Bridge of Reason

  Doomsday cults like the Jehovah’s Witnesses are at the height of their power when things are going wrong in the world. The news on February 24 th , 2022, that Russia was invading Ukraine, must have had Watchtower leaders rubbing their hands in glee. Not because they take any pleasure in warfare and bloodshed, but rather because it gives them the chance to again convince the faithful that Biblical prophecy is coming true, and the long-awaited Armageddon is at the door. JW.org wasted no time in posting an article with the question: How might this military conflict affect the world? [1] They continue by quoting the secretary-general of the United Nations, António Guterres: “The price in human suffering, destruction and damage to European and global security is too high to contemplate.” It is remarkable, though commonplace, to find The Watchtower quoting, as a supporting source, a group they would usually denounce. They believe that the United Nations is the scarlet-coloure...

  “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. Matthew 24:36 Right on Time In this final article covering the talk given by Governing Body member Mark Sanderson at the 2021 Annual Conference, I continue to ask if the Watchtower Society should be trusted.  After reminding his hearers that ‘timing is everything’ Mark Sanderson, spoke of three prophesied events that took place right on time. He said: ‘Jesus was baptised at precisely the right time that the Messiah was due to appear.’ ‘The Kingdom began its heavenly rule right on time in 1914.’ ‘Jehovah has set the time, even the exact day and the hour for the end of this wicked system of things.’ Let’s consider these three events. ‘Jesus was baptised at precisely the right time that the Messiah was due to appear.’ In their book: You Can Live Forever on a Paradise Earth , the Watchtower Society have a picture of Jesus being baptised by John the Baptist. ...

  I ended the last article with the following Watchtower quote: So, does Jehovah have a prophet to help them, to warn them of changes and to declare things to come? . . . .These questions can be answered in the affirmative. Who is this prophet?. . . .This prophet was not one man, but was a body of men and women. It was the small group of footstep followers of Jesus Christ, known at that time as International Bible Student s. Today they are known as Jehovah’s Christian witnesses. Of course it is easy to say that this group acts as a “prophet” of God. It is another thing to prove it. The only way that this can be done is to review the record. What does it show? [1] Here the Watchtower challenges the reader to consider, and review, their record as a ‘prophet’ of God. Strangely, Governing body member and Chairman of the 137 th The Watchtower Annual Conference, Mark Sanderson did not mention this quote in his talk to the faithful. He simply told the gathered throng to continue to...

  Do you know what a promise box is? Someone bought one for me many years ago. It is a small box containing perhaps a hundred or so cards. On each card is a verse of Scripture. The idea behind the promise box is that a random card should be chosen each day and whatever verse is on that card, you should hold as God’s promise for you personally. Sounds fine until you realise that each verse has been plucked completely out of its context. When placed back into its context, it is often discovered that the verse has nothing to do with you personally and perhaps means something completely different from what you think it means. You may have heard of the man who, looking for guidance from God, opened his Bible randomly and read the following: ‘ And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he (Judas) departed, and he went and hanged himself.’ (Matthew 27:5). The man, believing this was not very edifying, flicked through his Bible again and read these words: ‘ And Jesus sa...

There is something ugly about the prophesies of the cults. I don’t mean the fact that they raise people’s hopes only to dash them. We have seen this all too often. I mean the way these prophesies detract people from what really matters, so what really matters catches us napping. We have all seen the lists of failed and altered Watchtower prophesies . The Mormon Church has its own problems in the failed and altered prophesies of Joseph Smith . It is an ugly business. The Christian Church has form when it comes to false prophecy , from the Montanists, through the Anabaptists, to some of today’s Charismatic/Restorationist leaders. Charismatic Christians have recently had to deal with an abundance of false prophesies, with some self-styled prophets issuing apologies and taking flak for doing it. A whole industry has grown around the apocalyptic, From Hal Lindsey’s much revised The Late Great Planet Earth, to the Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins’ Left Behind books. It is miraculous that th...

Called Beloved in God the Father Kept for Jesus Christ I have found myself coming back time and again to Jude. It is a short letter, just 25 verses, yet it is packed with both faith strengthening encouragement and serious and timely warnings. Contending for the faith, an unpopular idea today, is practically defined by Jude 3, echoing Paul’s words to Timothy in 1 Tim. 6:12; 2 Tim.4:7. There are parallels with Peter’s warnings of false prophets, false teachers, and destructive heresies (2 Pet.2) and we are reminded of Jesus’ own instruction to his disciples, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter but will not be able.’ (Lk.13:24) A pity it is, to be sure, that we live in an age when the church seeks conciliation, co-operation, and common cause with the world rather than being prepared to ‘contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.’ (Jude 3) I do wonder what some have for a foundation. Paul, in his...

The September 2016 edition of the Mormon Ensign magazine, in its Conference Notebook, carried a note by Elder Dale G. Redlund about the Atomenment of Jesus Christ. It is an exerpt from his April conference address, reported in full in the May 2016 Ensign, p42 . Here is the exerpt: I can emphatically state that because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, ultimately, in the eternal scheme of things, there will be no unfairness. “All that is unfair about life can be made right.” [ Preach my Gospel , 52] Our present circumstances may not change, but through God’s compassion, kindness, and love, we will all receive more than we deserve, more than we can ever earn, and more than we can ever hope for. We are promised that “God shall wipe away all tears from [our] eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” [Revelation 21:4] There is much to say about this short piece but I want to draw you...

On October 2 1914 Charles Taze Russell, the founder of what was later to become the Jehovah’s Witnesses is said to have come down to breakfast at the New York Headquarters of The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, briskly clapped his hands and proclaimed, “The Gentile times have ended; the kings have had their day” This month marks the 100th anniversary of that still significant date in JW thinking. It seems appropriate to mark the anniversary by looking at the WBTS re4cord of failed prophecy. This major article written by Tony Piper treats the subject thoroughly and is packed with useful facts and information. It is essential reading if we are to understand the numerous changes in JW teaching and its impact in the lives of our JW neighbours. There is also an excellent Bible Study on the subject by Mike Troke, 1914 Is It Marked in Scripture? on the Reachout website.   Summary of this Article This article traces the history, beliefs and subsequent developments of the...