With what authority does the Watch Tower Society speak? Does the Watch Tower bring light, as it claims?
Olin R Moyle began his association with Charles Russell’s Bible Students group in 1910. He worked as legal counsel for the Society from 1935 to 1939. A disenchanted Moyle resigned in July 1939, after witnessing the ill-treatment of Bethel staff, and Joseph Rutherford’s heavy drinking and luxurious lifestyle.
The Watch Tower responded with a strongly worded article in the Watchtower magazine in which they accused Moyle of lying, comparing him to Judas Iscariot. His local congregation disfellowshipped him, and in 1940 Moyle sued the Society for libel. Moyle won, and won again on appeal, initially being awarded $30,000, later reduced to $15,000. That’s more than $707,000 and almost $354,000 in 2026.
It is always a mistake for a cult to find itself in open court. So much is brought to light that they would rather not talk about as they are asked questions they would rather not answer. One uncomfortable question raised in this case was that of authority. Testimony from Society leaders are best described as conflicted. Fred W Franz was asked about the identity of the Watchtower’s editor. There had been an editorial committee until October of 1931.The examination of Franz continued:
Q. Who subsequently became the Editor of the magazine, the main editor of the ‘Watchtower’ magazine? A. Jehovah God.
Q, And who wrote the magazine under the direction of Almighty God?
A. Various individuals contributed to the magazine, Judge Rutherford, and others.
Q. Who passed on what went into it? A. Judge Rutherford supervised everything that went into the magazine...
Q. Is the magazine dogmatic? A. The magazine is not dogmatic. Dogma literally means opinion and the ‘Watch Tower’ does not set forth the opinion of a man. The ‘Watch Tower’ instead of being dogmatic is confident because it bases its conclusions upon the Word of God and therefore is sure of the ground upon which it is walking. It does not arrogantly assert any opinion with unwarranted positiveness.
Later, Nathan H Knorr was examined:
Q. There have been many changes of doctrine in this organisation while you have been there. Haven’t there? A. Some changes.
Q. Do you subscribe to what Mr Franz said, that God had erected the Watch Tower in 1918? A. Yes, he has.
Q. Do you recall this writing, ‘Finished Mystery,’ which was published in 1917. A. I recall the publication, yes.
In that year Joseph Rutherford published a book entitled ‘Light’ in which there was an exposition on Revelation which was significantly different to that in ‘Finished Mystery.’ Subsequently, the doctrine on Revelation in ‘Light’ took the place of the one in ‘Finished Mystery.’ Nathan Knorr acknowledged this to be the case.
Q. So that the doctrine set forth in the earlier work was erroneous? A. Yes, I might say, if I can express further…
Q. Well, it was erroneous, was it not? A. Well not all of it was erroneous. The light shines more and more under [sic] the perfect day, and as things become clearer it is much easier to understand the Scripture…
Q. God was writing these books ever since 1918, wasn’t he? A. I wouldn’t say God was writing them.
Q. They were written under the influence of God, weren’t they? A. They were written by men in the service of God’s Organisation, to bring the attention of the People to the truths as expressed in the Bible.
Q. Would you say that God’s views had changed between 1918 and 1930?
A. God’s views never changed, and their only expression is in the Bible, which is God’s word. Men can make a mistake in the interpretation thereof.
Q. So that these leaders or agents of God are not infallible, are they? A. That is right.
Q. But when you put out these writings in the Watchtower, you don’t make any mention, to those who get the papers, that, ‘We, speaking for God, may make a mistake,’ do you? A. When we present the publications of the Society, we present with it the Scriptures, the Scriptures set forth in the Bible. The citations are given in the writing; and our advice is to the people to look up these Scriptures and study them in their own Bibles in their own homes.
Q. But you don’t make any mention in the fore part of your Watchtower that, ’We are not infallible and subject to correction and may make mistakes?’ A. We have never claimed infallibility.
Q. But you don’t make any such statement, that you are subject to correction, in your Watch Tower papers, do you? A. Not that I recall.
Q. In fact, it is set forth directly as God’s Word, isn’t it? A. Yes, as God’s Word.
Q. Without any qualification whatsoever? A. That is right.
So, according to testimony in open court, God erected the Watch Tower in 1918, became the Editor of the Watchtower magazine in 1931. The ‘Finished Mystery,’ published in 1917, was ‘the true interpretation,’ produced ‘under God’s hand,’ until 1930 when God apparently changed his mind and supervised ‘Light’ in which could now be found a different interpretation of Revelation, the new true interpretation.
Meanwhile, although leaders of the Society must admit under oath in a court of law that they are not infallible, that indeed they make mistakes, they fail to tell their rank and file members, leading them to believe that this is not dogma but God’s honest truth.
Today’s leaders pull the same trick. In a February 2017 study edition of the Watchtower magazine, they readily admit, ‘the Governing Body is neither inspired nor infallible. Therefore, it can err in doctrinal matters or in organizational direction.’
But they prime the thinking of their followers by first comparing themselves to the apostles of the first century, insisting the Watch Tower Society is ‘a visible body under an invisible leader,’ and carefully explaining how, since Charles Russell, it has proven to be ‘not man’s work.’
It’s a simple but effective sleight of hand that has worked for the organisation since its earliest days. We must be aware of how very effective it is, show love and patience for those trapped in this loop of deception, and ourselves learn to speak graciously and with Bible authority in our sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. We might remind Jehovah’s Witnesses of the advice given by their own organisation:
‘We need to examine, not only what we personally believe, but also what is taught by any religious organization with which we may be associated. Are its teachings in full harmony with God's Word, or are they based on the traditions of men? If we are lovers of the truth, there is nothing to fear from such an examination. It should be the sincere desire of every one of us to learn what God's will is for us, and then to do it. John 8:32.’ The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life, 1968, p.13 (para.5 online)
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