If you think the Watchtower Society put an unbelievable spin on the scripture at Matthew 8:11, 12 to keep Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob out of heaven (see previous blog Super Spin Zone Part 1), wait till you read what they have to say about the scripture at Hebrews 11:8-16. Briefly, the Bible states that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all of their numerous descendants didn't get the fulfillment of God's promises while they were alive on earth. Instead, throughout their lifetimes, they were looking ahead and welcoming a better place, a city built and prepared by God, "one belonging to heaven." (Heb. 11:16 NWT) Read the text for yourself. Seems pretty simple and straightforward, doesn't it? Not if you're one of Jehovah's Witnesses. For them, keeping Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob on earth forever requires that they reject the inspired words of a Bible writer in favor of a doctrine promulgated by one of their leaders, Joseph Rutherford.

In 1935, Joseph Rutherford, president of the Watchtower organization, saw a "flash of dazzling light" (Revelation book, p. 125) and suddenly realized that only 144,000 Christians would go to heaven. All of the other faithful servants of God, including all those who lived before Jesus died, had the hope of living forever on this earth, not in heaven.

How, then, do they explain the text at Hebrews chapter 11 where the Apostle Paul (who was the writer of Hebrews, according to Jehovah's Witnesses) said that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob looked forward to heaven? They state the following in The Watchtower, March 15, 1981, page 30:

Nothing in the Hebrew Scriptures [OT] says that God promised these three men a "city having real foundations, the builder and maker of which city is God." That is Paul's comment on the matter. Doubtless that expression refers to the established government of God by the 'seed of Abraham,' under which government those three patriarchs will live on earth and gain human perfection by the end of the thousand years.

What kind of a spin is that? First of all, just because the Old Testament doesn't specifically describe the hope of heaven, that doesn't mean God's faithful servants didn't know about it. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob communicated personally with the source of the Old Testament, sometimes speaking with God himself, other times through angels or in visions and dreams. As a result, it shouldn't be difficult to believe that they had an unwritten understanding of spiritual realities.

Secondly, the Watchtower Society flippantly dismisses the validity of Paul's statement by saying, "That is Paul's comment on the matter." Then they say "doubtless" Paul meant to say what Joseph Rutherford came up with in 1935!

Talk about a super spin zone! Dismiss the Apostle Paul's insight into the minds of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob because, after all, Paul was only in direct contact with the risen Christ (Acts 9; Gal. 1:15-17), in constant touch with the Holy Spirit (Acts 16:6-10; Gal. 2:2), and permitted a glimpse into heaven itself (2 Cor. 12:1-4). Accept, instead, the convoluted reasoning of Joseph Rutherford, an obviously uninspired man, who told the world that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were going to be resurrected in the year 1925 at a house he had bought for them in San Diego, California.

For most people, the choice about whom to believe here would be a pretty easy one. But for those who have been living in the Watchtower's spin zone, the information they read is very carefully controlled. Watchtower leaders will go to any lengths to support their false doctrine of the two-class system, even as far as deliberately mistranslating the Bible, as you will see in my next blog entry, entitled How Scary is This Admission by the Watchtower Society?!

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written by John White , August 12, 2009

I can't believe that I "believe" in this religion at one time - but that's the trap of a cult. They know how to such you in to the point that you know longer can think for yourself. Oh! but once you start to think for yourself, you realize that you gave your brain over to other men's minds, not God's. It's a shame that they continue to promote this false religion. Personally, I think the information on the Internet is going to bring this religion down, becase so much of it is irrefutable.

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written by mary , August 15, 2009

one thing i wonder about is the new earth and the meek that'll inherit it.

if all were to go to heaven, who is on earth? o_O

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written by Sparrow , August 16, 2009

Mary,

You and I are on the same wave length, I believe. My next two blogs entitled, "Watchtower Crime Scene--Where Did the Body Go? Parts 1 and 2" will answer your question. Briefly, I show from the Bible that one reason Jesus appeared to his followers after his resurrection was to show them what kind of body they would get at their resurrection--one that would live in both heaven and earth. So it isn't a matter of "either/or." It's a matter of "both." Even the Society admits that the 144,000 are primarily the meek who will inherit the earth because they are co-heirs with Jesus and he inherits everything. (Watchtower 10/15, 1991, p. 10) I will be interested in your comments on those next two blogs, so be sure to let me know if you have any further questions.
Sherry

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written by Eric , September 02, 2009

Bravo Sherry,
Not only are you concise, but also humbly non-confrontational. For Christ's servant must not quarrel.. I am so excited to see how God is moving in His children from the JW background. Your words and reasoning are powerful and without guile. Our Father is with you and will never forsake you...For His love is unconditional to those who believed into Christ and have become part of His body on earth. His love and understanding so surpasses ours. His commitment to covenant is eternal faithful and He is true!

Yours in Christ,
Eric

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