------------------------------------------------------------------- F.A.C.T.Net, Inc. (Fight Against Coercive Tactics Network, Incorporated) a non-profit computer bulletin board and electronic library 601 16th St. #C-217 Golden, Colorado 80401 USA BBS 303 530-1942 FAX 303 530-2950 Office 303 473-0111 This document is part of an electronic lending library and preservational electronic archive. F.A.C.T.Net does not sell documents, it only lends them according to the terms of your library cardholder agreement with F.A.C.T.Net, Inc. ===================================================================== I Am a Witness by Leonard A. Chretien "As one of Jehovah's Witnesses, I knew I had the 'truth.'" I was baptized as a Jehovah's Witness in 1960 at age 26 with my wife, Marjorie. We had studied together with the Witnesses and were converts. As a member in good standing, I served as an appointed congregation Elder since the mid-1970s. I was regular in the door-to-door field service, conducted Home studies, and did all that the Watchtower Society requires. Marjorie and I even raised our child as a Witness and looked forward to surviving Armageddon into endless life on paradise earth. Surviving Armageddon From the mid-1960s, the Society had pointed to 1975 as the time for the conclusion of the present world system. The publications of that time were very clear about this, and we were also taught the same predictions in our meetings and book studies. Because we were taught that only Witnesses in good standing would survive Armageddon, we even sold a prosperous business in 1972 and our home in 1974 so that we could more fully serve Jehovah in the short time remaining. Understandably, many Witnesses were disappointed and disillusioned when 1975 came and went. I became suspicious when the Watchtower denied responsibility for the predictions both preached and printed in the prior decade. Instead, they laid the blame for the unfulfilled prophecy on what they called "over-enthusiastic members"! Looking Deeper As I considered other times when the organization had supposedly prophesied the end of the world, I decided to examine those predictions for myself. The Watchtower, of course, doesn't tolerate a critical analysis of its history or teaching, severely censoring anyone who tries. Since my life as an Elder would not allow the time I needed for research, I resigned as Presiding Overseer of my congregation. It was a serious and far-reaching decision. So began an odyssey of research and scrutiny of past Watchtower prophecies and teachings. My wife and I developed an extensive library of old Watchtower literature and discovered some incredible claims made by the Society. The Society had taught that the world would end in 1914. When 1914 came and went, President C.T. Russell changed the date to 1915, then to 1918. Later, second President J.F. Rutherford chose 1925 for the end of the world and claimed that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and other "ancient worthies" would be resurrected in 1925 to usher in the new world! By 1929 Rutherford, still convinced of that resurrection of "ancient worthies," built a mansion for them in San Diego, calling the house "Beth Sarim, House of the Princes." He finally died in the house in 1942 shortly after proclaiming that the end of the world was only months away. The Watchtower now teaches that the world only entered its time of the end in 1914, taking attention away from the failed prophecy of that year. The current teaching is that the generation that saw the events of 1914 will see the end of the world. All of this and more made Marjorie and me realize that the Watchtower Society is a "false prophet" organization, perfectly fitting the biblical definition of a false prophet in Deuteronomy 18:21-22: "You say to yourselves, 'How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?' If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him." As a result, we turned in our formal letter of disassociation from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. Of course, we were totally shunned by our Witness friends whom we had known for years. Finding Peace After sending our letter of disassociation, a peace of mind and a freedom that I had never known in my 22 years as a Jehovah's Witness came over me. Jesus Christ had personally come into my life, and I knew for certain that my salvation did not rest on worthless works, but had been given to me as a free gift, and outpouring of grace. We had been taught that we had to go through the Watchtower organization to get to the Father, but we are witnesses to the truth in Jesus Christ when He said "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). You do not need the so-called "144,000 mediator class" to help you work out your salvation. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ, who gave Himself as a ransom for all men" (I Timothy 2:5-6). Jehovah loves you with a greater love than the Society has told you about, and Marjorie and I are witnesses to the marvelous salvation He freely offers in Christ. I invite you to accept the Lord Jesus as your Savior and renounce the errors of the Watchtower Society. Stop trusting in your good works, and ask the Lord Jesus to save you. "Whoever believes in the Son (Jesus Christ) has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him" (John 3:36). Yes, the living Lord extends this invitation to Jehovah's Witnesses today: "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Copied with permission from the Watchman Expositor. * * For a free subscription to this monthly newspaper * * write the Watchman Fellowship office nearest you: * * * * W A T C H M A N F E L L O W S H I P, I N C. * * P.O. Box 13251 P.O. Box 19416 P.O. 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