of the Governing Body have gone so far in their claim of being divinely appointed teachers that they demand that the Witnesses must believe everything they write, even when the Witnesses do not understand it. We see this in The Watchtower of February 2022, study article 6, paragraph 15:

As the end of this system of things draws near, we need to trust in Jehovah’s way of doing things as never before. Why? During the great tribulation, we may receive instructions that seem strange, impractical, or illogical. Of course, Jehovah will not speak to us personally. He will likely provide direction through his appointed representatives. That will hardly be the time to second-guess the direction or to view it with skepticism, wondering, ‘Is this really coming from Jehovah, or are the responsible brothers acting on their own?’ How will you fare during that crucial time in human history? The answer might be indicated by how you view theocratic direction now. If you trust the direction we receive today and readily obey, you will likely do the same during the great tribulation.​—Luke 16:10. (Bold script in the original)

The members of the Governing Body speak with a twisted tongue. On the one hand, they deny that they are inspired by God, on the other hand, they claim that they are inspired by God.[3]

THE OVERRULING OF INDIVIDUAL CONSCIENCES BY THE GOVERNING BODY  

The position the members of the Governing Body have taken as the inspired teachers of the Witnesses would also, to a great extent, overrule the consciences of individual Witnesses when decisions must be made.

The importance of the consciences after the holy place was brought into its right position is seen by the quotations from the Watchtower of September 15, 1951, page 574 (above) and The Watchtower of October 1, 1972, page 589 (below):

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.

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.

The quotation above refers do decisions regarding activities and work. The quotation below refers to any matter or situation that is not mentioned in the Bible. The advice is clear. Decisions must be made on the basis of one’s own conscience, and even the Governing Body has no right to interfere in issues that are not mentioned in the Bible.

Shortly after the Governing Body was instituted in 1971, its members started to make rules regarding issues that are not mentioned in the Bible, rules that all Jehovah’s Witnesses had to follow. Here  I will discuss one decision made by the members of the Governing Body in 2018, which clearly shows that they believe that they have the right to overrule the consciences of the Witnesses. This is seen in the letter to Hospital Liaison Committees of June 15, 2018:

We would like to inform you of an updated policy with regard to whether a Christian may administer a blood transfusion if he is directed to do so by a superior. The previous policy was that it would be a matter for a personal, conscientious decision whether to obey such an order. However, after carefully reviewing the matter, the Governing Body has determined that administering such a transfusion is so closely linked with an unscriptural practice that one unquestionably becomes an accomplice in a wrong practice. Therefore, it would not be appropriate for a Christian to administer a blood transfusion under any circumstance.—Gen. 9:4; Acts 15:28, 29.[4]

This letter refers to a situation that only nurses who are Witnesses can experience. But it clearly shows the view of the members of the Governing Body that they have the right to overrule the consciences of individual Witnesses. This is a position that is diametrical opposite of the position expressed in the above quotation from The Watchtower of 1972.

One problem with the dictatorial position of the members of the Governing Body is that they often change their minds. And each time a new rule is made, all witnesses must change their minds and follow it. One example is the shifting viewpoints of gambling. In the Watchtower of February 1, 1954, page 94, gambling was discussed, and we read:

He may think that he can do so [be employed in a gambling enterprise] 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.

In 1954, being employed in a gambling enterprise was a matter of conscience. Today, a Witness who has such an employment will be removed from the congregation. Moreover, the view of different sides of gambling of the members of the Governing Body has changed tent times since 1954:

Figure 1.1 Different views on gambling

1954 A Witness is allowed to be employed in a gambling enterprise.
1961 A Witness is not allowed to be employed in a gambling enterprise.
1961 Gambling is a form of extortion, and can lead to disfellowshipping.
1972 Gambling is not a form of extortion, but greed.
1988 Gambling in any form appeals to greed.
1992 Any form of gambling, small or great, is wrong.
1994 To use free tickets for gambling is wrong.
1996 Every form of gambling is tainted with greed.
2019 Petty gambling for entertainment is not wrong.
2019 If gambling reveals a course of greediness, that is a disfellowshipping offense.
2019 To be employed in a gambling enterprise is a disfellowshipping offense.

Another example is the view of the use of tobacco, which is not mentioned in the Bible. 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.”

 The Watchtower of June 1, 1973, pages 340-343, shows that persons who used tobacco would get a period of six months to quit their habit, and if they did not do that, they would be disfellowshipped. The article says:

What, then, of those who in the past were baptized while still using such addictive products as tobacco, other drugs, or who are on some treatment such as the “methadone program” and who continue in such practice? They may now be given a reasonable period of time, such as six months, in which to free themselves of the addiction. So doing, they will show their sincere desire to remain within Jehovah God’s clean congregation of dedicated servants… If persons already baptized are not willing to abandon their addiction to damaging and enslaving products, what then?… They should therefore be removed from the congregation due to such conduct unbecoming a Christian.1 Cor. 5:7; Heb. 12:15, 16.

Both in connection with gambling and with the use of tobacco, the members of the Governing Body overruled the consciences of individual Witnesses and made decisions that were not based on the Bible.

Every time the view of the members of the Governing Body has changed, the consciences of individual witnesses have been overruled. But because gambling is not mentioned in the Bible, the members of the Governing should not have made a single law about it.

The holy place was brought into its right position in 1944 because of the introduction of the theocratic organization, and it continued to be in that position beyond the year 1972. But on the basis of the points that I have been discussed above, there can be no doubt that after the year 1972, the holy place was gradually brought into a wrong position. And because of the present dictatorial organization, the holy place has been put completely out of its right position.

In a worldwide organization, the leaders must make many organizational rules. However, the Governing Body is not allowed by God to make laws and rules regarding the faith and life of Jehovah’s people that are not directly based on the text of the Bible. In spite of this, the members of the Governing Body have made 200+ laws and rules that are not based on the Bible. Several articles in the categories “The Governing Body” and “Bible study” discuss the unbiblical actions of the members of the Governing Body. I will particularly recommend the article, “The implementation of the elder arrangement was a blessing — the creation of the Governing Body has been a disaster.”

[1]Organization for Kingdom-Preaching and Disciple-Making, page 61.

[2] See part I of this study.

[3]. See my article, “The sign 6: The Governing Body and divine inspiration.”

[4]. This new policy was also communicated to the congregation members.

CONCLUSION

When the members of the Governing Body change their mind and introduce new laws and rules, they claim that by divine providence, the light has increased and that God has led them to their new understanding. This means that what was believed and done in the past was wrong, and what is believed and done at present is right.

But regarding the present dictatorial organization with the Governing Body dictating the Witnesses what to believe and what to do versus the previous theocratic organization where the Witnesses had Christian freedom, God has already decided that the past was right and the present is wrong.

By inspiring Daniel to make the prophecy of the 2,300 evenings and mornings and by fulfilling this prophecy by making the organization theocratic in 1938 and 1944, and saying through the prophetic word that by this fulfillment, the holy place was brought into its right position, he has made the judgment that the theocratic organization with Christian freedom was right, and the present dictatorial organization is wrong.

 

 

Rolf Furuli

Author Rolf Furuli

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