ADJUSTMENTS TO THE REVELATION BOOK

A few months ago the Society sent out a PDF file of changes and deletions that could be cut and pasted on various pages in their 1988 publication Revelation Its GrandClimaxAt Hand. A number of these were simply quoting more up-to-date Watchtower publications and the latest stats they had quoted and as such were not seen as a problem. But there were a number of changes which show just how the theology of the Society can be altered by paper and glue!

One oft-repeated change is that all references to the separating work of Matthew 25 are removed because the book talked of them in the past but now the Society say it will be future.

Originally, when the Revelation book was first published, the teaching was:

“Yes, since Christ returned and sat down on his heavenly throne, all humankind has been on judgment. This present ‘day of judgment’ comes before the 1,000-year Judgment Day begins. During the present judgment people are being separated as ‘goats’ to Christ’s left hand or as ‘sheep’ to his right. The ‘goats’ will be destroyed because they fail to help Christ’s anointed ‘brothers’ in their service to God. In time, these ‘goats’ show themselves to be unrepentant sinners, wicked, hardened in their practice of unrighteousness. The ‘sheep’ on the other hand, will be blessed with life under the Kingdom rule because they support Christ’s ‘brothers’ in every way” – You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, p.183.

Now:

“Understanding the parable of the sheep and the goats in this way indicates that the rendering of judgment on the sheep and goats is future. It will take place after ‘the tribulation’ mentioned in Matthew 24:29-30 breaks out and the Son of man ‘arrives in glory'” – The Watchtower, 15 October 1995, p. 23.

This is one major change that occurs several times in the book and another repeated one is that in the original publication there would definitely be some of the 144,000 alive on earth at Armageddon, but now this is prefixed with an ‘IF’.

We now reproduce below some of the other interesting changes and some you will note constitute major changes in Watchtower thinking. It has to be in Watchtower thinking because God does not change His mind; how sad to belong to a Society that needs to correct its theology like this. The first quote, in the pairs below, is as it is in the original 1998 edition and the second shows relevant changes in CAPITALS.

“In May 1918 Christendom’s clergy instigated the imprisonment of officials of the Watch Tower Society, but nine months later these were released. Later, they were completely exonerated of the false charges against them.” – p.32.

“In May 1918 Christendom’s clergy instigated the imprisonment of officials of the Watch Tower Society, but nine months later these were released. Later, THE FALSE CHARGES AGAINST THEM WERE DROPPED.”

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“Almost 40 years ahead of time, they pointed to 1914 as the year marked in Bible prophecy as the end of the times of the Gentiles, when civil and ecclesiastical powers would be shaken.” – p.69.

“Almost 40 years ahead of time, they pointed to 1914 as the year marked in Bible prophecy as the end of the times of the Gentiles, ACCOMPANIED BY STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS ON EARTH.”

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“Some scientists forecast mathematically that an accidental nuclear war is virtually certain to take place within 25 years – let alone a planned nuclear conflagration!” – p.94.

“Some scientists SPEAK OF THE POSSIBILITY OF an accidental nuclear war is virtually certain to take place within 25 years – let alone a planned nuclear conflagration!”

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“Satan’s world system has been rocked and shaken by this global warning (judgments since 1919)” – p.107.

“Satan’s world system has been PUT ON NOTICE by this global warning.”

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“But to goatlike people, this is bad news.” – p.160

“But to OPPONENTS this is bad news.”

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“As we shall see, the reference here is the literal 42 months extending from October 1914 into 1918, when all professing Christians were put to a severe test.” – p.162.

“As we shall see, the reference here is the literal 42 months extending from DECEMBER 1914 TO JUNE 1918, when all professing Christians were put to a severe test.”

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“Roman historian Tacitus reports that when Jerusalem was conquered in 70 C.E. and Cnesius Pompeius entered the sanctuary of Herod’s temple, he found it was empty.” – p.175 footnote.

“Roman historian Tacitus reports that when Jerusalem was conquered in 63 B.C.E. and Cnesius Pompeius entered the TEMPLE SANCTUARY, he found it was empty.”

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“This persecution finally ended in 1970, when a change of government led to the lifting of the ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses.” – p.185 box.

“This persecution finally ended in 1970, when AS A RESULT OF THE GOVERNMENT’S CHANGE OF POLICY TOWARD NON-CATHOLIC RELIGIONS, JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES WERE ALLOWED TO BECOME LEGALLY REGISTERED.”

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“The 144,000 are… adopted as spirit sons of God…” – p.202

“The 144,000 are… adopted as (SPIRIT HAS BEEN REMOVED) sons of God…”

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“Well, what resulted in 539 B.C.E. when ancient Babylon fell?” – p.206.

“Well, what resulted AFTER 539 B.C.E. when ancient Babylon fell?”

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“In the 1870’s anointed Christians began…” – p.209

“BY the 1870’s anointed Christian (sic) began…”

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“Satan is even now maneuvering the nations toward making that false proclamation of ‘Peace and Security!'” – pp.231/232

“Satan is BEHIND ANY SUCH false proclamation of ‘Peace and Security!'”

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“Significantly, the pope made no mention of Jesus Christ or of God’s Kingdom in his speech.” – p.243.

“Significantly, the pope GAVE VERY LITTLE ATTENTION TO Jesus Christ or to God’s Kingdom in his speech.”

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“What form will this significant cry of ‘Peace and security!’ take? It is here mentioned as being outstanding just before the sudden destruction of those making the cry. Hence, it will have to be something more pronounced than any previous declarations by world leaders. No doubt it will be on an earth-wide scale. Yet it will be no more than a façade. Underneath, nothing will really have changed. Selfishness, hatred, crime, family breakdown, immorality, sickness, sorrow and death will still be here. That is why the coming cry will mislead those who are not awake to Bible prophecy. But it need not mislead you, if you have been awake to the meaning of world events and have heeded the prophetic warnings in God’s Word.”
– p.251.

“IN RECENT YEARS, POLITICIANS HAVE USED THE PHRASE ‘PEACE AND SECURITY!’ TO DESCRIBE VARIOUS HUMAN SCHEMES. DO SUCH EFFORTS BY WORLD LEADERS CONSTITUTE THE BEGINNING OF THE FULFILMENT OF 1 THESSALONIANS 5:3? OR WAS PAUL REFERRING ONLY TO A SPECIFIC EVENT OF SUCH DRAMATIC PROPORTIONS THAT IT WILL CLAIM WORLD ATTENTION. SINCE BIBLE PROPHECIES ARE OFTEN COMPLETELY UNDERSTOOD ONLY AFTER THEY ARE FULFILLED OR IN COURSE OF FULFILMENT, WE WILL WAIT AND SEE. (Ed: Remember that next time the Witnesses tells you about future events!) MEANWHILE, CHRISTIANS KNOW THAT WHATEVER PEACE AND SECURITY THE NATIONS MAY APPEAR TO HAVE ACHIEVED, BASICALLY NOTHING WILL HAVE changed. Selfishness, hatred, crime, family breakdown, immorality, sickness, sorrow and death will still be here. THAT IS WHY NO CRY OF ‘PEACE AND SECURITY’ NEEDS TO mislead you, if YOU REMAIN awake to the meaning of world events and have heeded the prophetic warnings in God’s Word.”

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“In 1914 ‘the Son of man arrived in his glory,’ and since that time Jesus, installed ‘on his glorious throne’ in the heavens, has been exercising authority…” – p.259.

“In 1914 JESUS BECAME A HEAVENLY KING, AND SINCE THAT TIME HE has been exercising authority…”

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“…since the first world war, the influence of Babylonish religion has declined remarkably on a global scale. In Russia, the Bolshevik Revolution has continued to stifle the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church. In Japan…” – p.260

“…since the first world war, the influence of Babylonish religion has declined remarkably on a global scale. (MENTION OF RUSSIA REMOVED).

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In Japan…” “Previous to that date (1914), ‘the Lamb’ was not enthroned as Messianic King. Additionally, since the river runs through the broad way of New Jerusalem, the time of the vision’s fulfilment must be after the destruction of Satan’s world, when New Jerusalem ‘comes down out of heaven from God.'” – p.311

“DURING THE TIME OF THE END, THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE HAVE BEEN INVITING RIGHTLY DISPOSED ONES TO TAKE LIFE’S WATER FREE. WATER FROM THIS RIVER WILL CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE TO SUCH ONES RIGHT UP TO THE END OF THIS SYSTEM OF THINGS AND, THEREAFTER, ON INTO THE NEW WORLD, when New Jerusalem ‘comes down out of heaven from God.'”

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“Those trees, well watered by the river, may additionally picture the 144,000…” – p.312.

“Those trees, well watered by the river, may INCLUDE the 144,000…”