The Librarian

I still can’t believe that I made it this far in life. I still can’t believe that Jehovah God is actually giving me a chance to serve him. Even though my whole family was around the truth, I lost my way. Without getting into details, I did most things Jehovah hates. I look back and think how was it possible that I made these changes. I could see that for Jehovah, nothing is impossible. After 10 years of trying to return to him, I finally got baptized on April 17th, 2016. Proverbs 22:6 “Train A boy in the way he should go; Even when he grows old he will not depart from it”. Photo shared by @r_i_c_k_yyyy
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Most people call them peacocks, but that’s only the correct name for male of this type of bird. Females are called peahens, and the whole group are peafowl. There are three types of peafowl in the world: Indian, green, and Congo. Most people are familiar with the Indian peafowl, since that is the kind found in many zoos and parks. Indian peafowl live in India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, green peafowl are found in Southeast Asia, and Congo peafowl are from central Africa.
The Indian peacock has some of the brightest feathers, but the peahen is a drab, mottled brown in comparison. The male needs his bright feathers to attract a mate, and the female needs to be able to blend in with the bushes so that predators cannot see her while she is incubating her eggs. A group of peafowl is called a “party” or a “pride”! The Indian peafowl is the national bird of India and is protected in that country. This is a picture of a male. Who would have thought there were so many colors of these birds.
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JW Broadcasting—May 2016 

One Man, One Woman 
 

This is a photo of the Bethel Repair Shop taken in 1976. Anyone recognize any of these lads from 40 years ago. I know it's a long shot, but was wondering how many were still in after all these years. I remember a few of them. Front row center with stripped shirt is Brent McClean from Illinois, to his right is Steve Black from Louisiana to McClean's left is Donald Murray from Massachusetts. I'm looking over Murray's left shoulder, I was from Georgia. The big guy at the very top back row is John Mikruk from New Jersey. Can anyone identify any others and what happened to them.

- Submitted

español / Italiano
Part of a series on: Jehovah's Witnesses >
Baptized JW's
Serena Williams- tennis player ; 8 Grand Slam champion. Her "baptized" status is disputed since she has never been disfellowshipped for having a baby out of wedlock with Drake or her publicly nude photographs. Let's just say she is now the most famous celebrity who CLAIMS to be one.

Venus Williams - tennis player ; 5 time Grand Slam champion
Damon Wayans - TV and Film Comedy Star. Part of "The Wayans Brothers" TV show back in the 1990's. - Their father was a JW (someone mentioned even Anointed)
Michael Jackson (deceased)

Michael Jackson's Children and Mother Katherine Jackson

Rebbie Jackson - Singer, daughter of Katherine Jackson


Prince Rogers Nelson (deceased)

Marques Houston - Singer and former member of the kid group "Immature" (and his manager)
 
Coco Rocha - International Fashion Model

Terrence Howard - actor; Ray, Hustle & Flow, etc. Children and brother are JWs. Studied when he was 17 years old. (not himself a JW)
Bria Valente - Prince's Ex-GF back in 2007 - She has since remarried to another brother

George Benson - Musician / singer (see also: George Benson and Friends - Sing Praises to Jehovah)

"El General" - Panamanian singer

Bobby Martin - Grammy winning producer. 
Mateo - African Musician 
Aoife Ní Thuairisg - Irish Television Presenter
Tulsi Giri - Prime Minister of Nepal

Bill Underwood - Reporter for the Phoenix Times Examiner

Alexander P. Stewart - US Civil War Confederate General

Allison Lozz - Mexican Actress (former). recently left novelas (soap operas) to be a more active in the ministry

Maurizio Bianchi - Musician

Ivana Brkic - Croatian Musician

Angelo Palego - Leader of team searching for Noah's Ark

Firpo Carr - Historian, author of Germany's Black Holocaust: 1890-1945; Wicked Words: Poisoned Minds - Racism in the Dictionary; founder: Scholar Technological Institute of Research, Inc. (STIR)

Henry Carr - Olympian and NFL player (deceased)

Herman Pizzanelli - Leading Uruguayan concert guitarist in the 1960s (convert to JWs)

Willie Wise - NBA professional basketball player for Seattle Super Sonics and Denver Nuggets

Dave Meyers - Professional basketball player (Los Angeles Lakers in 1970s)

Mark McCumber - Professional golfer

Dave Pear - NFL professional football player for Colts, Buccaneers, and Raiders (convert)

Kid Gavilan - welterweight champion boxer; elected to boxing Hall of Fame in 1990 (convert to JWs)

Jorge Påez "El Maromero" - Boxing World Champion 
Pele Reid - Boxing Champion

Shont'e Peoples - professional football player (Saskatchewan Roughriders); convert to JWs

La Lupe - Cuban salsa singer (convert)

Janis Gill - ex wife of country music superstar, Vince Gill, is one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Vince Gill is NOT a Witness. He is strongly and violently opposed.

Fedor Chistyakov - Russian Singer

Richard Cameron - Dutch Musician

Valerie Campbell - Mother of Naomi Campbell

Tom Edur - Former NHL ice hockey player

Mrs.Ida Eisenhower - (Mother of President Dwight D Eisenhower)

Leopold Engleitner - Buchenwald concentration camp survivor and centenarian
 
Mickey Spillane - Novelist

Larry Graham - Sly & the Family Stone

Danny Granger - Indiana Pacers small forward; Professional Basketball Player
Teresa Graves - Reputedly the first black woman to play the lead in a police movie, also a singer


Gary Gygax - Co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons 


Scott Johnson - Actor

Phillip Landry - Musican

Maher Shalal Hash Baz - Japanese musician, name comes from the Book of Isaiah

Margaret Keane - "Big Eyes" artist who said converting "changed her life."

Peter Knowles - Famous soccer player in England who quit his football career in 1970 aged 24 to join the Jehovah's Witnesses

Brian Locking - Bass guitarist with The Shadows for eighteen months, but left to Jehovah's Witnesses activities.

Hank Marvin - Lead guitarist for The Shadows


Bohumil Müller - Czech survivor of the Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp and underground religious leader under Communism.

Viv Nicholson - famous London lottery winner in 1961. She then became a devout JW. The musical Spend, Spend, Spend was based on her story.

Evelyn Ntoko (first wife of Nelson Mandela)

Lieby Piliso - Nelson Mandela's younger sister

Ken Richmond - The man who banged the gong in the Rank Organisation film logo from 1955 onward.

Gevorg Petrosyanm -The Georgian-Armenian “Caruso,” who drives a taxi, but dreams of the stage

Miu Sakamoto - Japanese Singer, a Daughter of Ryuichi Sakamoto and Akiko Yano

Damo Suzuki (Converted in the 1970s, current membership status uncertain)

Bobby Tambling - English footballer

Phil Terry - member of the 60's R&B group The Intruders.

David Thomas - Avant-garde rocker, "Jehovah's Kingdom come"[2][3]

Jean Terrell - Replaced Diana Ross in the Supremes in 1970.

Akira Toriyama - Japanese Mangaka(Cartoonist), Author of Dragon Ball(Manga)

Yoshito Usui - Japanese Mangaka, Author of Crayon Shin-chan

Reena Virk - Canadian child murder victim

Lark Voorhies - actress, Saved By The Bell

Lou Whitaker - Former MLB baseball player for the Detroit Tigers.

Chet Lemon - played with the Detroit Tigers along with Lou Whitaker

Akiko Yano - Japanese Singer, Former wife of Ryuichi Sakamoto

Solveig Romero - Mexico and Switzerland, Actress and wife of Martin Campbell, the director of James Bond Casino Royale

Chuck Winfield - Former Trumpet player for Blood, Sweat, and Tears.

Rosalia Valdez - Former actress who left fame in Mexico to become a witness, daughter of famous Tin Tan Valdez.

Carmina Villarroel - Filipino actress

Patience Dlaminh - a weather forecast reporter in South Africa / Regional 'celebrity'

Red Shea - Guitarist for Gordon Lightfoot (passed away in 2008)

Tom Reynolds - He was one of the singers in the late 60's early 70's band 'Hamilton, Joe,Frank, & Reynolds.

Toun Oni - Nigerian actress (featured in the TV drama 'fuji house of commotion') She was an active witness before her death a few months ago. In fact, she died of heart problems during the Lekki assembly hall construction work.

Paul i.k Dairo (used to be one of Nigeria's top musicians); Last i heard of him, he is one of Jehovah witnesses.

Wolf-Ekkehard Lonnig - a scientist from the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Germany

Hayden Covington - leading attorney for the Jehovah's Witnesses, Watchtower Society; won multiple U.S. Supreme Court cases; represented Muhammad Ali in court [not sure if he left eventually or not?]

Chappel Fisher - Country Music DJ in Florida, USA

Michael Worilds - NFL Player

Tony Garcia - Artist, DJ, Producer, Re-mixer, Arranger, Composer,Writer of Dance Music EDM, Funk Melody Freestyle Music Owner of High Power Records


Honorable B. Dwight Goains - US Federal Judge

Micaiah and Tabitha Bethune - Owners of the Fashion Industry "The Wild Life Reserve" out of New Orleans

Alex Rance - Soccer Star

Pavel Pavlov & Aleksandr Kryukov - Ukrainian YouTube Stars
Minh Hung Godenzi - Miss Hong Kong 1984
Danny Collision - NBA Player currently in California
Clarion Chukwurah - Nollywood Actress
Irina Bohr - Russian singer
Alisson Euler de Freitas Castro - Brazilian Footballer
Carlos Gonzaga - Brazilian Singer
Andriy Mykolayovych Nesmachniy (Ukrainian: Андрій Миколайович Несмачний)
PC-One - Star of Slam in Haiti
Jacy Brean - Author 
Mina Godenzi - Actress, Model and Miss Hong Kong
Phillip Ingram - Musician
Ramón Gómez Valdés de Castillo aka "Don Ramón" - Famous Mexican Actor
Kenya Moore - not sure as to her current status though. 
Anneliese Zelina - Model
Nicolas King - Singer
Rob Richie - Major league baseball player with the Detroit Tigers

Darren Collison

 
 
Raised as one of Jehovah's Witnesses
President Dwight D. Eisenhower - WWII General and 34th President of the United States (1953–1961)
Luke Evans - Actor
Toni Braxton - Singer
Michael Sam - First Gay NFL football player


Nathan Day, frontman of grunge / Britpop group Darlia - "I grew up with a family whose parents were Jehovah’s Witnesses, so I felt very isolated."
Kia Kahlo - Witness to rap
Jacqueline Woodson

Meg Myers - Musician / Singer
Nathan Haines - Saxophonist
Shushila Takao - Actress in New Zealand show "Filthy Rich"
Kim Holland - Dutch Porn Actress

Little Scream - Montreal musician

Kelsey Lu - Fashion model
Rebekah Vardy - I'm a Celeb star
Alex Avery - Comedian in Portland, OR
 
List of former Jehovah's Witnesses
Michelle Rodriguez - actress, raised by mother
Donald Glover - (aka Childish Gambino)

Gregg Alexander - The New Radicals' lead singer; raised by mother

Carol M. Swain - political scientist; professor at Vanderbilt University; author of Black Faces, Black Interests and The New White Nationalism in America: Its Challenge to Integration; left the Witnesses at the age of 20, in 1975 (Ms. Swain was born in 1954 into an extremely poor household in rural Virginia, not far from Roanoke. She grew up with 11 brothers and sisters, dropped out of school in the ninth grade and married at age 16 -- in part, she says, because she saw no need to plan for a lengthy future. She was a Jehovah's Witness, and she believed that Armageddon would begin in 1975)

Peter Andre - Singer raised in Australia, presently living in London with wife pin up model *Jordan

Naomi Campbell- Supermodel; Raised by mother

Geri Halliwell - Singer (Spice Girls); Raised as a Jehovah's Witness[verification needed]

Barbara Grizzuti Harrison - American writer of Visions of Glory: A History and a Memory of Jehovah's Witnesses(converted to Catholicism)

Nancy Garrido - the now infamous kidnapper of Jaycee Dugard

Latoya Jackson

Michael Jackson - Michael became a Jehovah's Witness but disassociated himself shortly after his hit album, Thriller

Olin R. Moyle - Former Watchtower Chief Attorney

Dave Mustaine - Guitarist (ex-Metallica; Megadeth; ex- MD .45)

Miki Nakatani - JapaneseActress, Raised as a Jehovah's Witness

Gloria Naylor - novelist, author of The Women of Brewster Place (1982, American Book Award)

Patti Smith - Singer and poet

Leo Volpe

Jill Scott-Singer; raised as one of Jehovah's Witness

Hinano Yoshikawa - Japanese Fashion model and actress, Raised as a Jehovah's Witness

K-os - Canadian R&B artist ; Raised Jehovah's Witness

Rene Montes de Oca Martija - dissident human-rights activist in Cuba (son of JW)

Selena Quintanilla Perez - Tejano singer ; raised as one of Jehovah's Witnesses

Sherri Shepherd from The View. Her father is an elder in his congregation.

Jill Scott - a singer,poet & actress from USA, she played in the movie - 'why did i get married'

Maureen Mwanawasa, wife of late Zambian president, though she disassociated herself, but she still attends meetings. the late president was also studying with JWs, his mother was a JW. his children also attend meetings, i think one is a publisher.

Thandiwe Banda our current Zambian first lady who was a JW until recently when she disassociated herself. Reportedly a former pioneer.

Mamontha Modise was a JW. travels all over the world to report current news 2 South Africans.

Ja Rule - Rapper - raised a jehovahs witness and is no longer one, in an interview he said his mother was disfellowshipped

Jaywon; currently a musician, was raised a witness, later decided to follow a way of life thats suits him.

Rick Haynes - Musician

Travis Scott - NFL football player for Rams (raised JW)

Scott Cheshire - Gotham City Writers
Eddie Griffin - Comedian
Leaders of the music band Shakespeare's Unit
 
Rumors of:
Eddie Murphy - Not verified yet

Josh Groban - We don't know what to think yet.. ? Some have suspicions....

Omarion - I believe he is only "studying"
 
Jackie Chan - (I still don't believe the photo)
 
Please Read
Some people have wondered if we have listed people who simply studied briefly with Jehovah's Witnesses. As far as we know, this is not the case. Anybody can sit down and meet with Jehovah's Witnesses to study their beliefs. In no way would we consider that grounds for identifying somebody as a Jehovah's Witness. All of the people listed on our page have actually been considered Jehovah's Witnesses or considered themselves adherents of the faith, either by way of having been raised in the faith or because they were an active convert to the faith.
Of course no insult is meant to Jehovah's Witnesses or anybody else by hosting this list. Personally, reading the biographies and faith statements of many famous Jehovah's Witnesses has helped tear down some stereotypes for me. It simply isn't true, for example, that this faith necessarily stifles creativity or achievement. Clearly, many adherents to the faith (including people raised in it as well as converts who chose to become Witnesses as adults) have been very famous creative people or have been very successful, as measured by worldly standards.
Regardless of the obvious tensions between the pressures of worldly fame, versus remaining active in a religious faith which expects all of its members to live according to the highest Biblical standards of ethics and morality, there are indeed many "famous" adherents who have strived to remain faithful. Even for those who have failed to balance fame and success with the demands of their faith, the teachings and values they were raised with or embraced at some point as an adult remain forever an influence in their lives. Were this not true, these individuals would not be listed here at all. This list is based on what famous people themselves have said to interviewers and to the public. We have no access to actual Jehovah's Witness membership or attendance records. If a celebrity or famous person doesn't talk publicly about their experiences as a Jehovah's Witness, we would have no way of knowing about this part of their lives.
The actions of a single individual should never be used to judge an entire group of people, and I believe most people realize this. Anybody who does try to condemn Jehovah's Witnesses by the behavior of their "worst" lapsed members or former members will stand instantly condemned themselves. This is because the cumulative behavior of the famous (and infamous) members of the group the accuser belongs to is far worse than anything they will be able to dig up relating to people who have been Jehovah's Witnesses. This is true of essentially any sufficiently large religious group. It is true also of anti-religious people, who are nearly always wise enough to avoid condemning entire groups by the actions of individuals, lest they be asked to answer for the hundreds of millions of murders perpetrated by Lenin, Pol Pot, Stalin, Adolph Hitler, Mao, Mussolini, Nicolae Ceausescu, Joseph Goebbels, Maximillien Robespierre, etc.
 

This is a photo of the Bethel Repair Shop taken in 1976. Anyone recognize any of these lads from 40 years ago. I know it's a long shot, but was wondering how many were still in after all these years. I remember a few of them. Front row center with stripped shirt is Brent McClean from Illinois, to his right is Steve Black from Louisiana to McClean's left is Donald Murray from Massachusetts. I'm looking over Murray's left shoulder, I was from Georgia. The big guy at the very top back row is John Mikruk from New Jersey. Can anyone identify any others and what happened to them.

- Submitted

Part of a series on:
Terrence Howard is not a Jehovah's Witness, but confirms in this interview that his brother, ex-wife and children are Jehovah's Witnesses, although he did have a study when he was 17 years old. He says he would like to be a Jehovah's Witness but he does not have the discipline and has to make a number of changes in order for his life to qualify. He was brought up as a Muslim. Interview recorded January 16, 2014.
Audio Interview: knocking+interview+16+Jan+2014.mov

Terrence also narrated the documentary:
Knocking Video - 2006 Open Door Production

(If someone wants to start making a copy of this list in another language topic on here please do...or if I missed something please leave a comment below )
Part of series on:

Doctrines unchanged since 1879
Biblical infallibility. Early copies of Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence made reference to the Bible as God's "infallible Word".[71] (this has slightly changed in 2015) God's name is Jehovah. Watch Tower Society founder Charles Taze Russell used the name "Jehovah" occasionally, but not consistently, when referring to God.[72] Jesus Christ gave his human life as a ransom sacrifice; belief in Jesus necessary for salvation. Russell believed that God's design for mankind was a restitution or restoration to the perfection and glory lost in Eden. This depended on God providing a ransom for all mankind to release them from the inevitability of death. Christ became that ransom sacrifice.[73][74] The timing of Christ's Second Coming, or "presence", can be calculated through Bible chronology. Russell believed the timing of Christ's advent could be calculated by determining the length and termination point of the "Gentile Times"[75][76] and also by calculating the close of six "thousand-year days" (6000 years) of human history, at which point God's Kingdom would be established.[62][77][78][79][80] Christ's return to earth was invisible. Russell claimed the Greek word parousia (Matthew 24:37) referred to a period of time, rendered more accurately as "presence" than "coming"[81] Paradise earth to be restored, humans to live forever.[82][83][84] Evolution is a teaching contrary to the Bible and denies the need of redemption by Christ.[85][need quotation to verify][86] Humans created as living souls.[87] The dead are unconscious, awaiting resurrection.[88] Anointed individuals are resurrected to heaven with spirit bodies.[89] God's Kingdom is an organized heavenly government over earth, ruled by Jesus and the anointed.[90] 1880–1889
1880: Clergy-laity distinction viewed as unscriptural.[91] 1881: Rejection of the Trinity doctrine.[92][93][94] Russell claimed the Trinity doctrine had "not a word of Scripture" to support it. He explained: "We understand the Scriptures to teach that the Holy Spirit is not a separate and distinct person, but that it is the divine mind or influence—the motive power of Divinity exercised everywhere and for any purpose, at His pleasure."[95][96][97] In 1877 Russell and co-author N. H. Barbour had criticized the anti-Trinitarian view of the Christadelphians;[98] an 1880 book by Zion's Watch Tower writer J. H. Paton emphasised that the Holy Spirit was a person[99] and early Watch Tower issues referred to the Holy Spirit as "he"[100][101][102] and part of the "Divine Three".[103] 1881: Faith alone is not enough for someone's becoming a joint-heir with Christ in heaven, but also a life of "self-sacrifice in the service of the truth" is required.[104] 1882: No hellfire. According to Russell, most references to "hell" in the New Testament were more accurately translated as "grave".[105][106] 1887: The New Covenant, which Russell had claimed since 1880 would be inaugurated only after the last of the 144,000 anointed Christians had been taken to heaven,[107] was said to be "now in force".[108][109] 1890–1899[edit] 1890: The "Time of the End" of Daniel 12:4 is identified as beginning in October 1799—when Napoleon invaded Egypt and ended the power of the papacy—and closing in 1914, at which point violent worldwide revolution would mark the end of the old world order and the beginning of a new one.[110] 1891: Biblical rapture is not a sudden event. The anointed are changed into spirit form, throughout the whole period of Christ's presence, at the time of each one's physical death.[111][112] 1897: "This generation" of Matthew 23:36 defined as "people living contemporaneously."[113] 1900–1909
1904: Worldwide descent into anarchy and disintegration of human rule, previously predicted to occur in October 1914,[114][115] changed to "after October 1914".[116] 1904: 144,000 "elect" to go to heaven. Russell believed God had chosen a "fixed and limited ... number who should constitute the New Creation of God". God had not foreordained individuals, but those who met his "moral qualities and heart measurements" would be chosen to go to heaven.[117][118] 1904: "Great Company" of Revelation 7:9, 14 identified as a secondary spiritual class who have "insufficient zeal for the Lord, the Truth and the brethren" who are granted heavenly life, but on a lower spiritual plane.[119] In heaven they serve as servants rather than kings and priests.[120][121]  
1907: The inauguration of the New Covenant described as belonging "exclusively to the coming age."[122] Russell began to teach that the "church" (144,000 anointed Christians) had no mediator, but itself joined Christ as a joint messiah and mediator during the millennium.[109][123] 1910–1919
1914: Length of each creative 'day' of Genesis defined as precisely 7000 years.[124] 1914: Russell "by no means confident" 1914 would bring the upheaval he had predicted.[125] 1916: Timing of Armageddon, previously claimed to have begun in 1874 and to culminate in 1914,[126][127] changed to have begun in 1914.[128][129] 1919: Preaching work displaces "character development" as the "chief concern" of Bible Students. Russell had taught that Christians should embark on the gradual process of "sanctification" and personality improvement to fight sinful inclinations[130][131] In 1919 The Watch Tower declared that the primary concern for Bible Students was to labor with God to find members of the elect class.[132] 1919: The seven angels, or "messengers", of Revelation chapters 1 and 2 are identified "for the first time in the history of the church" as St Paul, St John, Arius, Peter Waldo, John Wycliffe, Martin Luther and Charles Taze Russell.[133] 1920–1929
1920: Jesus Christ's crowning as king of God's kingdom, previously 1878,[134] changed to 1914.[135] 1920: The preaching of the gospel of the kingdom "in all the world for a witness unto all nations", (Matthew 24:14), previously claimed to have already been completed,[136] identified as a work for modern-day anointed Christians.[137] 1922: Establishment of God's kingdom over earth, previously expected to result in the destruction of human governments and a "new rule of righteousness" by the end of 1914[138] changed to an invisible event in heaven in 1914.[139][140] 1923: "Sheep class", mentioned at Matthew 25:31-46 defined as those who do good to "elect" class and are rewarded by surviving Armageddon and gaining life under Christ's thousand-year reign.[141][142][143] Russell had previously applied the parable to the work of dividing the people in the Millennial Age.[144] 1923: Limitations placed on extent of Christ's ransom and resurrection hope. Russell had taught that Christ had provided a ransom for all; a 1923 Watch Tower article asserted that clergymen would not be resurrected and benefit from the ransom;[145] later articles claimed that benefits of the ransom would also be denied to Adam and Eve; those who died in the Noachian flood; those who died at Sodom and Gomorrah; both the falls of Jerusalem and those who will die at Armageddon.[146] 1925: Armageddon identified as a battle between God and Satan, resulting in the overthrow of human governments and false religion. Armageddon had previously been understood to mean a "melee between contending forces of mankind", resulting in social revolution and political anarchy.[147][148][149][150][151][152] 1925: Michael, the dragon and the man-child in Revelation chapter 12, previously defined as the Pope, the Roman Empire and the papacy, redefined as Jesus, Satan and the New Nation (or Kingdom), respectively.[153][154] 1926: Use of name Jehovah, previously used sparingly at assemblies and in public preaching, given new emphasis. Announced in January 1, 1926 issue of The Watchtower.[155]   1926: "Satan's organization" defined as the rulers of politics, commerce and religion and all their followers.[156] 1927: "First resurrection" of "sleeping saints", previously 1878,[157] changed to 1918.[158][159] 1927: Identification of "time of the end" as a 115-year period from 1799 to 1914 discontinued.[160] Final reference appeared in J. F. Rutherford's Creation (1927).[161] 1927: "Faithful and wise servant" of Matthew 24:45-47, previously defined as Russell since 1897,[162][163][164][165] changed to a "class" comprising all remaining "anointed" Christians.[166] 1927: "This generation" of Matthew 23:36, previously defined as "people living contemporaneously"[113] changed to a remnant of the "anointed" on earth during Armageddon.[167] 1928: Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, previously regarded as a testimony to the Bible and its chronology,[48][168] declared to have no prophetic significance and built under the direction of Satan.[169] 1928: Celebration of Christmas, previously embraced as a "tribute of respect" to Christ,[170][171] discontinued because of its "pagan origin".[172] 1929: Honoring of God's name described as "the outstanding issue facing all intelligent creation".[173] 1929: "Superior authorities" of Romans 13:1 to whom Christians had to show subjection and obedience, previously defined as governmental authorities, redefined as God and Christ only.[174][175] Secular state then regarded as demonic and almost without redeeming features.[176] 1929: Beginning of "Time of the End" of Daniel 12:4 changed from 1799 to 1914.[177] 1930–1939
1931: Adoption of the name "Jehovah's witnesses".[178] 1932: Assertion that God's Holy Spirit ceased operating on his people when "[Jesus] the Lord came to his tem ple, in 1918",[179][180] at which point Jesus 'took charge of feeding the flock'.[181] 1932: The "Jews" who will be restored to their homeland, previously defined as literal Jews,[182] redefined as the Christian congregation.[176][183][184] 1932: Identification of "Jonadabs", a "sheep" class of people who take a stand for righteousness and who are to be preserved by God through Armageddon to gain everlasting life on earth. The term was drawn from the account at 2 Kings 10.[185] In 1920 Rutherford had written that it was "unreasonable" to think God was developing any class other than the little flock (the 144,000 to attain heavenly kingship) and the "great company" (second spiritual class also with a heavenly hope). In 1934 the Watchtower explained that the "Jonadabs" survive Armageddon by living in the figurative "City of refuge", represented by remaining affiliated with the Watch Tower Society.[186] 1932: Watch Tower Society adherents with an earthly hope should join the worldwide preaching work.[187] In 1927 The Watchtower had directed that only anointed Christians were "entitled" to take part in the ministry.[188] 1933: Christ's parousia – his second coming or invisible "presence" – previously established as 1874 and reaffirmed as late as 1929,[189] changed to 1914.[190] 1934: Vindication of God's name becomes central doctrine.[191] Rutherford noted that God had provided Jesus Christ's sacrifice as the redemption price for sinful humankind, but wrote that this was "secondary to the vindication of Jehovah's name".[192] 1934: The 1917 teaching that Russell was exercising strong influence from heaven on the "harvesting" of anointed Christians[193] described as "foolish".[194] 1935: "Great crowd" of Revelation 7 defined as the "sheep" of Matthew 25, resulting in a redirection of proselytizing efforts from gathering the "elect" (remnant of the 144,000 with a heavenly destiny) to gathering an indeterminate number of people who could survive Armageddon and receive everlasting life on earth. Previously, the "great crowd" was believed to have a heavenly hope.[141][195] 1935: Tobacco use "unclean" and prohibited for Bethel (branch office) staff and traveling overseers.[196] 1935: Vaccines, described since 1921 as "devilish" and "an outrage",[197][198] condemned as a violation of God's law.[199] 1936: Device on which Jesus was killed, previously defined as a wooden cross, redefined as a "tree".[200] An image of the cross appeared on the front page of The Watch Tower until October 1931.[201] 1937: Jehovah's Witnesses with an earthly hope could be described as "Christian".[202] In 1930 the Watchtower had asserted that the term "Christian" could be applied only to anointed followers of Christ.[203] 1938: God's mandate to "be fruitful and multiply" said to apply only after the start of the millennium. The Watchtower said the mandate had never been carried out under righteous conditions, and so had failed to be fulfilled according to God's will. Rutherford urged Witnesses to delay marriage and the bearing of children until after Armageddon.[204] 1939: Witnesses required to demonstrate complete neutrality in worldly affairs.[205] 1940–1949
1942: Tobacco prohibition applied to all appointed positions, such as congregation overseers and servants.[206] 1943: Destruction of Jerusalem moved from 606 BCE to 607 BCE, when the Watch Tower Society realised there was no year zero between 1 BCE and 1 CE, in order to maintain calculations regarding 1914; return of the Jews from Babylon to Jerusalem moved from 536 BCE to 537 BCE to maintain 70 years after 607 BCE.[207][208] 1943: Adam's creation, previously 4129 BCE[209] or 4128 BCE,[210] moved forward 100 years to 4028 BCE. The shift in dates also moved the termination point of 6,000 years of human history from October 1872[211] to 1972.[212][213] 1944: Responsibility for administering discipline, including disfellowshipping, of dissident members passed from entire congregation to congregational judicial committees.[214][215] Russell had recommended in a 1904 publication that a congregation "committee" investigate a congregant's serious "error or sin", but the entire congregation voted whether "to withdraw from him its fellowship".[216] 1944: Adam's creation, previously 4028 BCE, changed to 4026 BCE.[217] 1945: Blood transfusions forbidden.[218][219] Russell had viewed the prohibition on eating blood in Acts 15:19-29 as a "suggestion" to gentile Christians in order to "guard against stumbling themselves or becoming stumbling blocks to others"[220] and ensure peace within the early church.[221] 1950–1959
1951: "This generation" of Matthew 23:36, previously defined as a remnant of the "anointed" on earth during Armageddon[167] changed to "a 'generation' in the ordinary sense" who were alive in 1914.[222] 1951: Celebration of birthdays considered "objectionable" because celebrations are "steeped in false worship" and exalt humans.[223] 1952: Vaccines, previously condemned, considered acceptable.[224][225] 1953: Adam's creation, previously 4026 BCE, changed to 4025 BCE. End of God's 6,000-year "rest day" ending in northern hemisphere autumn 1976.[226] 1954: Worship of Jesus, previously considered appropriate and necessary,[227][228][229] deemed inappropriate, with the New World Translation translating proskyne′ō as "do obeisance to" rather than "worship" (King James Version).[230] 1955: Operation of Holy Spirit, asserted in 1932 to have ceased in 1918, stated as having been still operative after 1918.[231]  
1960–1969
1961: Acceptance of blood transfusion deemed a disfellowshipping offence.[232] Acceptance of human organ transplant stipulated a personal matter to be decided without criticism.[233] 1962: "Superior authorities" of Romans 13:1 redefined as earthly governments, reverting the 1929 change[234] to
ussell's 1886 teaching.[235] A year earlier, Russell's view was considered to have made the Watch Tower Bible Students unclean in God's eyes.[174][236] 1963: Adam's creation changed back to 4026 BCE.[237] End of 6,000 years of human history due in northern hemisphere autumn 1975.[238] 1967: Human organ transplants equated with cannibalism,[239] "a practice abhorrent to all civilized people", and said to be a procedure not permitted by God.[240] The Watchtower article announcing the view is interpreted by commentators as a prohibition.[9][241] In a 1972 article, Jehovah's Witnesses are described as having taken a "stand" against organ transplants, saving them from the consequences of such operations, on the basis of the description of the procedure as "a form of cannibalism".[242] 1968: Interval between Adam's creation and the close of the sixth creative "day", previously "quite some time",[213][217][243][244] changed to "a comparatively short period of time" that "may involve only a difference of weeks or months, not years." The change led to expectations that Christ's 1,000 year reign could begin in 1975.[245] 1970–1979
1973: Tobacco use banned. Tobacco users not to be accepted for baptism and baptized Witnesses to be disfellowshipped if they continue to smoke after "a reasonable period of time, such as six months".[246] 1980–1989
1980: Acceptance of human organ transplants stipulated as a matter of personal choice not warranting congregational discipline. View of transplants as cannibalism now said to be held only by "some Christians".[247] The Watchtower article is regarded by commentators as a reversal of Society's 1967 position that the procedure is not permitted by God.[9][241] 1981: Members who formally resign membership of the religion (disassociate) are to be shunned in the same manner as disfellowshipped Witnesses.[248] 1983: Martial arts and carrying "firearms for protection against humans" disqualify a Witness from "special privileges in the congregation", such as appointment as elder.[249] 1988: Length of creative 'days' in Genesis, previously defined as exactly 7,000 years each,[250] changed to "at least thousands of years in length" [emphasis added][251] 1990-1999
1990: Interval between Adam's creation and the close of the sixth creative "day" changed to "some time", employing a 1963 reference rather than the 1968 change.[252] 1992: The "modern-day Nethinim", previously defined as synonymous with the "other sheep",[253] redefined as a subset of the "other sheep" who serve in positions of authority within the organization as "helpers" to the Governing Body.[254] 1995: "This generation" at Matthew 23:36, previously defined as a typical human lifespan since Jesus' parousia in 1914,[222] redefined as a class of people displaying certain characteristics for an indefinite period of time.[255][256][257][258][259] 1995: Fulfillment of Jesus' parable of the separating of sheep and goats, previously considered to have been ongoing since 1914, changed to after the start of the 'great tribulation'.[260][261] 1995: The expression "vindication of Jehovah’s name" declared unnecessary, with emphasis on "vindicating his sovereignty" and "sanctifying his name" as being more accurate.[262] The former expression had not appeared in any publication since 1991.[263] 1999: Voting is no longer prohibited. It is also not encouraged. 2000–2009
2007: Selection of the 144,000 "anointed", previously considered to have ended in 1935,[264] changed to an indefinite period.[265] 2008: "This generation" redefined as "anointed" believers, who will "not pass away" before the great tribulation begins.[266] This was a return to the belief held in 1927.[167] 2010–2019
2010: "This generation" redefined to refer to a new generation of "anointed" whose lives "overlap" with "the anointed who were on hand when the sign began to become evident in 1914".[267] 2012: "Faithful and discreet slave", previously defined as synonymous with the "anointed" and represented by the Governing Body,[268] redefined to refer to the Governing Body only. The "domestics", previously defined as each member of the "anointed" individually, redefined as including all members of the "anointed" and the "great crowd". The "evil slave" of Matthew 24:48, previously defined as former "anointed" members who reject Jesus, redefined as a hypothetical warning to the "faithful slave".[269][270] 2014: "Third Heaven" meaning at 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 clarified to mean the Messianic Kingdom (first announced at the 'Keep Seeking First God's Kingdom!' - 2014 Regional Convention) 2014 Coordinator of the Body of Elders limited to 80 years of age. Aged Elders asked to consider stepping down as of September 1, 2014 2014: "Gog of Magog" redefined at the Annual Meeting 2014: Formerly avoided, TV style evangelism is now embraced with the new JW Broadcasting at the Annual Meeting differentiated by a lack of request for donations as other Televangelists. 2014: Text Messages are now counted as "return visits" 2015: Sponsoring of TV Game Shows is started 2015: The Inspired Word of God Can Include Imperfect Bible Translations 2016 Ezekiel chapter 9 - Identity of the man with the secretary's inkhorn changed from the anointed to Jesus Christ 2017 JW men sporting beards in field service appear more regularly - example 2018: "Russia and its Allies" are again "The King of the North" - 2018 Annual Meeting 2019: Two witness rule suspended in cases of Child Sexual Abuse after global outcry - Discussion here 2019: The understanding of the Locusts of Joel 2 and Revelation 22 changed - Discussion here  
References
71. Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence, January 1, 1908, page 2.
72. Franz 2007, p. 492
73. Russell 1886, pp. 149–172
74. Charles Taze Russell, "Harvest Gatherings and Siftings", Zion's Watch Tower, July 15, 1906, p. 3821 (reprint).
75. 1975 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, page 36.
76. "Who Can Read the Sign Aright?", Watchtower, February 1, 1985, page 10.
77. Rogerson, Alan (1969), Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses, Constable & Co, London, pp. 17–23, ISBN 978-0-09-455940-0
78. Barbour 1877, pp. 67–77
79. Penton 1997, p. 20
80. Russell 1889, pp. 38, 39
81. Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence, August 1879, Reprints 20, page 3.
82. C. T. Russell, The Object and Manner of Our Lord's Return, 1877.
83. The Watch Tower, July 1, 1879, p. 7 (reprint).
84. "Speak the Pure Language and Live Forever!", The Watchtower, May 1, 1991, page 17, "In 1879...a small Bible-study group led by Charles Taze Russell was meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. They had become certain that Jesus’ second coming...would restore Paradise on earth, with eternal life for obedient humans."
85. Charles Taze Russell, "Haverst Gatherings and Siftings", Zion's Watch Tower, July 15, 1906, p. 3824 (reprint).
86. C. T. Russell, The Divine Plan of the Ages, 1886, study IX, page 172, "These things are clearly taught in the Scriptures, from beginning to end, and are in direct opposition to the Evolution theory; or, rather, such "babblings of science, falsely so called," are in violent and irreconcilable conflict with the Word of God."
87. Barbour 1877, pp. 6, 42
88. Barbour 1877, p. 42
89. Barbour 1877, p. 165
90. Barbour 1877, p. 48,49
91. Watch Tower, January 1880, Watch Tower Reprints page 64 As Retrieved 2009-09-23, page 2
92. Watch Tower, April 1881, Watch Tower Reprints page 207 As Retrieved 2009-09-23, page 7, "And why did they thus keep the people in ignorance? Because they feared that if people knew this, the only text which gives even a shadow of support to the doctrine of the TRINITY, to be an interpolation to support a papal error, they might renounce the error".
93. Zion's Watch Tower, September 1881, Watch Tower Reprints page 278 As Retrieved 2009-09-23, page 132, "As to the motives and errors which may have led to these unwarranted interpolations of the [Bible] text, we may be able to offer a suggestion, viz., the last mentioned (1 John 5:7,8) was probably intended to give authority and sanction to the doctrine of the "Trinity."
94. Watch Tower, October 1881, Watch Tower Reprints page 290 As Retrieved 2009-09-23, page 4, ""He gave his only begotten Son." This phraseology brings us into conflict with an old Babylonian theory, viz.: Trinitarianism. If that doctrine is true, how could there be any Son to give? A begotten Son, too? Impossible. If these three are one, did God send himself? And how could Jesus say: "My Father is greater than I." John 14:28. [emphasis retained from original]"
95. Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence, July 1882, Reprints 370, page 3.
96. Penton, M. J. (1997), Apocalypse Delayed (2nd ed.), University of Toronto Press, p. 343, note 64, "Barbour and Paton were trinitarians ... although Henry Grew and George Stetson, two others who had influenced him, were non–trinitarians, Russell did not take a stand on the matter, at least publicly, until after his split with Paton."
97. Jehovah's Witnesses, Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1993, page 120.
98. N. H. Barbour, C. T. Russell, Three Worlds, 1877, page 57, "I am beginning to think Age-to-come people, and many others among pre-millennialists, do not believe in anything of a spiritual nature, or have the most remote comprehension of things of that order; either that the saint is raised 'a spiritual body,' or in the existence of spiritual beings, or even of the Holy Spirit itself. I know one class of age-to-come believers, the Christadelphians, do not. The Holy Spirit, say they, is but a principle, or element of power, and not an intelligence. It is nothing more nor less than 'electricity;' is taught in one of their books, now before me. What wonder they discern only a fleshly future."
99. J. H. Paton, Day Dawn, A.D. Jones, 1880, page 225, 229, "The work of the Holy Spirit is one of the most important elements in the plan of revelation and salvation. He is always spoken of by the Saviour as a Person, and is called the " Spirit of truth." We will follow the Saviour's example in this, though we do not propose to deal with the philosophy of that fact. He being the Spirit of truth, it is His mission to make known the truth."
100. Zion's Watch Tower, July 1880, page 8, "But the Spirit cannot resign his work until it is complete."
101. Zion's Watch Tower, August 1880, page 4, "Then let the Spirit use his sword upon others as he may see fit to humble them, strip them of pride, and bring them to the rock that is higher than they."
102. Zion's Watch Tower, November 1880, page 8, "The Spirit is still our leader and instructor. He is now telling us of Him who comes by way of unseen presence that He is here present."
103. Zion's Watch Tower, March 1881, page 5, "The number three is surprisingly prominent, as the subject opens before us ... We would first call attention to the Divine Three – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – often mentioned in the Bible."
104. Charles Taze Russell, "Harvest Gatherings and Siftings", Zion's Watch Tower, July 15, 1906, p. 3825 (reprint).
105. Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence, May 1882, Reprints 356, page 8.
106. Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence, September 1882, Reprints 392, page 4.
107. "The Three Great Covenants", Zion's Watch Tower, March 1880.
108. "The New Covenant vs the Law Covenant", Zion's Watch Tower, September 1887.
109. Wills 2006, pp. 63–68
110. Russell 1891, pp. 38,47–59
111. Russell 1891, pp. 239–242
112. Charles Taze Russell, "Harvest Gatherings and Siftings", Zion's Watch Tower, July 15, 1906, p. 3823 (reprint).
113. Studies in the Scriptures 4. pp. 602–603.
114. Russell 1889, p. 78
115. "The Outlook - War & Prosperity", Zion's Watch Tower & Herald of Christ's Presence, September 15, 1901 (R2876 page 292)
116. "Universal Anarchy", Zion's Watch Tower & Herald of Christ's Presence, July 1, 1904 (R3389 page 197)
117. The New Creation, (Volume VI of Studies in the Scriptures), 1904, page 179: “We have every reason to believe that the definite, fixed number of the elect [chosen anointed ones] is that several times stated in Revelation (7:4; 14:1); namely, 144,000 ‘redeemed from amongst men."
118. "The Great Company", Zion's Watch Tower, October 15, 1904.
119. The New Creation, (Volume VI of Studies in the Scriptures), 1904, page 168-170.
120. Wills 2006, pp. 57, 58
121. "The Rank of the Ancient Worthies", "The Great Company", Zion's Watch Tower, October 15, 1904.
122. "Our Advocate, the World's Mediator," Zion's Watch Tower, January 1, 1907.
123. "The Word Mediator Used Differently,", Watch Tower, January 1909.
124. Scenario of the Photo-Drama of Creation, ©1914 International Bible Students Association, page 3
125. "Views from the Watch Tower", Zion's Watch Tower & Herald of Christ's Presence, January 1, 1914 (R5373: page 3)
126. Russell 1889, p. 101
127. "Overcome With Wine", Zion's Watch Tower & Herald of Christ's Presence, January 15, 1892 (R1357: page 27)
128. "What Smiting of the Waters May Mean", Zion's Watch Tower & Herald of Christ's Presence, February 1, 1916 (R5845: page 38)
129. "The Burning of the Tares", Zion's Watch Tower & Herald of Christ's Presence, September 1, 1916 (R5951: page 265)
130. The Watch Tower, October 1, 1913, pgs 291-295.
131. Zion's Watch Tower, April 1, 1916, pages 98-99.
132. The Watch Tower, December 15, 1919, pg 375.
133. "The Table of the Great King,", The Watchtower, April 1, 1919, as cited by James Penton, Apocalypse Delayed, pg 181.
134. Russell 1889, p. 233
135. Watch Tower, July 1, 1920, page 196.
136. C. T. Russell, The Battle of Armageddon, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1897, page 568.
137. "Gospel of the Kingdom", The Watchtower, July 1, 1920, pages 199-200.
138. "View from the Tower", Zion's Watch Tower & Herald of Christ's Presence, January 15, 1892 (R1354: page 19)
139. New Heavens and a New Earth, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1953, page 225.
140. Watch Tower, November 1, 1922, pages 332-337.
141. Penton 1997, p. 72
142."The Keys of the Kingdom and the Great Crowd", Watchtower, October 1, 1971, page 14.
143. "The Parable of the sheep and goats", The Watchtower, October 15, 1923, pages 307-314.
144. Wills 2006, p. 113
145. Watch Tower, October 15, 1923.
146. Wills 2006, pp. 141, 142
147. Watch Tower, January 1, 1925.
148. Rutherford 1930, p. 134
149. Rutherford 1930, p. 223
150. Rutherford 1930, p. 251
151. Zion's Watch Tower, August 1, 1892, page 238.
152. The Finished Mystery, 1917, pages 256-258. See comment on Rev. 16:16-20.
153. Watch Tower, March 1, 1925, page 69.
154. J. F. Rutherford, The Battle of Armageddon, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1889, page 541.
155. "Restoration of True Religion", Watchtower, March 1, 1954, page 150.
156. J.F. Rutherford, Deliverance, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, 1926, pages 268,269.
157. Russell 1891, p. 306
158. Watch Tower, June 1, 1927.
159. Rutherford 1930, p. 226
160. Russell 1891, p. 23
161. Creation by J.F. Rutherford, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1927, chapter 12, page 314.
162. The Battle of Armageddon (Part IV, "Studies in the Scriptures") by C. T. Russell, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1897, page 613.
163. Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence, July 15, 1906, page 215.
164. Franz 2002, pp. 78–79
165. Watch Tower, March 1, 1923, pages 68 and 71, as cited by Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience, Commentary Press, 2007, page 63.
166. Watch Tower, January 1, 1927 and February, pages 7, 51-7, as cited by Penton, Apocalypse Delayed.
167.The Watchtower: 62. February 15, 1927.
168. Watchtower, June 15, 1922, page 187, as reproduced by Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience, page 225, 226.
169. Watchtower, 1928, pages 339-45, 355-62, as cited by M. James Penton, Apocalypse Delayed, University of Toronto Press, page 170.
170. "The Prince of Peace", Zion's Watch Tower & Herald of Christ's Presence, December 1, 1904, page 364.
171. The Golden Age, December 24, 1919, page 215: "Christmas is regarded by many people as the date of the birth of the babe Jesus in a manger at Bethlehem. Whether the date is correct or not is of small importance, but the event was and is of the greatest importance."
172. 1975 Yearbook, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, page 146
173. Jehovah's Witnesses - Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1993, page 152.
174. Franz 2007, p. 484
175. "The Higher Powers", Watch Tower, June 1929, pages 163-169, 179-185.
176. Penton 1997, p. 65
177. The Watchtower, December 1, 1929, pages 355-357, as cited by Edmond C. Gruss, The Four Presidents of the Watch Tower Society, page 117 and Tony Wills, A People For His name, page 48.
178. Penton 1997, p. 62
179. Preservation by J. F. Rutherford, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1932, page 103-194.
180. Watch Tower, October 1, 1932, page 294.
181. Preparation, ©1933 by J. F. Rutherford, Watch Tower, page 196
182. The Watchtower, February 15, 1925, page 57, "We know the work of restitution must come to the Jews first, and through them to the rest of the world. As the Scriptures state that Jerusalem is to be the capital of the world and that the ancient worthies are to be princes in all the earth, we are warranted in expecting that the kingdom work will begin at Jerusalem."
183. Vindication, Book 2, by J.F. Rutherford, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1932, pages 258, 269, 295.
184. Vindication, Book 3, by J.F. Rutherford, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1932, page 333.
185. Jehovah's Witnesses – Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1993, page 165.
186. Watchtower, August 15, 1934, as cited by Tony Wills, A People For His Name, pg 192-193.
187. Vindication, J. F. Rutherford, Book III, pages 83. 84.
188. Watchtower, January 15, 1927, pg 26, 27, "He who is called to be a minister of God must be a new creature, begotten of God's Holy Spirit; none other can have a share. In this ministry only those who are new creatures in Jesus Christ are entitled to share." As cited by Tony Wills, A People For His Name,(2007), pg 194.
189. Prophecy by J. F. Rutherford, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1929, chapter 4, page 65.
190. Watch Tower, December 1, 1933, page 362: "In the year 1914 that due time of waiting came to an end. Christ Jesus received the authority of the kingdom and was sent forth by Jehovah to rule amidst his enemies. The year 1914, therefore, marks the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, the King of glory."
191. Penton 1997, p. 69
192. Jehovah, J.F. Rutherford, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1934.
193. Watchtower, November 1, 1917, page 6161.
194. J.F. Rutherford, Jehovah, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1934, page 191.
195. Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1959, page 140.
196. The Watchtower, March 1, 1935
197. The Golden Age, October 12, 1921, Page 17, "Vaccination never prevented anything and never will, and is the most barbarous practice ... We are in the last days; and the devil is slowly losing his hold, making a strenuous effort meanwhile to do all the damage he can, and to his credit can such evils be placed ... Use your rights as American citizens to forever abolish the devilish practice of vaccinations."
198. The Golden Age, January 5, 1929, Page 502, "Thinking people would rather have smallpox than vaccination, because the latter sows seeds of syphilis, cancers, eczema, erysipelas, scrofula, consumption, even leprosy and many other loathsome affections. Hence the practice of vaccinations is a crime, an outrage, and a delusion."
199. The Golden Age, April 2, 1935, Page 465, "As vaccination is a direct injection of animal matter in the blood stream, vaccination is a direct violation of the law of Jehovah God."
200. Riches, by J.F. Rutherford, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1936, page 27.
201. Franz 2007, p. 150
202. Watchtower, November 1, 1937, page 336, as cited by Tony Wills, A People For His Name, pg 195.
203. Watchtower, March 1, 1930, page 71, "Since "Christ' means the anointed of God, it is manifestly true that no one can properly be termed a Christian who is not in Christ and who has not received the anointing."
204. A People for His Name, Tony Wills, pgs 186-187, citing Watchtower October 15, 1938, pg 307, Watchtower, November 1, 1938, page 323, Watchtower, November 15, 1938, page 346.
205. Watch Tower, November 1, 1939, as cited by Jehovah's Witnesses, Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1993, page 193.
206. The Watchtower, July 1, 1942, pages 205-206
207. "Questions from Readers". The Watchtower: 94. February 1, 1955. "Jehovah's witnesses from 1877 up to and including the publishing of "The Truth Shall Make You Free" of 1943 considered 536 B.C. as the year for the return of the Jews to Palestine"
208. "Determining the Year by Fact and Bible". The Watchtower: 271–2. May 1, 1952. "Concerning the first error, Russell and others considered 1 B.C. to A.D. 1 as being two years whereas in fact this is only one year because, as has been said above, there is no "zero" year in the B.C.-A.D. system for counting years."
209. Russell 1889, p. 54
210. Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence, May 15, 1896, R1980 page 112.
211. Three Worlds, by N. H. Barbour and C. T. Russell, 1877, pages 67, 186, as cited by Edmund Gruss, The Jehovah's Witnesses and Prophetic Speculation, 1972, pages 62-63.
212. The Truth Shall Make You Free, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1943, chapter 11, page 151.
213. Gruss, Edmond C. (1972), The Jehovah's Witnesses and Prophetic Speculation, Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co, pp. 68–69, ISBN 0-87552-306-4
214. Penton 1997, p. 89
215. The Watchtower, May 15, 1944.
216. The New Creation, Watch Tower, 1904, pages 289-290, "The administration of discipline is not the function of the elders only, but of the entire [congregation]. ... If the reproved one fails to clear himself, and continues in the error or sin, then two or three brethren without previous prejudice should be asked to hear the matter and advise the disputants. (Elders they may or may not be, but their eldership would add no force or authority in the case except as their judgment might be the riper and their influence the more potent.) If this committee decide unanimously with either party, the other should acquiesce and the matter be wholly at an end--correction, or restitution, so far as possible, being promptly made. If either of the original disputants still persists in the wrong course, the [accuser, a committee member] or, preferably, all of these together, may then (but not sooner) exercise their privilege of bringing the matter before the [congregation]. Thus it is evident that the Elders were in no sense to be judges of the members—hearing and judgment were left to the [congregation]. The two preliminary steps (above mentioned) having been taken, the facts being certified to the elders, it would be their duty to call a general meeting of the [congregation], as a court--to hear the case in all of its particulars, and in the name and reverence of its Head to render a decision. ... if the transgressor refuse to hear (obey) the decision of the entire [congregation], ... the [congregation] is to withdraw from him its fellowship and any and all signs or manifestations of brotherhood. [emphasis retained from original]
217. "Questions From Readers", The Watchtower, 1 February 1955: 94–95
218. Penton 1997, p. 153
219. The Watchtower, July 1. 1945.
220. The Watch Tower, November 15, 1892 p. 351.
221. The Watch Tower, April 15, 1909 pp. 116-117, "These prohibitions had never come to the Gentiles, because they had never been under the Law Covenant; but so deeply rooted were the Jewish ideas on this subject that it was necessary to the peace of the Church that the Gentiles should observe this matter also ... these items thus superadded to the Law of Love should be observed by all spiritual Israelites as representing the Divine will.”
222. The Watchtower: 404. July 1, 1951.
223. Questions From Readers, Watchtower, October 1, 1951.
224. The Watchtower, December 15, 1952.
225. "Questions From Readers", Watchtower, September 15, 1958: "Q: Are we to consider the injection of serums such as diphtheria toxin antitoxin and blood fractions such as gamma globulin into the blood stream, for the purpose of building up resistance to disease by means of antibodies, the same as the drinking of blood or the taking of blood or blood plasma by means of transfusion? A: No, it does not seem necessary that we put the two in the same category, although we have done so in times past.
226. "Questions From Readers", The Watchtower, 1 February 1955: 95
227. "Interesting Queries", Watch Tower, July 15, 1898, page 216.
228. Watchtower, November 15, 1939, page 339: "Jehovah God commands all to worship Christ Jesus because Christ Jesus is the express image of his Father, Jehovah"
229. Watchtower, October 15, 1945, page 313: "Since Jehovah God now reigns as King by means of his capital organization Zion, then whosoever would worship Him must also worship and bow down to Jehovah's Chief One in that capital organization, namely, Christ Jesus."
230. "Questions From Readers", Watchtower, January 1, 1954, page 30.
231. "Modern Restoration of True Worship (1919-1932)", The Watchtower, May 15, 1955, page 296, "Jesus—then to expand on a global scale—so now in the spring of 1919 there was an outpouring of Jehovah’s Holy Spirit organizationally upon the Christian remnant."
232. Watchtower, January 15, 1961, page 63.
233. Watchtower, August 1, 1961, page 480.
234. Watchtower, November 15, 1962.
235. The Divine Plan of the Ages, by C. T. Russell, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1886, page 266: "They taught the Church to obey the laws, and to respect those in authority because of their office, even if they were not personally worthy of esteem; to pay their appointed taxes, and, except where they conflicted with God's laws (Acts 4: 19; 5: 29), to offer no resistance to any established law. (Rom. 13: 1 - 7)"
236. "The Congregation in the Time of the End", Watchtower, March 1, 1961, page 146.
237. All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1963, page 286.
238. "The Removal of Mankind's Chief Disturber", The Watchtower, 15 July 1967: 446–447
239. Awake, June 8, 1968, Page 21 “Christian witnesses of Jehovah,... consider all transplants between humans as cannibalism.”
240. Watchtower, November 15, 1967, pages 702-704
241. Penton, M. J. Penton, Apocalypse Delayed, University of Toronto Press, pp. 165–171, "In 1967 the society suddenly decided that what had been permissible no longer was. Organ transplants suddenly became a form of human cannibalism ... Yet after many faithful Jehovah's Witnesses had suffered for their faith by giving up transplants which in some cases could have made their lives more pleasant and comfortable and by saving them from early death in others, the society again reversed itself."
242. "Keep Abstaining from Blood", Awake!, July 8, 1972, page 28, "The stand of the Christian witnesses of Jehovah—that such transplants are in effect a form of cannibalism—proved a safeguard. How so? In that it spared them much frustration, grief and anxiety, which were experienced not only by the patients and their relatives but even by many of the assisting medical personnel."
243. "Questions From Readers", The Watchtower, February 1, 1955, page 95, "However, from our present chronology (which is admitted imperfect) at best the fall of the year 1976 would be the end of 6,000 years of human history for mankind... Obviously, whatever amount of Adam’s 930 years was lived before the beginning of that seventh-day rest of Jehovah, that unknown amount would have to be added to the 1976 date."
244. Thy Kingdom Come by C. T. Russell, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1889, pages 127-128. "long enough [for Adam] to realize his lack of a companion" and an additional "two years would not be an improbable estimate" to have passed between Adam's creation and Edenic expulsion (beginning the seventh creative day).
245. "Why Are You Looking Forward to 1975?", The Watchtower, August 15, 1968, page 499-500
246. Watchtower, June 1, 1973, page 340.
247. "Questions From Readers", Watchtower, March 15, 1980, page 31.
248. John Dart, "Defectors Feel Witnsses' Wrath", Los Angeles Times, January 30, 1982, Part II, page 4, "The Sept. 15 Watchtower magazine told members that anyone who has written a letter of resignation should be shunned as if he had been 'disfellowshipped', or expelled ... 'This is a hardening, a tightening, of our policy,' confirmed William Van De Wall, a headquarters spokesman for the Watchtower Society. Denying any great membership losses, Van De Wall said the new directive was to counteract 'disgruntled' ex-members."
249. “Seek Peace and Pursue It”, The Watchtower, July 15, 1983, page 25
250. "Questions from readers", The Watchtower, January 1, 1987, page 30, "A study of the fulfillment of Bible prophecy and of our location in the stream of time strongly indicate that each of the creative days is 7,000 years long. It is understood that Christ’s reign of a thousand years will bring to a close God’s 7,000-year ‘rest day,’ the last ‘day’ of the creative week. Based on this reasoning, the entire creative week would be 49,000 years long."
251. "Creation", Insight, volume 1, 1988 Watch Tower, page 545, "Since the seventh day has been continuing for thousands of years, it may reasonably be concluded that each of the six creative periods, or days, was at least thousands of years in length ... Ascribing not just 24 hours but a longer period of time, thousands of years, to each of the creative days better harmonizes with the evidence found in the earth itself."
252. All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1990, page 286.
253. Man's Salvation Out of World Distress at Hand!, pages 167–168 (1975)
254. The Watchtower, April 15, 1992, pages 12–17
255. Watchtower, November 1, 1995, page 20.
256. The Watchtower, June 1, 1997, page 28: "The recent information in The Watchtower about "this generation" did not change our understanding of what occurred in 1914. But it did give us a clearer grasp of Jesus' use of the term "generation," helping us to see that his usage was no basis for calculating-counting from 1914 – how close to the end we are."
257. Joel P. Engardio (December 18, 1995), "Apocalypse Later", Newsweek
258. Penton 1997, p. 317
259. John Dart, "Jehovah's Witnesses Abandon Key Tenet", Los Angeles Times, November 4, 1995.
260. Watchtower, February 1, 1995.
261. Penton 1997, p. 316
262. "Part 2—Flashes of Light—Great and Small", The Watchtower, May 15, 1995, page 25
263. "Chapter 24: Why Jesus Came to Earth", The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, ©1991, "Jesus came to earth particularly to preach about God’s Kingdom, which will vindicate his Father’s name"
264. Watchtower, February 15, 1995, p.19.
265. Watchtower, May 1, 2007, pages 30-31: "It appears that we can not set a specific date for when the calling of Christians to the heavenly hope ends."
266. "Watchtower", February 15, 2008, pages 23-24: "On the other hand, Christ's faithful anointed brothers, the modern-day John class, have recognized this sign as if it were a flash of lightning and have understood its true meaning. As a class, these anointed ones make up the modern-day "generation" of contemporaries that will not pass away "until all these things occur."* This suggests that some who are Christ's anointed brothers will still be alive on earth when the foretold great tribulation begins."
267. "Holy spirit's role in the outworking of Jehovah's purposes", The Watchtower, 15 April 2010: 10
268. "Your Leader Is One, the Christ". The Watchtower: 23. September 15, 2010.
269. "Annual Meeting Report".
270. The Watchtower: 20–25. July 15, 2013.

Jehovah's Witnesses against Child Abuse. Official Announcement.

Jehovah's Witnesses against Child Abuse. Official Announcement.

Can you explain how Petra fits into our common view of archaeology / chronology?
 

Jehovah's Witnesses against Child Abuse. Official Announcement.

Te członki ciała, które wydają się słabsze, są niezbędne (1 Kor. 12:22).
Żyjemy w świecie przesyconym duchem rywalizacji, gloryfikującym siłę i młodość. Wielu próbuje za wszelką cenę wyjść na swoje, depcząc uczucia słabszych. Chociaż nie akceptujemy takiego postępowania, moglibyśmy nieświadomie rozwinąć w sobie negatywny stosunek do ludzi — nawet naszych współwyznawców — którzy często potrzebują pomocy. Ale możemy też rozwinąć bardziej zrównoważone podejście — takie, jakie ma Bóg. Wgląd w to, jak Jehowa zapatruje się na ludzkie słabości, daje nam przykład podany przez Pawła w Liście 1 do Koryntian. W rozdziale 12 apostoł przypomina, że nawet najmniej szacowny czy najsłabszy organ ciała ma określoną funkcję (1 Kor. 12:12, 18, 21-23). Część ewolucjonistów miewała odmienne podejście do zasadności istnienia takich narządów. Ale odkrycia z dziedziny anatomii wykazały, że narządy uważane za bezużyteczne w rzeczywistości odgrywają istotne role. w14 15.6 3:3, 4
 

I only saw The Librarian's response after I hit submit.
Duly noted, sir. 

We used to draw them very, very white. I remember when a very handsome white brother with "Christopher Reeves" (Superman) like features came to Bethel in 1977, and the head of the Art Dept asked if we thought we could get him to be the new "model" for Jesus. I admit that it never occurred to me that he would be wrong for the part. A previous white brother who had been used as the model had been from our home congregation back in the mid 1960's, up until about 1968. He's on the Mount of Olives teaching the disciples on a calendar, and appeared in another calendar and a couple of Watchtower covers. 
The brother who had been the "Superman" model was changed to someone who actually has some slightly mideastern features, but it is definitely a compromise. (The "Be My Follower" cover.) If you looked without knowing the changes over the years, you'd say he was still white, perhaps Italian. But if you were even more used to the older models, you'd notice that there has been a purposeful transition.

Whatever type of vision or imagery Satan presented to Jesus, it certainly doesn't say the earth is flat.  That would be a personal interpretation and incorrect.  If for example, I watch a movie or slideshow of different countries or continents, just because the screen is flat, I can't conclude the rest of the world is flat.  It would have been senseless for Jesus to say wait a minute, the kingdoms you showed me are all on flat land. 
 
"In the Hebrew Scriptures the earliest mention of Satan is in the first two chapters of the book of Job, where he is shown holding a conversation with Jehovah God and admits having gone to and fro upon the earth and having observed God’s friend Job. Surely Jehovah was not here holding a conversation with an imaginary person, a mere principle, nor could a mere principle have afflicted Job the way the account shows that Satan did. Incidentally, that Job was a historical and not an allegorical figure is apparent from his being linked with Noah and Daniel, both of whom Jesus referred to as having existed. (Ezek. 14:14) Also James 5:11 points him out as an example of endurance. . ." 
 
"Regarding Satan Jesus said that he saw him “already fallen like lightning from heaven.” He saw falling an idea, or an evil principle? Plainly indicating the Devil’s personality are the remarks Jesus addressed to the clergy of his day: “You are from your father the Devil and you wish to do the desires of your father. That one was a manslayer when he began, and he did not stand fast in the truth, because truth is not in him.” Was the principle of error at one time the same as the principle of truth?—Luke 10:18; John 8:44, NW.

"Those religious leaders in Jesus’ day knew there was a Devil and so they accused Jesus of doing his work by the power of the prince of devils, to which Jesus replied, not by denying the existence of a Devil, but by showing he had personality: “If Satan expels Satan, he has become divided against himself; how, then, will his kingdom stand?” (Matt. 12:26, NW) And further, regarding Jesus’ being tempted in the wilderness, is it reasonable to conclude that the perfect, loyal and ever-obedient Son of God would have been so tempted by thoughts originating in his own mind? And if the Devil were merely an evil principle or the personification of wickedness in ourselves, how could he have said to Jesus, “All these things [the kingdoms of the world and their glory] I will give you if you fall down and do an act of worship to me”? Do an act of worship to a principle? No, it simply does not make sense to rob the Devil, Satan, of his personality.—Matt. 4:9, 10, NW."  Watchtower 1954/06/01
 
Lastly, we recognize many words in the Bible are personified including the holy spirit, but the holy spirit is not allegorical.  It is real and comes from the Father and Almighty God.  Also anyone can have an evil thought including Satan and his angels that rebelled against God and were removed from the heavens.  They also wage war with the remaining ones of the woman's seed on earth. 
Rev 12:7 And war broke out in heaven: Mi′cha·el and his angels battled with the dragon, and the dragon and its angels battled 8 but it did not prevail, neither was a place found for them any longer in heaven. 9 So down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him. (NWT)
 
These are real events that occurred behind the scenes with real persons or spirit beings.  They are not allegorical.  Jesus and the angelic hosts are not fighting with some allegorical evil within themselves.

When Jesus' disciples wanted information about calculating the time when the Messianic Kingdom would start, Jesus reminded them with a kind of rebuke:
(Acts 1:6, 7) 6 So when they had assembled, they asked him: “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?” 7 He said to them: “It does not belong to you to know the times or seasons that the Father has placed in his own jurisdiction.
I suppose one could argue that that was then, but it might be different now. Yet Jesus said that in the end, even concerning the parousia/presence, that this statement would be just as true:
(Matthew 24:36, 37) 36 “Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 For just as the days of Noah were, so the presence [parousia] of the Son of man will be.
Paul also said that we have no need of any information about that time period, because, as he said:
(1 Thessalonians 5:1, 2) 5 Now as for the times and the seasons, brothers, you need nothing to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know very well that Jehovah’s day is coming exactly as a thief in the night.
So Biblically, we might be justified to believe that the date should not be important to any calculations of the Messianic Kingdom.
But your specific question is still fairly easy to answer from the Bible, based especially on the verse you quoted in Jeremiah.
(Jeremiah 25:11) . . .and these nations will have to serve the king of Babylon for 70 years.. . .
 
So, Biblically, we would expect the answer to be the exact time when the 70 yeas for Babylon ended. If Babylon was the empire that came to power around 609 BCE when Assyria fell, then we would expect those 70 years to end when Babylon fell to Darius the Mede and Cyrus the Persian in 539 BCE. Fortunately, we have a verse that spells it out directly:
(2 Chronicles 36:20, 21) 20 He carried off captive to Babylon those who escaped the sword, and they became servants to him and his sons until the kingdom of Persia began to reign, 21 to fulfill Jehovah’s word spoken by Jeremiah, until the land had paid off its sabbaths. All the days it lay desolate it kept sabbath, to fulfill 70 years.
So, it's pretty clear that the 70 years ended (Biblically) when the kingdom of Medo-Persia began to reign as the "world empire" in place of Babylon's 70-year empire. There are probably ten different ways from history and archaeology to show that this happened in 539 BCE. We accept that the king of Persia began to reign on that very night when the handwriting was on the wall in Daniel:
(Daniel 5:22-31) 22 “But you, his son Bel·shazʹzar, . . . 24 So the hand was sent from him, and this writing was inscribed. 25 And this is the writing that was inscribed: MEʹNE, MEʹNE, TEʹKEL, and PARʹSIN. 26 “This is the interpretation of the words: . . . 28 “PEʹRES, your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and the Persians.”. . .  30 That very night Bel·shazʹzar the Chal·deʹan king was killed. 31 And Da·riʹus the Mede received the kingdom; he was about 62 years old.
As clear as this might seem, we don't accept it because it would make the 70 years start in 609 and end in 539.
For the same reason that we changed the destruction of Jerusalem from 606 to 607 when we discovered that the 2,520 years would no longer end in 1914, we also found it necessary to do the same thing here. This 539 date would imply that Jerusalem must have been destroyed in 609, but that would make the 2,520 years end in 1912 instead of 1914. So, it has become necessary to simply change the end of the 70 years to 537 BCE. So, we give a date, instead, for a possible time when the Jews who were in Babylon to return to Jerusalem. We don't know how long this period would be, but we know from historical, archaeological records that it can take a couple months for a marching army to make that trip. We need to assume that it was two full years after Babylon's destruction for the Jews to arrive again in Jerusalem. This way 537 becomes the end of the 70 years.

Will Jesus teach to groups of people the same that he did while he was preaching on the earth, again in the paradise? Or should we expect not to talk to Jesus personally? 

It may look like an ordinary leaf, but have a closer look and you’ll notice that the center of the leaf is actually a caterpillar. The Baron caterpillar is one of the forms that lead to the Euthalia aconthea, or Common Baron buterfly. They live in Asia, and they’re really good at blending in.
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Showing the pink color fan in action. With full sound. These are powerful little fans. Uses very little battery to run. #jwstufforg #jworg #bestlifeever
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An answer when mild turns away rage.
We don't have all the answers but we can be kind nonetheless. Please don't be  offended, I'm sure  no offense was contemplated.
How unkind to turn our dear brother's death into something shameful. Console one another and compose self with kindness. To each one who ask provide an answer.... if you do some research at JW.org  search all the topics you want and be sure to read the scriptures provided.  You won't find a better source.

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