A secular site promoting use of evidence-based prevention methods to reduce cult victimization
Monday, May 30, 2011
Recruitment at Cemetaries on Memorial Day
Some cults engage in recruitment activities in cemeteries on Memorial Day, knowing there will be plenty of mourners. Click the title for details.
Have Jehovah's Witnesses (Watchtower Society) ever predicted the end of the world (rapture)?
Judge for yourself. Read these carefully. Do these quotes seem to be remarks from some sincere Christians eager to meet Jesus, or do they rather clearly state the end of the world is coming within a certain time frame?
What do you think? Please post your reactions below.
1925: …the great jubilee cycle is due to begin in 1925. At that time the earthly phase of the kingdom shall be recognized.... Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old… [Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920, pp. 89, 90]
What do you think? Please post your reactions below.
1874: "Our Lord, the appointed King, is now present since October 1874, A.D., according to the testimony of the prophets, to those who have ears to hear it: and the formal inauguration of his kingly office dates from April 1878, A.D." [Studies in Scriptures Series IV (1897) p.621]
“the battle of the great day of God Almighty--The date of the close of that "battle" is definitely marked in Scripture as October 1914. It is already in progress, its beginning dating from October, 1874." [Zion's Watch Tower 1892 January 15 p.23]
1877: Christ's kingdom will hold full sway over the earth in 1914; the Jews, as a people, will be restored to God's favor; the "saints" will be carried to heaven. [The Three Worlds (1907)]
1878: "The year A.D. 1878, being the parallel of his assuming power and authority in the type, clearly marks the time for the actual assuming of power as King of kings, by our present, spiritual, invisible Lord...." [Studies in the Scriptures - Thy Kingdom Come p.239]
1891: 1914 will be "the farthest limit of the rule of imperfect men.” [The Time Is At Hand (1891)]
1914: "But bear in mind that the end of 1914 is not the date for the beginning, but for the end of the time of trouble. [Zion's Watch Tower 1894 July 15 p.226]
"…1914; at the end of which, Babylon the great, will have fallen, and the "dragon" be bound: that is, the nations will be subdued, and "the prince of this world cast out.""[Three Worlds and The Harvest of This World (1877) p.143]
"…with the end of A.D. 1914, what God calls Babylon, and what men call Christendom, will have passed away, as already shown in prophecy." [Studies In the Scriptures Series III - Thy Kingdom Come (1891) p.153]
"October, 1914, will witness the full end of Babylon, "as a great millstone cast into the sea," utterly destroyed as a system." [Watch Tower 1911 June 15 p.190]
"…with the end of A.D. 1914, what God calls Babylon, and what men call Christendom, will have passed away, as already shown in prophecy." [Studies In the Scriptures Series III - Thy Kingdom Come (1891) p.153]
"October, 1914, will witness the full end of Babylon, "as a great millstone cast into the sea," utterly destroyed as a system." [Watch Tower 1911 June 15 p.190]
"True, it is expecting great things to claim, as we do, that within the coming twenty-six years all present governments will be overthrown and dissolved …. we consider it an established truth that the final end of the kingdoms of this world, and the full establishment of the Kingdom of God, will be accomplished at the end of A. D. 1914…Be not surprised, then, when in subsequent chapters we present proofs that the setting up of the Kingdom of God is already begun, that it is pointed out in prophecy as due to begin the exercise of power in A.D. 1878, and that the "battle of the great day of God Almighty" (Rev. 16:14), which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth's present rulership, is already commenced." [Studies In the Scriptures Series II - The Time Is At Hand (1889) pp.99, 101]
"…we have seen that God has a set time for every feature of his plan, and that we are even now in this "Day of Vengeance," which is a period of forty years; that it began in October, 1874, and will end in October, 1914 (very shortly)." [Studies In the Scriptures Series IV - The Day of Vengeance -pp.546, 547]
"…we have seen that God has a set time for every feature of his plan, and that we are even now in this "Day of Vengeance," which is a period of forty years; that it began in October, 1874, and will end in October, 1914 (very shortly)." [Studies In the Scriptures Series IV - The Day of Vengeance -pp.546, 547]
“…not until the full end of Gentile Times (October, A.D. 1914) should we expect the earthly phase of God's Kingdom; for in giving a lease of dominion to the Gentiles until that date God made no mistake and his plans alter not.” [Studies In the Scriptures Series IV - The Day of Vengeance pp.624, 625]
"…A. D. 1914, when the day of wrath will be passed, and the resurrection and return of the "whole house of Israel" due." [Three Worlds and The Harvest of This World (1877) p.166 ]
"The beginning of the earthly phase of the Kingdom in the end of A.D. 1914 will, we understand, consist wholly of the resurrected holy ones of olden time-from John the Baptizer back to Abel-"Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all the holy prophets." [Studies In the Scriptures Series IV - The Day of Vengeance p.625]
"The beginning of the earthly phase of the Kingdom in the end of A.D. 1914 will, we understand, consist wholly of the resurrected holy ones of olden time-from John the Baptizer back to Abel-"Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all the holy prophets." [Studies In the Scriptures Series IV - The Day of Vengeance p.625]
“That the deliverance of the saints must take place some time before 1914 is manifest…” [Studies in the Scriptures Series III - Thy Kingdom Come 1908 Ed.]
1915: “That the deliverance of the saints must take place very soon after 1914 is manifest…” [Studies in the Scriptures Series III - Thy Kingdom Come 1915 Edition]
1916: World War I will terminate in Armageddon and the rapture of the "saints". [Watch Tower, 1916]
1917: In 1918, Christendom will go down as a system to oblivion and be succeeded by revolutionary governments. God will "destroy the churches wholesale and the church members by the millions." Church members will "perish by the sword of war, revolution and anarchy." The dead will lie unburied. In 1920 all earthly governments will disappear, with worldwide anarchy prevailing. [The Finished Mystery, 1917]
1920: Messiah's kingdom will be established in 1925 and bring worldwide peace. God will begin restoring the earth. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and other faithful patriarchs will be resurrected to perfect human life and be made princes and rulers, the visible representatives of the New Order on earth. Those who showed themselves obedient to God will never die. [Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920]
1922: The anti-typical "jubilee" that will mark God's intervention in earthly affairs will take place "probably the fall" of 1925. [Watch Tower, May 15, 1922]
1924: God's restoration of Earth will begin "shortly after" October 1, 1925. Jerusalem will be made the world's capital. Resurrected "princes" such as Abel, Noah, Moses and John the Baptist will give instructions to their subjects around the world by radio, and airplanes will transport people to and from Jerusalem from all parts of the globe in just "a few hours". [The Way to Paradise booklet, Watch Tower Society, 1924]
1925: …the great jubilee cycle is due to begin in 1925. At that time the earthly phase of the kingdom shall be recognized.... Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old… [Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920, pp. 89, 90]
1938: In 1938, Armageddon is too close for marriage or child bearing. [Face the Facts, 1938]
1941: There are only "months" remaining until Armageddon. [The Watchtower, Sep. 15, 1941, p. 288]
1942: Armageddon is "immediately before us.” [The Watchtower, May 1, 1942, p. 139]
1966: It will be 6000 years since man's creation in the fall of 1975 and it will be "appropriate" for Christ's thousand-year reign to begin at that time. [Life Everlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God, Watch Tower Society, 1966, pp. 29–35]
Time is "running out, no question about that.” The "immediate future" is "certain to be filled with climactic events ... within a few years at most", the final parts of Bible prophecy relating to the "last days" will undergo fulfillment as Christ's reign began. [Jehovah's Witnesses – Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, Watch Tower Society]
1969: Human existence will not last long enough for young people to grow old; the world system will end "in a few years." Young Witnesses are told not to bother pursuing tertiary education for this reason. [Awake!, May 22, 1969, p. 15]
1974: There is just a "short time remaining before the wicked world's end" and Witnesses are commended for selling their homes and property to "finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer (ministry) service.” [Kingdom Ministry, Watch Tower Society, May 1974, page 3]
1975: Armageddon has to be over, and paradise introduced in, or earlier than, 1975. [The Watchtower (1968 May 1 p. 271) and Awake! (1968 October 8 p. 14) and Aid To Bible Understanding (1971 p. 538)]
Many currently alive will witness Armageddon during their natural lifetimes. [Watchtower 1965 March 15 p. 177; Awake! 1968 October 8 p. 13-14; January 1982 Awake!; Millions Now Living Will Never Die (1920)]
1984: There are "many indications" that "the end" is closer than the end of the 20th century. [The Watchtower, Mar 1, 1984, pp. 18-19]
1999: Mathematical calculations indicate Armageddon will come by the end of the century. [Let God Be True (1946)]
Shortly within our 20th century, the “battle in the day of Jehovah” (Armageddon) will begin against the modern antitype of Jerusalem, Christendom. [The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah-How? 1971 p. 216]
With confidence in the vision’s complete fulfillment during the decades of this 20th century the anointed remnant of the bride class have never let up in saying “Come!” Every effort has been made to broadcast the message to all nations. [1989 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses p. 3]
The preaching work will be completed within the 20th century, with Armageddon to immediately follow. [The Watchtower 1989 January 1 p. 12]
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Transplants and the First Amendment — Letters to the Editor - WSJ.com
"I respect the Jehovah's Witnesses for fighting to keep the government from forcing them to violate their religious principles by saluting the flag or abridging their ability to proselytize, all valid First Amendment rights. But to go from those rights to demanding that I pay for their more expensive medical treatments to satisfy their religious scruples is outrageous. If they have special medical needs, let them turn to members of their faith community for financial support. That is what religious communities do, after all.
To demand that the government finance their religious preferences, while refusing to salute the flag of the government that will pay for them, is blatant hypocrisy. It has nothing to do with the First Amendment."
What do you think? Click here to read the rest of the article and letters: Transplants and the First Amendment — Letters to the Editor - WSJ.com
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
A Brief History of the Apocalypse
A Brief History of the Apocalypse
According to Isaac Asimov's Book of Facts (1979), an Assyrian clay tablet dating to approximately 2800 BC was unearthed bearing the words "Our earth is degenerate in these latter days. There are signs that the world is speedily coming to an end. Bribery and corruption are common." This is one of the earliest examples of the perception of moral decay in society being interpreted as a sign of the imminent end.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
History of false prophecies about the end times
Jehovah's Witnesses and their parent organization, the Watchtower Society, today deny ever having firmly predicted the second coming of Christ in a particular year. In fact, that is completely false.
"THE "Time of the End," a period of one hundred and fifteen (115) years, from A.D. 1799 to A.D. 1914, is particularly marked in the Scriptures. "The Day of His Preparation" is another name given to the same period …" Studies in the Scriptures Series 3 Thy Kingdom Come p.23
Here is a scan of a publication stating the second coming will occur in 1874 and Armageddon would occur in 1914:
Even after failure of the prophecies and revising them a bit, they stuck to their claims:
"WE HAVE no doubt whatever in regard to the chronology relating to the dates of 1874, 1914, 1918, and 1925." Watchtower 1922 May 15 p. 147
"The indisputable facts, therefore, show that the "time of the end" began in 1799; that the Lord's second presence began in 1874." Watchtower 1922 March 1
For many more false prophecies involving specific dates, click on the title of this post. Thanks to JWFacts.com for preserving this evidence.
So have they learned their lesson? Judge for yourself.
Here's one that makes a similar claim about 1975:
"Does God's rest day parallel the time man has been on earth since his creation? Apparently so. … In what year, then, would the first 6,000 years of man's existence and also the first 6,000 years of Gods rest day come to an end? The year 1975. … It means that within a relatively few years we will witness the fulfilment of the remaining prophecies that have to do with the "time of the end"." Awake! 1966 October 8 pp.19-20
"The fact that fifty-four years of the period called the "last days" have already gone by is highly significant. It means that only a few years, at most, remain before the corrupt system of things dominating the earth is destroyed by God." Awake!1968 October 8 p.13
"If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things. Why not? Because all the evidence in fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years. Of the generation that observed the beginning of the "last days" in 1914, Jesus foretold: "This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur."-Matt. 24:34. Therefore, as a young person, you will never fulfill any career that this system offers. If you are in highschool and thinking about a college education, it means at least four, perhaps even six or eight more years to graduate into a specialized career. But where will this system of things be by that time? It will be well on the way toward its finish, if not actually gone!" Awake!1969 May 22 p.15
But there's more!
"And if the wicked system of this world survived until the turn of the century, which is highly improbable in view of world trends and the fulfillment of Bible prophecy, there would still be survivors of the World War I generation." Watchtower 1980 October 15 p.31
"Shortly, within our twentieth century, the "battle in the day of Jehovah" will begin against the modern antitype of Jerusalem, Christendom." The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah p. 216
"Some of that "generation" could survive until the end of the century. But there are many indications that "the end" is much closer than that!" Watchtower 1984 March 1 pp.18-19
"He was laying a foundation for a work that would be completed in our 20th century". Watchtower 1989 January 1 p.12.
"THE "Time of the End," a period of one hundred and fifteen (115) years, from A.D. 1799 to A.D. 1914, is particularly marked in the Scriptures. "The Day of His Preparation" is another name given to the same period …" Studies in the Scriptures Series 3 Thy Kingdom Come p.23
Here is a scan of a publication stating the second coming will occur in 1874 and Armageddon would occur in 1914:
Even after failure of the prophecies and revising them a bit, they stuck to their claims:
"WE HAVE no doubt whatever in regard to the chronology relating to the dates of 1874, 1914, 1918, and 1925." Watchtower 1922 May 15 p. 147
"The indisputable facts, therefore, show that the "time of the end" began in 1799; that the Lord's second presence began in 1874." Watchtower 1922 March 1
For many more false prophecies involving specific dates, click on the title of this post. Thanks to JWFacts.com for preserving this evidence.
So have they learned their lesson? Judge for yourself.
Here's one that makes a similar claim about 1975:
"Does God's rest day parallel the time man has been on earth since his creation? Apparently so. … In what year, then, would the first 6,000 years of man's existence and also the first 6,000 years of Gods rest day come to an end? The year 1975. … It means that within a relatively few years we will witness the fulfilment of the remaining prophecies that have to do with the "time of the end"." Awake! 1966 October 8 pp.19-20
"The fact that fifty-four years of the period called the "last days" have already gone by is highly significant. It means that only a few years, at most, remain before the corrupt system of things dominating the earth is destroyed by God." Awake!1968 October 8 p.13
"If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things. Why not? Because all the evidence in fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years. Of the generation that observed the beginning of the "last days" in 1914, Jesus foretold: "This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur."-Matt. 24:34. Therefore, as a young person, you will never fulfill any career that this system offers. If you are in highschool and thinking about a college education, it means at least four, perhaps even six or eight more years to graduate into a specialized career. But where will this system of things be by that time? It will be well on the way toward its finish, if not actually gone!" Awake!1969 May 22 p.15
But there's more!
"And if the wicked system of this world survived until the turn of the century, which is highly improbable in view of world trends and the fulfillment of Bible prophecy, there would still be survivors of the World War I generation." Watchtower 1980 October 15 p.31
"Shortly, within our twentieth century, the "battle in the day of Jehovah" will begin against the modern antitype of Jerusalem, Christendom." The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah p. 216
"Some of that "generation" could survive until the end of the century. But there are many indications that "the end" is much closer than that!" Watchtower 1984 March 1 pp.18-19
"He was laying a foundation for a work that would be completed in our 20th century". Watchtower 1989 January 1 p.12.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Watchtower Society's involvement with the United Nationsd Paul Gillies as NGO Representatives at OSCE Conference
Responsibilities of Gregory Allen and Paul Gillies as NGO Representatives at OSCE Conference
What do you think? This religion excommunicated followers for having anything to do with the United Nations. Yet here is another example of church leaders not only being involved with, but actively participating in UN activities.
What do you think? This religion excommunicated followers for having anything to do with the United Nations. Yet here is another example of church leaders not only being involved with, but actively participating in UN activities.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
The Scandal of Scientology / Chapter 4: Have You Lived Before This Life?
The Scandal of Scientology / Chapter 4: Have You Lived Before This Life?
Check out the totally crazy stuff written there. Worth the click!
Check out the totally crazy stuff written there. Worth the click!
Monday, May 9, 2011
Three ministers don't want to testify in child sex abuse case
Suspect Geoffrey K. Cabrera, 27, through court-appointed counsel Joseph N. Camacho, joined in the ministers' motion.
The ministers said it is the religious belief and practice of Jehovah's Witnesses, based upon Scripture and tradition, that elders must maintain in strict confidence any church communications connected with spiritual counseling and that congregants expect their communications to elders will remain confidential....
Click on the title to read the rest of the article.
So what do you think? Should clergy cover up information about child rapes?
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Americans have the legal right to freedom from religion
Did you know...
You have the legal right to freedom from religion (if you're in the United States)?
Therefore, it may be illegal for religious activities to be permitted on government property. Activities such as placing church literature in a state hospital waiting room, or religious recruitment on a state university campus may be illegal.
Report your concerns to the administrators of the property or file a possible church/state violation here.
Learn more about the legal requirement for separation of church and state--click here to take a quiz.
You have the legal right to freedom from religion (if you're in the United States)?
Therefore, it may be illegal for religious activities to be permitted on government property. Activities such as placing church literature in a state hospital waiting room, or religious recruitment on a state university campus may be illegal.
Report your concerns to the administrators of the property or file a possible church/state violation here.
Learn more about the legal requirement for separation of church and state--click here to take a quiz.
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