Beyond the Watchtower
Looking to our Past for lessons to help inform our Future
Our new logo of the original Watchtower cross and crown supports our subtitle “Looking to our Past – For lessons about our Future. Find more out the Watchtower history of the cross and crown by clicking here:
WHY THE NAME CHANGE FROM “FRIENDS OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES” TO “BEYOND THE WATCHTOWER?” New redirected website address is — BeyondWatchtower.com.
First an introduction: We are Bible Students who since the early Watchtower days have continued to meet together in congregations around the world. We retain, continue to study, and offer to others, the original Watchtower writings and literature, which we enjoy as wonderful resources to help understand and harmonize the Bible’s teachings. Some of us created the “Friends of Jehovah’s Witnesses” website in an attempt to reach out in the spirit of Christian love and friendship, both to struggling Jehovah’s Witnesses and to Ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Why are we reaching out?
A. We hope to provide a safe haven website of help, support, encouragement, open conversation and as well an information center.
B. We hope to provide for your consideration, the enduring, valued, spiritual light of truth that shone forth so brightly in the early days of the Watchtower ministry. In the spirit of Christian love and liberty, we extend to you this invitation to study, not with an autocratic ORGANIZATION controlled by a “Governing Body,” but rather with fellow Christian students of the Bible in the spirit of the Berean’s (Acts 17:11).
C. We hope to share with you areas of our common roots and the true history and the original mission of the early Watchtower Society. In its early days, it operated as a publishing house. It had absolutely NO authority over any of the hundreds of independent congregations which were controlled solely by the congregation members themselves; not by domineering elders, overbearing overseers or a dictatorial Governing Body. In those days each elder could only remain in office if at the annual elections they received 75% of the vote from the Holy Spirit anointed congregation members voting based on the Biblical qualifications for elder (1 Tim 3 and Titus 1).
So why the name change to “Beyond the Watchtower.”
Some visitors to our site have had the mistaken impression that by calling ourselves “Friends of Jehovah’s Witnesses” that this meant we were in agreement with the new doctrines and the oppressive and controlling spirit of the organization itself and its governing structure as well as its historical practice of shunning questioning members, and the resultant dividing of families. Dear brothers and sisters, nothing could be further from our true heart’s desire. These types of practices were never to be found among the original Watchtower friends prior to 1917.
Our new name “Beyond the Watchtower” contains a dual meaning which helps clarify our mission:
1: To help, support and encourage present JWs looking BEYOND todays Watchtower or else former JWs AFTER leaving the JW Organization. We would like to provide the type of support as shared in A & B above, to help those presently questioning or struggling with their relationship in the J.W. Organization and who may even have endured and suffered from spiritual and emotional wounds.
2: As described in C above, to provide an accurate historical account of events that took place BEYOND or AFTER the early Watchtower” days when a new organization emerged under new leadership, dramatically changing its beliefs and practices.
In these early Watchtower days, many of the original Bible Students refused to accept the new and changed teachings. Nor would they be controlled by and surrender their Christian liberty to this new and very tough leader, Joseph Rutherford. These Bible Students broke away from the new and emerging JW organization and either maintained or reestablished Bible Student congregation’s worldwide. By 1931, 75% of the Original Bible Students had left this new organization which in that year adopted the name “Jehovah’s Witnesses” in order to draw a clear line of distinction from those who had left the Society and those who remained.
The Bible Students as a Christian fellowship still meet together to the present day as free and independent congregations retaining their original beliefs and practicing the same spirit of Christian liberty as was adhered to during the early Watchtower days up through October of 1916 when Brother Russell died.
With these true, loving and encouraging wishes for you, we hope that this website aids you, our visiting brothers and sisters, to find satisfying answers to questions you may have. We hope this site can be an educational, healing center, a safe harbor for achieving a healthy emotional state, a place for spiritual growth in a manner that faithfully follows the scriptures and a place where all of our combined efforts will be found pleasing and honoring to the name of Jehovah, our loving and merciful Heavenly Father.
We hope that a journey with you to the not so distant past will bring you fresh hopes of Jehovah’s kindness and mercy to us today as well as for the bright and wonderful tomorrow that He has promised for all mankind through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
We continue now with our original WELCOME message below.
1Jo 4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love throws fear outside, because fear exercises a restraint. Indeed, he that is under fear has not been made perfect in love. – NWT
WELCOME TO THIS CITY OF REFUGE
AND SANCTUARY FOR STUDIOUS AND INQUIRING MINDS.
Acts 17:10, 11: Immediately by night the brothers sent both Paul and Silas out to Be-roe’a, and these, upon arriving, went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now the latter were more noble-minded than those in Thes-sa-lo-ni’ca, for they received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so. – NWT
You are anonymous here. You can speak to other Jehovah’s Witnesses, former Jehovah’s Witnesses, Bible Students and other Christians. When posting your comments, you will be able to use a Pen Name. Your e-mail address and website info are completely optional. No one can identify you. No one can report you. You have a home and quiet place to pray and honestly investigate scriptures. It is not our purpose to indoctrinate you, but merely to provide you with resources for further study of Jehovah’s word. You are not alone. You have friends.
Romans 14:4 Who are you to judge the house servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for Jehovah can make him stand. – NWT
2 Tim 1:7 (Amplified Bible) – For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but He has given us a spirit of power and of love and of calm {and} well–balanced mind {and} discipline {and} self–control.
Gal 5:1 – Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. NKJV
Gal 5:13 – For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. NKJV
2Co 3:17 – …where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. NWT
John 8:31, 32 – And so Jesus went on to say to the Jews that had believed him: “If YOU remain in my word, YOU are really my disciples, and YOU will know the truth, and the truth will set YOU free. NWT
If 1 John 4:8 says “God is love,” then shouldn’t love, not fear, be our motivation to serve Jehovah? Are you serving Jehovah in a certain way because you are afraid/fearful of being destroyed in Armageddon?
Hebrews 13:6 (Amplified Bible) – So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?
Bible students and Jehovah’s witnesses have recognized the events of 1914. the kingdom is coming to Earth just as God promised. I guess the question is do you have to be one of Jehovah’s witnesses to be saved when the great tribulation breaks out at Armageddon. please feel free to answer this for me I feel the salvation is an individual decision. but you must do the will of God and support the anointed King Jesus Christ
Good question. The problem with the question however is that there is NO scriptural evidence to support it in the Bible. If anyone can provide scriptural evidence please share it here. You can find a detailed answer at this link. https://www.beyondwatchtower.com/2011/12/20/sunday-dec-18-will-only-jehovahs-witnesses-survive-armageddon/
family worship people who love Jehovah will worship in the last days in houses. Governments of the world will fight against all religions. when will Christ return Jehovah’s kingdom to end human rule over the earth. will be when governments of mankind. fight against people in home bible study.
John 14:27 (NASB) “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”
Paradise will be a wonderful place. i go to jw.org every day and i go to bible student websites. i look forward to a better life.
Jehovah’s witnesses and also Christianity has been witnessed all over the Bible has been published in most every language. that will be more than just Jehovah’s witnesses being saved at Armageddon. what is Armageddon. study soon the Earth everyone will know Jehovah’s name and what it means. God judges all houses at the end time.
Thanks KD. What houses that God judges are you talking about? Can you give examples. Thanks.
God judges us as individuals. there are many people who love Jehovah and has dedicated there life to doing Jehovah’s will and many people who will not. keeping the commands that God has set a standard to. to love mankind those who you come in contact with. and to love Jesus Christ Father Jehovah God. Jehovah loves and judges each person. the great tribulation is coming soon. our faith will be tested please prepare spiritual house which is your mind. do Jehovah’s will. God will judge. to not beat up on people but show love and support Jesus Christ.
KD – We can trust in Jehovah’s promises.
Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV) “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Romans 8:28 (NKJV) “…all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Matthew 6:31-33 (NKJV) “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
you cannot judge the house of another person. Jesus and Jehovah God all fully qualified they determine who the anointed righteous class and also Jehovah God and Jesus Christ are the ones who determine just what a wicked slave is and who the wicked slaves all are. we know from the bible what a wicked slave is.
I would never want another man’s blood in my body.
The life is in the blood. The personality is in the blood
Neither would I ever accept a heart transplant.
This is against the will of Gof in my opinion,
Because God does not want the mixing of blood and personalities
He created us in the womb, From the same lump, he made one vessel,untomhonor and another unto dishonor. Mixing blood is confusion!
The blood that saves mankind live forever was shed. Jesus Christ life flesh and blood pure life saves the lives of mankind. very soon False teaching will be gone soon. when the bible talks against blood it is talking about murder or eating of blood. even if they put blood in the body to save your life is that the same as eating blood. i do not think it is the same as eating blood but one most make there on mind up. any way Jesus gave his flesh and blood for all mankind to saves our lives.
Please remember our lord Jesus Christ. on Jesus Christ flesh and blood life was given for mankind sins.The blood and flesh saves us Jehovah God love you so much he gave us son for you to have everlasting life 144000 will go to heaven in complete number soon.Ransom was giving for all mankind a paradise earth will be on earth soon. God loves the whole world please do not love sin. love the world of people but hate the world of sin for your life. I am ready to be with Christ life in my flesh and blood life with action from now on. Ready for the kingdom today. I am asking Christ to give me another chance as I messed my lifeup in the past please Jehovah’s witnesses JEHOVAH GAVE THE RANSOM FOR THE WHOLE WORLD not just us. we all we be in one faith on earth very soon the battle of Armageddon will end mans rule over the earth. God will raise every women and child who every lived during the 1000 years infact the 1000 years could be more then a 1000 human years
Yes Kevin, following the 1,000 years are the ages of eternity.
Rev 21:4 (NKJV) “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Yes, I agree.
Babylon, is the Great whore that reigns over the Kings of the earth!
But who really is this? Not the Holy Roman empire, who’s kingdom was defeated hundreds of years ago
So who is this Great city, spiritually called sodom and egypt?
Where is she located?
Where our Lord was also crucified!
https://rightwillrule.wordpress.com/the-blood-of-all-slain/
Thanks Robert for your questions and for sharing the article linked. You have some good questions which I hope to respond to in the next few days. I think it would help if the article ended with a section summarizing the conclusions.
Were the Reformers were wrong in identifying the Papacy as that great Antichrist system?
Here is a link listing many Reformers and pre-Reformation teachers (i.e. John Wycliff) who identified the Antichrist with the Papacy. http://christiantrumpetsounding.com/Antichrist/Reformation%20Views.htm
please Bible students and Jehovah’s witness anointed please remember Jesus Christ our Lord on April 4th 2023 around the world.
Blood. and blood transfusion. Do you know medical science proved that a blood Transfusion can save your life instead of you dyeing. But many of you say but the bible says to abstain from blood. go home and read it. it is taking about the sin of murder. a blood transfusion saves your life that blood keeps you alive to see your family and people you know you will live to see. blood of Cain screams out from the ground because he was murdered. your heart produces blood. Jesus death his life was a sacrifice and his blood saves when you put faith in him. and live your life with his death and his life in your mind. use mind come out of her Gods true anointed.
Lloyd Evans thank you I wish you were a follower of Jesus Christ but thank you for your program.
‘Anointed’,
In actual fact, blood transfusions are themselves high risk procedures. Putting aside religious arguments on the issue, the health risks associated with having a blood transfusion should be a sufficient enough reason for all to pause and consider the risks and benefits. This is even more important now in view of the fact that a large majority of the population have received a Covid 19 vaccination, and so, as a result, blood is even more contaminated than previously.
Furthermore, thanking this individual, Lloyd Evans (an Atheist, antichrist, as well as self-confessed adulterer), for his program, hardly seems appropriate if your objective is to encourage Christians to come out of ‘her’.
‘Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.’ (2 John 1:9-11)
Hi Steven. Welcome back. Would you object to a blood transfusion if you believed you would otherwise die and if you could know the donated blood was safe?
Dear Peter K.,
Thank you for the reply, and the question—which is a good one.
Consider extracts from some reprints.
R2158: page 153, reads, in part:
‘The restriction as to the method of killing animals was that it should not be by strangulation, which would leave the blood in the veins, but by the Jewish method of bleeding them to death, which extracts the blood. Abstinence from the eating of blood in any form has probably also a sanitary reason back of it, in addition to a typical significance; for “the life is in the blood.”‘
R4374: page 116:
‘To emphasize these typical lessons the Jew had been forbidden to use blood. And there may be other, sanitary, reasons connected with the matter, which are not yet known to us.’
In these two reprints, the observation is made that there may be sound sanitary reasons for avoiding consumption of blood. As I pointed out in my original post, there certainly are sound medical reasons as to why an individual (not just a s Christian) should seriously weight the potential risks and benefits of having blood—various possible side effects such as allergic reaction, infectious disease, blood clotting and death, to name a few. So, having a blood transfusion in an emergency situation doesn’t automatically mean your life is going to be saved—there’s a lot more to consider.
R3017: page 167:
‘And the things here required of the Gentiles were not [R3019 : page 170] merely features of the Mosaic Law, for the forbidding of the use of blood, and the explanation that it represented the life, was given long previous to Moses’ day—to Noah after the flood, when he and his posterity were granted the privilege of eating meat, because of the changed conditions and the impoverishment of the race, and the need of more stimulating food. The use of blood was still more common then than now, being used not only in blood puddings, but also as a drink mixed with wine, as some today use beef extract blended with wine.’
In this reprint we are informed that the instruction not to eat blood was given even to Noah. (Gen. 9:4.)
R3097: page 323:
‘…We offer no objection to those who claim that they have better health as a result of a purely vegetable diet: it is every man’s duty to supply to his system the diet which will in his judgment yield the largest degree of comfort and efficiency in his case. But we do object to the claim of special sanctity and acceptableness with God on account of a purely vegetable diet. Those who take that position are distinctly setting themselves up as wiser than God, and holier than our Lord Jesus who not only ate animal food (lamb and fish at least) but who miraculously created fish for food.’
In this reprint the opinion is given that those who eat a vegetable diet have some claim of ‘special sanctity’ before God. Some Seventh-Day Adventists, for example, recommend a vegetable diet only (with the thought in mind that this somehow does give them a ‘special sanctity’ before God).
Q430:3 QUESTION (1909)—3—Why does St. Paul command us to abstain from things strangled and from meats offered to Idols?:
‘Then the Conference of the Apostles concluded that there were no mandatory laws upon the Gentiles, and that they should not put any upon them. But they said, let us enjoin this upon them rather as a recommendation… as to things strangled. That was a custom among the Jews because blood was a type or symbol of life, and God commanded the Jews not to eat anything strangled. They do not state why they advised it, but they did advise it and they advised it after they had stated there was nothing in the law that was binding on the Gentiles.
Are we to understand that the Gentiles are free to commit all the crimes in the calendar not stipulated by this Conference, and merely counseled respecting meats offered to idols, or that have died by strangulation—and the use of blood and fornication? Surely not. Rather all the requirements of the Law are included in the one law of the New Creation—Thou shalt love the Lord and thy neighbor.’
In the Question 430 (3), above, it is acknowledged that there were no *mandatory* laws placed upon the Christians. However, it also makes the point that this *does not* mean a Christian is free to commit all the crimes not listed – as the Law of Love incorporates all of these anyway.
R4374: page 116:
‘Love would cover idolatry, profanity, murder, theft, false witness, adultery, but the law of Love would not so thoroughly cover the items enumerated by the Counsel. These were necessary, proper, and we are to recognize the authority of the Apostles to “bind things on earth,” and that they were so guided in their public utterances that they bound nothing unnecessarily, nothing contrary to the Divine will. It is our opinion, therefore, that these items thus superadded to the Law of Love should be observed by all spiritual Israelites as representing the Divine will. As a matter of fact nearly all the butchering for our markets is in harmony with the Jewish regulations, although many Jews decline to recognize this and eat only such meats as have been inspected and approved by their rabbis.’
In the final quote we see the recognition that the Apostles had the authority to ‘bind things on earth’. (Matt. 16:19.) It goes further and states that ‘It is our opinion that these items thus superadded to the Law of Love should be observed by all spiritual Israelites’.
Thus, it can be seen that even in Pastor Russell’s day it was understood that there may be some sanitary reasons for avoiding the eating of blood. It can also be seen that these elements – ‘superadded-, bound on earth by the Apostles – was something the Pastor believed all Spiritual Israelites should observe.
Personally, I avoid eating blood products of any kind, in harmony with the Scriptural admonition to ‘abstain from blood’. (Acts 15:20, 29).
‘As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.’ (Acts 21:25)
On the one hand, it’s evident that many dietary laws in the Bible are referring to the eating/drinking of animal blood. However considering verses such as Leviticus 17:14, it seems obvious that eating/drinking human blood (no manner of flesh) would unacceptable. We know that certain heathen religions did engage in human sacrifice and drank human blood.
However, I’m fully aware that blood, when transfused into the veins, continues to carry on the functions of blood (it is not being ingested as food). Furthermore, the person who donated the blood usually is not dead, but a living individual (who normally continues to live after the procedure of donating blood). This is one way in which donated human blood from a living individual is entirely different from the blood of a dead animal.
The sanitary reasons for avoiding transfusions are many. Infections that one can get from a transfusion are many. And then there’s the question—who donated the blood in the first place?
In the USA and the UK it is now possible for homosexual men to donate their ‘life saving’ blood. The restriction is that the donor must have abstained from sexual activity with another male for a period of 3 months before donating blood.
An NHS UK website states the following:
‘Blood donation rules have evolved over the years as the understanding and evidence about risks improves.
pre-2011 – men who have sex with men were not able to give blood
2011 – a 12-month wait was introduced
November 2017 – a 3-month wait for men who have sex with men was introduced following changes to SaBTO guidance
June 2021 – men who have sex with men and who have had the same partner for 3 months able to give blood
We have some of the world’s most progressive rules about who can and can’t give blood. Internationally, some countries don’t allow men who have sex with men to give blood or have a 12-month delay.’—https://www.blood.co.uk/who-can-give-blood/men-who-have-sex-with-men/
Is it really the case that the rules have been relaxed due to the ‘evidence’, or is it due to being ‘progressive’?
Whatever the case may be, one must consider that the blood they are receiving may potentially have been donated by a Sodomite.
On Covid 19 and the effect appears to have had on many people, I recommend the following documentary called DIED SUDDENLY:
https://rumble.com/embed/pj.v1to6s2/
Again, from a sanitary perspective, one needs to consider whether or not they want to receive blood that has been injected with this so-called ‘vaccine’.
I could go on, but I’ll leave it there.
‘Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.’ (Romans 14:5)
Hi Steven – Thanks for good well researched information. Certainly the sanitary issues you raise are valid concerns. You well stated, “Personally, I avoid eating blood products of any kind, in harmony with the Scriptural admonition to ‘abstain from blood’. (Acts 15:20, 29).”
Are blood transfusions safe? I am not a medical professional and am not researched enough to be able to answer. Here is what the Mayo Clinic says.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/blood-transfusion/about/pac-20385168
“Blood banks screen donors and test donated blood to reduce the risk of transfusion-related infections, so infections, such as HIV or hepatitis B or C, are extremely rare.”
Blood Transfusions are not discussed in the early Watchtowers in Brother Russell’s day, possibly because at that time they were experimental and uncommon. Here are some questions to consider:
1) What does the Bible say that may provide guidance on this topic? (You presented some scriptures to consider)
2) What are the health risks or benefits?
3) In any specific case, is the blood transfusion recommended by the doctor as helpful or absolutely necessary to preserve life?
I would have a hard time pressing a family member NOT to get a blood transfusion if the likely outcome otherwise would be death. It is difficult for me to find direct guidance on this topic in the Bible since blood transfusions were not a possibility in Biblical times. However, we should be open to whatever Biblical evidence can be presented. As you said, ‘Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.’ (Romans 14:5)
Hi Anointed – If you felt you needed a blood transfusions, would it matter to you whether or not the donated blood was from a Covid Vaccinated person?