JW's how can you say the organization has never claimed to be inspired?

They strive to impress others with the thought that they do not have a clergy-laity class distinction. But we do seem to have a mediator between Christ and man, and that is the governing body. Remember when brother Klein said in private that Franz (Fred) has

"been our oracle for the last 67 years"? Few people know who the man is who was the ghost-writer for Rutherford's books and who dreamed up all of the 'types and antitypes' that we still hold to. Those 'types' supposedly identify 'class distinctions' and add support to the distinction between those who interpret the scriptures and those who accept that interpretation as being from God. In the last few months, I remember brother Klein encouraging us not to study the Bible 'too seriously' but to 'Develop hobbies to keep our minds off of doubts.'

It is one thing to claim that the Bible is God's Word and it is incomplete; it is another thing to say we need someone to interpret it for us. The same feeling exists today as it did in Russell's day, and I quote him: '"We find that people cannot see the divine plan in studying the Bible by itself, but we see, also, that if anyone lays the "Scripture Studies" aside, even after he has used them...after he has read them for ten years, and ignores them and goes to the Bible alone, though he has understood his Bible for ten years, our experience shows that within two years he goes into darkness." p.298 Sept.15,1910 WT

The same attitude is displayed today about the Watchtower and other books; and we end up reading and studying them instead of God's Word. This doesn't show much faith in the power of the scriptures and the holy spirit.

Let's face it, brothers, this organization has made a lot of mistakes; many that the friends never realized. Jesus did not say he would be the head of any man-made organization with rules. He is the head of the Christian congregation, and he gives his spirit to those who pursue the truth. Being the member of an organization has little to do with whether you are approved by Jehovah; it is our hearts that tell the story. The greatest insult to Jesus Christ comes from your telling millions that they cannot receive God's spirit to become his spiritual sons. You know very well that this undeserved kindness is offered to all who read the Word of God; and just because you thought that the number that could fit into heaven was filled, first in 1881, then 1918 and later 1935, you tell others that they will live on the earth and that it will take 1000 years to make them perfect. Newcomers are intimidated from partaking in the Lord's memorial. You do not believe that the 'other sheep' are technically Christians, as you used to admit years ago (p.249 August 1934 WT). The whole basis for the 'Jonadab class' has it's roots in your chronology; saying that you came up with this idea because it was time to reveal it, even though no one else has ever drawn such a conclusion from reading the Bible.

It seems that few have the courage to say these things, because of the unreasonable way they are subsequently treated. I do not think you have been very 'discreet' in the last year. Faithful, yes, but not to Jesus Christ; only to the organization.

Mommyof1

You're so quick to talk about Jehovah's Witnesses beliefs, yet your lack of Biblical knowledge shows you have absolutely no clue what you're talking about.

Lets look at Chapter 13 of Ezekiel again...

Ezekiel 13:6,7

Their visions are false and their divinations a lie. They say, "The LORD declares," when the LORD has not sent them; yet they expect their words to be fulfilled.

Have you not seen false visions and uttered lying divinations when you say, "The LORD declares," though I have not spoken?

The reason why the scripture you quoted is irrelevant is because it this is talking about witchcraft (divination) and false dreams (or visions). Do does the organization claim to have been inspired by these sources? No, not at all. The understanding of the scriptures come from Jehovah's Holy Spirit, and not by their own understanding, so they give credit to Jehovah and not by their own means.

If I were to ask you who gave you your understanding of the scriptures, will you tell me it was by Gods Holy spirit, or by your own understanding without the help of God?

You should really consider that question.

UPDATE:

Sure it means what it says, but it doesn't mean what you say it does. Want to see how bad you contradict your self?

Answer this question: Where does your understanding of the scriptures come from?

UPDATE:

You're acting very childish. If you were paying attention to any of my post for the past several months, I do not quote the NWT on Yahoo Answers. The reason for that is because I like to show people in their own Bible what the Bible says.

UPDATE:

Pastor of WTBTS Disaster

I never said it wasn't talking about it wasn't talking about false prophets, I said it was irrelevant.

UPDATE:

Mommyof1

You're always saying no one is answering your questions yet we're giving you direct answers you fail to accept. These are not Watchtower answers, these are answers based on biblical knowledge, yet you refuse to accept them since you do not go along with your beliefs. I really suggest you think before you ask questions because you don't know as much as you think you know, which has been proven by your comments.

If you payed any attention to your comments now and your previous post, you will know how bad you contradict yourself and your beliefs.

Why?

Because you claim that the Holy Spirit is what helps Bible readers understand Biblical truth. This is no different from the Watchtower statements above, because they too claim they receive understanding by means of the Holy Spirit. So if thats the case, they can say Jehovah speaks though them by means of the faithful and discreet slave, since the understanding goes as to receive the proper food at the proper time by means of the Holy Spirit.

Its also best to ask questions back so they can think about what they're actually saying. I use this tactic a lot, but people often fail to answer my questions, since it will contradict their beliefs if they try to answer.

Basically, the false prophets in Ezekiel were false prophets in Ezekiel were inspired by means of visions, witchcraft and so forth - and thats divination. This is why you cannot take divination and make it relevant to someone who has been taught by holy spirit.

I also know that your questions do not come from your own research, they are based off of anti-Jehovah's Witnesses websites. The reason why I know is, is because I seen these same exact questions asked by them several times. CARM.ORG?

The Watchtower organization claims to be the voice of a modern-day Ezekiel-like prophet – comprising a so-called prophet class. The Society also takes to itself numerous titles besides the Ezekiel class, such as the Jeremiah class, the Micah class and the John class; while the modern counterpart to the house of Israel in this instance is supposedly all of Christendom.

Though not claiming to be directly inspired, as were the original prophets, the Watchtower boasts of having unique insights into the biblical prophecies and inspired visions and an exclusive appointment from on high to serve in the capacity of a prophet by announcing the coming destruction of Babylon the Great. In so doing, the Watchtower Society unquestionably speaks in the name of Jehovah, saying as it were: “The utterance of Jehovah is…”

For a certainty, the 1914 doctrine, which the Watchtower has tenaciously clung to in spite of the mounting evidence testifying to its error, and which is the prophetic foundation of the organization, will collapse instantly at the actual presence of Jesus Christ. The Watchtower's erroneous biblical interpretations have been built up just like a massive wall that we have unwisely come to lean upon. But, no amount of dogmatism or legal maneuvering can prop up the Watchtower's wall that is doomed to fall.

The modern history of Jehovah's Witnesses has convinced many of us that the Watchtower Society will always come out on top. In times past when Jehovah's Witnesses have been persecuted, there have always been places of refuge for us. Oftentimes we have found relief by appealing to governmental constitutions that have built-in legal guarantees of religious freedoms.

To this day, the Watchtower's legal department has pursued the cause of freedom of religion in behalf of Jehovah's Witnesses. The organization has been a support for Jehovah's Witnesses in times of distress and disaster, too. We have come to assume that the organization always speaks and teaches the truth and does the right thing.

So, naturally we have come to rely upon the Watchtower as if it were a protective wall around us. But, relying upon any human institution, especially one that claims to be Jehovah's visible organization, is a grave mistake. The opening example of the Jews' reliance upon the Jewish institution should be sufficient evidence of that.

There is little doubt that it is what we call God's "earthly" organization, with its body of teachings and policies, as well as the physical infrastructure of the Society, that it is destined by prophecy to come crashing down. However, because we have erroneously relied upon an organization rather than Jehovah, a prophecy goes on to foretell the end result:

"And one will certainly break it as in the breaking of a large jar of the potters, crushed to pieces without one's sparing it, so that there cannot be found among its crushed pieces a fragment of earthenware with which to rake the fire from the fireplace or to skim water from a marshy place."

Jehovah's "earthly" organization is going to be shattered to pieces.

Jehovah's Witnesses may prefer to believe that this prophecy doesn't apply to the modern-day Israel of God, with its associate Watchtower Society, but the very next verse indicates that, indeed, it does. Isaiah 30:15 goes on to say:

"For this is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, has said: "By coming back and resting you people will be saved. Your mightiness will prove to be simply in keeping undisturbed and in trustfulness." But you were not willing."'

According to Jehovah's declaration, in order to receive mercy and salvation when the tribulation comes upon us, we must remain undisturbed and simply trust in God. No doubt, Jehovah's Witnesses assume that we will naturally do just that.

The faithful and discreet slave compiles verses from the Bible on related subjects and that way we can understand what the Bible says on the subject i.e what Jehovah says.

They do not speak words from their heads, they use Jehovah's word the Bible to provide instruction.

That is NOT inspiration.

The same way I can say Jehovah "speaks" to me when I read the Bible. It is from God, isn't it? When I study or read the Bible, I feel God speaking, does that make me inspired? Well, yes, it sure does make me inspired! Doesn't make me a prophet though, even though I know, understand and can repeat prophecy.

debbie2, I love it :)

Great answer!

It's an eye popper for me just how hard some will fight to keep their blinders on.

How they look for anything to escalate out of proportion or take out of context and then say "oh, oh look!, and what's this and what's that?"

I sure don't see them chasing after the other "religions" like they do Jehovah's people. Just another fine example that we are His and expect persecution, Jesus warned us it was coming.

I think every "preacher or priest" out there, at one time or another, has said things like "God said to me..." meaning through His word the bible, but here we go again, all of a sudden it's just us JW.

All of these quotations, are made following deep study of the Bible, Jehovah does not speak to us directly, he speaks to us by means of his word, the Bible

You nailed it Mommy1!

VMO read the entire chapter of Ezek. 13. THE WHOLE CHAPTER IS ABOUT FALSE PROPHETS....AKA WATCHTOWER THAT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE A MEMBER!

I think debbie's answer is a perfect example of the arrogance of JWs. They want to deny it...yet try to make light of it when faced with evidence. So do they speak through them or not? Can't get a straight answer on that one.

when did they make that claim, to become a christian. you have to be inspired by something. i don't see the point.