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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?

513 comments to Welcome

  • david

    Need more in information please

  • For all JWs and ex-JWs who loves Jehovah
    (and need comfort)
    here is a good blog:
    http://pearl-personalfile.blogspot.com/

    rus v.

  • Tulsigirl

    I just wanted everyone to know about and read Sister Jacqueline’s article, “When Family members leave the Organization-Should they be Shunned?” It is excellent! I’ve been wanting to write the exact same thing. Her research of the Watchtower Organization’s own articles and use of Bible scriptures are right on! READ IT, you will truly be excited to know that shunning is NOT scriptural. IT JUST ISN’T CHRISTIAN!!!

  • Bob

    I have found a web site of former JW’s that may interest some of you, http://brci.org They are having a conference on Sept 17 & 18 in Schaumburg, IL. It may be a good place to meet people of simmilar experiences. I plan to attend on Sat 9/17, and see what it’s like.

    • Jacqueline

      Hi Bob, I as well as Br. Henry was scheduled to go to this conference last Sept. I had a heart attack that very Sat. morning, so I missed it (;). These are very nice brothers and sisters that we talk to on the web and I want to see some of their faces also. Thanks for printing the web- address. They don’t worry about your religious affliation and I find them to be very nice when you talk on the phone. I will run over also on the 17th.

  • Dear Bothers and Sisters,

    Warm Christian Greetings!

    Thanks for your comments and explanations about the difference between Jehovah’s witnesses and Bible students.But I am very sorry if I am still saying that it is a minor one.
    Today I want to tell you in details about NEW COVENANT BIBLE STUDENTS CHURCH.And I HOPE Some brothers or sisters will understand our Doctrine /beliefs.

    We are CHRISTIANS with the strong desire to study the BIBLE and to TEACH ITS MESSAGE FREELY.
    We eager to follow the example of Jesus Christ and His Ministry-His prominent theme was THE KINGDOM OF GOD and to assist the needy spiritually and physically.

    OUR VISION AND VISION:

    To preach the truth about Jehovah God Jesus Christ of Nazareth and the Kingdom of God(John 17:3,1Timothy 2:5,John4:24,Daniel 2:44,)

    To teach people to observe God’s commandments,to baptise them and to help them to respond to the great commission(Matth.28:18-19,Acts 2:38,Rom.6:3-6).

    To cooperate /Collaborate with other organisatios,Denominatios or churches with similar Doctrines/beliefs AS WE ARE AND RESPECTING others’views.

    To feel sympathy,compassion and love for the losts,broken-hearthed and those are rejected or oppressed by the Gospel of Jesus Chist.(Jerem.34,1Corinth.13).

    To promote the christian love because the TRUE CHRISTIANITY should emphis on helping the needy spiritually and physically.
    James 1:27,Galates6:10,James 2:26,)

    To PROMOTE an excellent family ,health and education among our members and the Society in general.
    (Ephesians 5:21-33,6:1-2,Galates5:116-26).

    Concerning the issue of the BLOOD TRANSFUSION -It is up to each Christian’s conscience that has been trained by the Bible to decide to receive or to give the BLOOD..

    OUR MOTTO:

    TO SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS”( Matth.6:33).

    OUR SALVATION:

    We acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the only way or channel to us for our SALVATION.that is why NCBSC member should be baptised into Jesus’name( Acts 2:38,Rom.6:3-6,John14:6,).He is worthy to be our RANSOM(Rom.5:12,17-18,1Corint.15:21)

    OUR TARGET:

    Jesus Christ taught His disciples to pray for the KINGDOM OF GOD here on earth as it is in Heaven.So we believe that the NEW HEAVEN and the NEW EARTH are for the righteous people( 2 Pet.3:13,Rev.21:1-5,Isaiah 2:2-5 and Isaiah 11.

    Note : Next time I will tell you about our achievements and challenges.

    IN BRIEF WE ARE INFORMAL BIBLE STUDENTS AND ALSO FREE WITNESSES.

    I WELCOME ANY SUGGESTIONS , CONTRIBUTIONS OR SUPPORT VIA “ncbsc7@yahoo.co.uk or my new personal emai” hankinno2011@yahoo.co.uk“.
    I mean new email address has been compromised since 9th June 2011 and I lost many email addresses. IF any one of you received a message after 9th June via “hankinno2008@yahoo.co.uk” it was not mine.

    YOURS IN CHRIST,

    Brother INNOCENT HANKANIMANA,Founder & President of NEW COVENANT BIBLE STUDENTS CHURCH,
    DZALEKA REFUGEE CAMP,DOWA -MALAWI.

  • Dear Brothers and Sisters,

    Warmest christian greetings!

    Again I come back to your website to share with you my joy and felicitations .
    First I congratulate ALL brothers, sisters and sisters who encourage spirtually and physically the people victimized by human organisations.
    I also hail and welcome any effort to reconciliate JWs,EX-JWs and Bible students because due my research I have done and am still doing we are ALL the same. Our only difference remains in our human imperfection .We should acknowledge that a human being can not hold the TRUTH of the WORD OF GOD. We do try our best to study Bible but the way we understand it should differ.
    Myself I am a teacher and I have many examples about it. For example three teachers may use the same Syllabus of Social studies but during the Examination you may find that students from one Class answer properly than others.IT is the case of the Bible with different ministers. We should avoid to judge each other but to encourage each other. I am a peace maker by nature and I acknowledge that as people do have different educational background,they will always differ in their views.

    • Peter K. (admin)

      Innocent Hankanimana – Thanks for sharing your thoughts. There are many similarities between Bible Students and JWs, for example, our views that there will be a Paradise Earth and that the following are false teachings: Hell, Trinity and Immortality of the Soul. However, we have a number of differences as well. Bible Students believe in a Ransom for ALL, that even wicked people will be raised from the dead on paradise earth for discipline, education, repentance and reform. JWs see many of the Wicked as being eternally destroyed, including any destroyed in Jehovah’s Judgements in Noah’s Flood and in Armageddon for example. Bible Students also recognize that the Jews have not returned to Israel in defiance of Jehovah’s purpose, but actually as a result of his own design, in preparation for their important role on Paradise Earth.

  • soma

    hii i am female i am 18yrs i am from Guyana i am am not getting fully access too all the magazines that the organisation published but i am happy for the ones i get. i have an coppy of the young people ax book its and really interesting book. that book helps me too be an diffrent person i will be happy if i can chat with one of u witnesses pls message me back.
    BYE

    • Jacqueline

      Hi Soma, my little sister, how are you? There is a new young people ask book coming out at the summer conventions. Your conventions are in our wintertime, am I correct? Maybe we can get you some books. Let’s chat a bit and maybe there are Bible Students in your are. I will wait for your reply. Nice to talk to someone from the motherland. Love, Jacqueline

  • Jackie

    I am an x-witness, have been since ’98. I am still in a process of healing and it is not going so well. I had been associated with the Witnesses since ’54 and didn’t know anything else. My problems after leaving were guilt and fear, fearing any close associations, judging all others on the Witness level, and I could not commit to anything on regular basis–even weight watchers. Sometimes I feel that
    God isn’t there for me any more, doesn’t even want me. A few years ago, I wrote the elders asking to meet with them to talk about returning–3 letters were sent, two by me and one by my mother (an active Witness), phone numbers and addresses were given and they were totally ignored. When I moved to where I live now, the congregation requested my publishers record card–they finally received it–FIVE YEARS LATER. Another downer.
    I have tried another church, I am a spiritual person, but I really could reconcile myself to all that they believed. There were two people who worked to get me to leave the Witnesses, and when I did, they left me–I guess they had accomplished their mission.
    I am not sure what to do, and not even sure what I can believe anymore. Any advice?

    • Peter K. (admin)

      Jackie – I am sorry for the many years of difficult experiences, including loneliness and spiritual isolation. Perhaps we can be of encouragement. At our Wednesday night call in study, about seven former JWs call in each week. They are very loving and studies. We have a wonderful adventure studying God’s Plan together. We believe in Paradise Earth and reject Hell, Trinity and Immortality of the Soul. We invite you to join us next Wednesday night. For more information, click here on this link. I will send you a private email and try to help you find local Bible Students in your area. Christian regards – Peter

    • Jacqueline

      Hello Jackie, my nickname is Jackie also, but my Mom said when you get over 50, Jackie, I want you to have everyone call you Jacqueline. (:) I understand you not being able to commit to anything. It is so hard for an ex-witness to merge with nominal Christianity. I would like if you would, please leave your contact info in the contact section so I can talk to you. If that does not work. I will give you my private e-mail. I will sit here and look for your response. I was a witness during your era and we probably have a lot in common. With Christian love. Jacqueline
      Jackie I just tried to email you and give you my phone number but it came back. Jackie go to the Ask Jacqueline page when you reply and so of us sisters will chime in. Thanks

  • seeker

    wow, I’ve found more information on this website than going to JW ministerial training school.. lol Or being a ministerial Servant (deacon). Yall use more scriptures than JW’s claim to. I dont even have time to look up half the scriptures that are posted and put on there.

    I just wanted to say that

    Holy blessings Brethren
    Seeker

    • Jacqueline

      Seeker,
      You and I was both astonished. Also I found I have to really read the scripture and all around it to make sure it is really talking about the subject. As a witness I knew only certain scriptures, now I use more of the Bible. I also went back to pre- NWT, prior to 1960 and use many translations to get the full flavor and understanding. Have fun, I am too.

  • Anonymous

    I am considered an inactive Jehovahs Witness. I have been df’d before so I totally relate to this. I am currently living with a girl without the marriage arrangement. I will never willingly tell anyone anything! This is between me and God. I am starting to realize this relationship isn’t working. God’s ways are best, didn’t need them to know that!

    • Jacqueline

      Dear Anonymous, I totally understand. Jehovah is able to hear repentent ones and accept them into his family. You have the right attitude. Today is Sunday and now many are in meetings. The Brothers will comment indept later. There is a phone hook up going on now. If you would like to talk and participate with us 218.548-3324 pin534929 Talk to you later. In Christ

      • sistercandice

        Is this a bible student line ?What time on Sunday if I’m CST?

        • Jacqueline

          Sis Candice,
          It was 5pm last Sunday. This Saturday March 19th,2011 at 6pm CST. Br. Peter will be interviewed by Richard Rawe. Same number 712.432-8710 pin#9925. The Sunday show should post on the sixscreens website.

    • Jacqueline

      Anonymous, Ps 79:9 is a prayer that our sins be covered over and Jesus is that covering sacrifice at 1John 2:2 and for the whole world also.
      Isa.1:18 invites us to come as the Jews were also, to set matters straight tho their sins be as scarlet they would be cleansed. Anon, David confessed and was called God’s friend. Paul was chosen by Jesus directly and he killed Christians.Acts 3:19 tells you to repent and get the sins blotted out, not get on restrictions for a year, gone completely. So don’t worry about your past,it will be okay.
      If sins was what Jesus or Jah looked for none of us would stand, for we all sin and fall short of the glory of God. Heb. 10:16-18 applies also to Christians, and our sins will be blotted out.
      Remember the prodigal son, while he was still afar off, his Father was preparing for him and he did not have to submit to disgust prying questions nor humiliation. (Luke 15 chapter.)(good read)
      Br. Peter will get you in touch with someone in your area if available. Write him in the CONTACT US TAB and give him your information. Also ask questions and get answers from some of the articles on this site.
      Take Care by Brother. In Christ Jacqueline

      • Tulsigirl

        What encouragement, my dear sister. I am always carrying around guilt for my wrongdoings. Wrongdoings even forgiven by ones I transgressed against. However, I just can’t forgive myself because I just “know” Jehovah will never be able to forgive me. Why would he listen to MY prayers? WHY??? So when I recently wanted to go back to my JW brothers and sisters, I begin to think, they wouldn’t forgive me either. They would put me on public notice that I was to be shunned until the elders decided “they” could forgive me. It would seem as though I could be forgiven immediately, as the Prodigal son was forgiven. Thank you, Jacqueline, for being the positive force for us hangin back and not sure where to go or what to do.

        I wish I had known about the phone gathering yesterday. I sure would like to know all the ones open that you would be willing to share with me.

        Blessings of Jah be yours,
        Tulsigirl

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