Global Temperature Trends From 2500 B.C. To 2040 A.D.
By Climatologist Cliff Harris and Meteorologist Randy Mann Article and Chart Updated: January 28, 2017
Until late 2006, global temperatures were more than a degree Fahrenheit warmer when compared to the 20th Century average. From August of 2007 through February of 2008, the Earth’s mean temperature dropped to near the 20th Century average of 57 degrees. Since that time, land and ocean readings have rebounded to the highest levels in recorded history in 2016 with a temperature of 58.69 degrees Fahrenheit.
We, Climatologist Cliff Harris and Meteorologist Randy Mann, believe in rather frequent climate changes in our global weather patterns. Geologic evidence shows our climate has been changing over millions of years. The warming and cooling of global temperatures are likely the result of long-term climatic cycles, solar activity, sea-surface temperature patterns and more. However, Mankind’s activities of the burning of fossil fuels, massive deforestations, the replacing of grassy surfaces with asphalt and concrete, the “Urban Heat Island Effect,” are likely creating more harmful pollution. Yes, we believe we should be “going green” whenever and wherever possible.
Our planet seems to be in a cycle of constant change. According to an article by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Climate.gov in August, 2014, our planet likely experienced its hottest weather millions of years ago. One period, which was probably the warmest, was during the Neoproterozic around 600 to 800 million years ago. Approximately 56 million years ago, our planet was in the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum as global mean temperatures were estimated as high as 73 degrees Fahrenheit, over 15 degrees above current levels. Ocean sediments and fossils indicate that massive amounts of carbon dioxide were released into the atmosphere.
By contrast, evidence shows there have been at least five major ice ages on Planet Earth. One of the most well-documented and largest, occurred from 850 to 630 million years ago, is called the Cryogenian period. Glacial ice sheets likely reached all the way the equator producing a “Snowball Earth.” Scientists believe that this massive ice age ended due to increased underground volcanic activity and, perhaps, a much warmer solar cycle.
One reason scientists believe that the Earth’s temperature reached a record level in 2016 was the very strong El Nino in the waters of the south-central Pacific Ocean that formed in 2015. El Nino is the abnormal warming of ocean waters that often leads warmer air temperatures and less snowfall during the winter seasons.
In 2007-08, a moderately strong La Nina, the cooler than normal sea-surface temperature event, combined with extremely low solar activity (storms on the sun), resulted in a period of global cooling and record snowfalls across many parts of the northern U.S., Europe, Asia and the Former Soviet Union. The same type of situation, perhaps more severe, could occur again in the early 2020s, especially if we see a strong La Nina combined with very low solar activity.
Climate scientists are not completely certain why ocean waters suddenly warm up and cool down over a period of months or years. The warming of sea-surface temperatures may be due, at least in part, to increased underwater volcanic activity. Researchers are constantly finding new active underwater volcanoes and thermal vents that may be contributing to the warmer temperatures.
Recently, scientists discovered at least three to six times more heat-spewing thermal vents along the seafloors where tectonic plates are pulling apart. In 2003, at least nine hydrothermal vents along the Gakkel Ridge in the Arctic Ocean were found. Arctic ice has been melting at a steady pace in recent years and may be due to the warmer than normal ocean waters. In April 2015, an underwater volcano known as the Axial Seamount, about 300 miles off the coast of Oregon, erupted for a month and added 88 billion gallons of molten rock to the ocean floor.
Since the 1950s, data suggests that ocean temperatures have been getting warmer. According to research at the University of Alabama in 2013, climate models indicate “a natural shift to stronger warm El Nino events in the Pacific Ocean might be responsible for a substantial portion of the global warming recorded during the past 50 years.”
By contrast to the Arctic ice melt, glaciers have been thickening in Antarctica’s eastern interior. That portion of the continent was experiencing increased snowfall and had a gain of about 100 billion tons of ice per year from 1991 to 2008. But, there has been loss of glacier mass in Antarctica’s western region.
From the late 1940s through the early 1970s, a climate research organization called the Weather Science Foundation of Crystal Lake, Illinois, determined that the planet’s warm, cold, wet and dry periods were the result of alternating short-term and long-term climatic cycles. These researchers and scientists also concluded that the Earth’s ever-changing climate likewise has influenced global and regional economies, human and animal migrations, science, religion and the arts as well as shifting forms of government and strength of leadership.
Much of this data was based upon thousands of hours of research done by Dr. Raymond H. Wheeler and his associates during the 1930s and 1940s at the University of Kansas. Dr. Wheeler was well-known for his discovery of various climate cycles, including his highly-regarded “510-Year Drought Clock” that he detailed at the end of the “Dust Bowl” era in the late 1930s.
One of the most recent cold periods was “The Little Ice Age,” a 500-Year plus span that extended from the early 1300s to the mid 1800s. During that time, there was little solar activity, or solar storms, which scientists refer to as the “Maunder Minimum.” There were also numerous volcanic eruptions in the 1800s like Krakatoa and Mt. Tambora. In 1815, Mt. Tambora has a major eruption which was the largest recorded one in human history. The explosion sent thousands of tons of ash and dust into the atmosphere resulting in the lowering of Earth’s temperature by several degrees and numerous extremes. The event also led to a “year without a summer” in 1816 across parts of northern Europe and U.S. as snow was reported in each month of the year, including the summer season.
During the early 1970s, our planet was in the midst of a colder and drier weather cycle that led to concerns of another “Little Ice Age.” Inflationary recessions and oil shortages led to rationing and long gas lines at service stations worldwide. Since that time, global temperatures have steadily climbed to the levels they are today. But, there were several interruptions of this global warming cycle. In June, 1991, Mt. Pinatubo erupted in the Philippines leading a temporary drop of about one degree of the Earth’s average temperature. In the late 2000s, a strong La Nina and very low solar activity helped to send our planet’s average temperature down to near the 20th Century average of 57 degrees before rebounding in the early 2010s.
The Weather Science Foundation also predicted, based on these various climate cycles, that our planet would turn much warmer and wetter by the early 2000s, resulting in general global prosperity. They also said that we would be seeing widespread weather “extremes.” There’s little doubt that most of their early predictions came true.
In 2016 alone, data from NOAA shows that over 200,000 heat, cold and precipitation records were broken across the globe. Nearly 60 percent of the records were warm, about 28 percent were precipitation and snow and the rest were cold. However, in early 2017, some of the coldest weather in recorded history was seen across northern U.S., Europe, Asia and Siberia in Russia where one station in early January 2017 went to -81 degrees Fahrenheit.
Dr. Wheeler also discovered that approximately every 102 years, a much warmer and drier climatic cycle affects our planet. The last such "warm and dry" peak occurred in 1936, at the end of the infamous "Dust Bowl" period. During that time, extreme heat and dryness, combined with a multitude of problems during the “Great Depression,” made living conditions practically intolerable.
Assuming we get a new and very strong cooler La Nina sea-surface temperature pattern along with extremely low solar activity, we may see a brief cool down of the Earth’s temperature around the early 2020s. The next “warm and dry” climatic phase is scheduled to arrive in the early 2030s, probably peaking around 2038. It’s quite possible we could see an average global temperature near 60 degrees, assuming there isn’t a major volcanic eruption to disrupt this cycle.
Based on current data, this new warmer cycle could produce even hotter and drier weather patterns than we saw during the late 1990s and early 2000s. We also believe that our prolonged cycle of wide weather “extremes,” the worst in at least 1,000 years, will continue and perhaps become more severe in the years to come.
We should remember, that the Earth’s coldest periods have usually followed excessive warmth. Such was the case when our planet moved from the Medieval Warm Period between 900 and 1300 A.D. to the sudden “Little Ice Age,” which peaked in the 17th Century. Since 2,500 B.C., there have been at least 78 major climate changes worldwide, including two major changes in just the past 40 years. In terms of upcoming cooling and warming periods, only time will tell.
Global temperature chart was complied by Climatologist Cliff Harris that combined the following resources: "Climate and the Affairs of Men" by Dr. Iben Browing. "Climate...The Key to Understanding Business Cycles...The Raymond H. Wheeler Papers. By Michael Zahorchak Weather Science Foundation Papers in Crystal Lake, Illinois.
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Federal law allows citizens to reproduce, distribute and exhibit portions of copyrighted motion pictures, video taped or video discs, without authorization of the copyright holder. This infringement of copyright is called “Fair Use”, and is allowed for purposes of criticism, news, reporting, teaching, and parody. This articles is written, and any image and video (includes music used in the video) in this article are used, in compliance with this law: Copyright Act of 1976, 17 U.S.C. 107.
•The feudal system gradually emerged to provide a semblance of social order.
•Churches in eastern and western parts of the former empire were developing very different perspectives and practices.
How did the fall of the Roman Empire affect life for the church and the regular folks.
The Roman Church and the Bishop of Rome moved into the vacuum created by the fall of Rome to the barbarian.
In some respects the Bishop or Papacy began to enact policy for the entire church.
The lack of centralized political authority in Rome resulted in local kingdoms, city states and feudal lords. The castle system developed with serfs worked for the feudal ruler who provided military protection and stability to the local communities.
The village and the local church became the center of feudal life. The local priest was the authority for church life. The Latin Vulgate was the only legal bible and most of the locals were illiterate and had to look to the priest for all matters of faith.
What were some of the differences that began to develop between the Western and eastern Church.
How did the rise of Islam affect the church?
Islam teaches thatMuhammad was accosted by the angel Gabriel during a dream and told to memorize a certain message. For several years, Muhammad kept this to himself, thinking he was being attacked by a demon. Once his wife convinced him otherwise, he began to preach according to these received words. Over the next twenty-plus years, Muhammad gradually delivered more and more of the message. His followers memorized his words, maintaining an entirely oral record of the Qur’an. Only minor portions were inscribed on leaves, rocks, and bones.
Muhammad was born in Mecca Saudi Arabia in the 6th century AD. He was totally illiterate but heard about the Jewish Yahweh from Jewish merchants. He morphed aspects of the “people of the Book” with the pagan Arabian moon god and invented Allah and the monotheist religion, Islam. After years of rejection in his own town, he went to Medina the hub of Jewish commercial activity to spread his new religion but eventually they rejected him as well. He reacted by raiding the Jewish caravans, killing the Jews, and sharing the booty with his followers. This began his career of violence, conquest and enslavement of Jews and Christians.
According to the Encyclopedia of Religion, Allah corresponded to the Babylonian god Baal, and Arabs knew of him long before Mohammed worshipped him as the supreme God. Before Islam the Arabs recognized many gods and goddesses, each tribe had their own deity. There were also nature deities. Allah was the god of the local Quarish tribe, which was Mohammed’s tribe before he invented Islam to lead his people out of their polytheism. Allah was then known as the Moon God.
As Islam continued to spread, variations within the Qur’an began to arise. This was due to continued oral memorization alternate writings on leaves and bones, and differences of opinion between Muslims on what Muhammad had actually said. These disagreements were serious enough to spark violence.
A succeeding caliph, Uthman, ordered all written copies of the Qur’an, including scraps, to be collected.These were given to a panel of scholars who were tasked with determining the “correct” words and pronunciations. Afterwards, Uthman sent a single copy of the written Qur’an to each of the major regions of the Empire, and ordered all prior copies—in all forms—to be destroyed.
In the account of the possessed boy in Mark we read about how the demon, “convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.”(Mark 9:20).
Interestingly there is Islamic written accounts where Muhammad seems to have suffered from demonic seizure-like spells and other similar convulsive behavior.
For example, we have multiple attestations to Muhammad foaming from the mouth:
“The authoritative Hadith relate that Muhammad used to faint whenever revelation came to him. It is claimed he used to act like a drunkard. In his book, Al-Qur’an al-Majid, Darwaza claims that Muhammad was taken out of this world.
Abu Huraira says that ‘whenever Muhammad received revelation, he was overwhelmed by trembling.’ Another account says: ‘He became distressed, foaming at the mouth and closing his eyes. At times he snorted like a young camel’ (Ahmad b. Hanbal I, 34, 464, VI, 163).” (The True Guidance (Part Four): An Introduction to Quranic Studies, p.
What was the Iconoclasm issue?
•Conflict quickly erupted between iconodules (“icon-kissers”) and iconoclasts (“icon-smashers”).
At first, the emperor sided with the iconoclasts
•Iconoclasts claimed that iconodules were idolizing their icons.
•In 787, the Second Council of Nicaea allowed reverence of icons but clearly forbade worship of icons.
How did the Holy Roman Empire come about?
The Franks had conquered much of the former western Empire.
•In 496, Clovis, chief of the Franks, accepted the Nicene Creed and supported the Roman Church.
•Charles became king of the Franks in 768; he strongly supported the Roman Church.
•King Charles later became known as Charlemagne or Charles the Great.
•In 799, power-hungry Italian nobles accused Pope Leo III of embezzlement.
•Leo III fled to King Charles; on December 23, 800, Charles acquitted the pope of all charges.
•In 799, power-hungry Italian nobles accused Pope Leo III of embezzlement.
•Leo III fled to King Charles; on December 23, 800, Charles acquitted the pope of all charges.
•On Christmas Day, 800, Pope Leo III dubbed Charles “Holy Roman Emperor,” in continuity with the rulers of ancient Rome.
The church had created an emperor.
What was the Filioque Controversy?
•Churches in western Europe had added the word filioque (“and the Son”) to the Nicene Creed in the AD 500s.
Eastern Christians recited, “The Holy Spirit … proceeds from the Father.”
Western Christians recited, “The Holy Spirit … proceeds from the Father and the Son.”
•Photius, bishop of Constantinople, spoke out against the added phrase in 867.
Photius declared the phrase to be heretical and excommunicated Pope Nicholas, bishop of Rome
What finally caused the Great Schism of 1054?
•For many years, Christians in the eastern and western regions viewed themselves as members of one church, despite disagreements.
•Between the 9th and 13th centuries, however, the church split into two communions:
Roman Catholic
Eastern Orthodox
•There were three primary reasons for the split between Roman Catholicism (west) and Eastern Orthodoxy:
1. The Filioque Controversy
2. The Great Schism of 1054
3. The Fourth Crusade
•On July 16, 1054, Bishop Humbert of Rome placed a notice of excommunication on the Lord’s Supper table of the Church of Holy Wisdom in Constantinople.
•Humbert’s notice accused Eastern Christians of adding filioque to the Nicene Creed—the precise opposite of the truth!
How did the Crusades begin?
At the Council of Clermont in 1095 Pope Urban II called upon Christians in Europe to respond to an urgent plea for help from Byzantine Christians in the East. Muslims were threatening to conquer this remnant of the Roman Empire for Allah. The threat was real; most of the Middle East, including the Holy Land where Christ had walked, had already been vanquished. Thus began the era of the Crusades, taken from the Latin word crux or cross. The pope sweetened the deal by offering “plenary indulgence” An indulgence is partial if it removes part of the temporal punishment due to sin, or plenary if it removes all punishment. Those who would join the crusade would receive forgiveness of all sin, avoid purgatory and earn immediate entrance into heaven upon death.
•In 1095, Pope Urban II called for a Crusade to take Jerusalem from the “Turks and Arabs.”
•The pope promised anyone who participated in the Crusade the “equivalent of penance.”
•The First Crusade (1099)
Conquered Jerusalem, brutally slaughtering Jews and Muslims.
•The Second Crusade (1147–1149)
Failed to take Edessa from the Muslims; afterward, Jerusalem fell into Muslim hands again.
•The Third Crusade (1189–1192)
Also failed to retake Jerusalem.
•The Fourth Crusade (1202–1204)
Never reached the Holy Land and became entangled in a series of financial and political issues which brought the Crusaders to Constantinople.
On Good Friday, 1204, the western Crusaders broke through the walls of Constantinople.
For three days, the Crusaders killed, tortured, and raped eastern Christians in the name of Christ.
•The relationships between eastern and western Christians never recovered from those three days.
The above post may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. It is being made available in an effort to advance the understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, social justice, for the purpose of historical debate, and to advance the understanding of Christian conservative issues. It is believed that this constitutes a ”fair use” of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the Copyright Law. In accordance with the title 17 U.S. C. section 107, the material in this post is shown without profit to those who have expressed an interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
Federal law allows citizens to reproduce, distribute and exhibit portions of copyrighted motion pictures, video taped or video discs, without authorization of the copyright holder. This infringement of copyright is called “Fair Use”, and is allowed for purposes of criticism, news, reporting, teaching, and parody. This articles is written, and any image and video (includes music used in the video) in this article are used, in compliance with this law: Copyright Act of 1976, 17 U.S.C. 107.
Christian Essentials: “Christian” Cults Jehovah Witnesses
Christian Essentials: “Christian” Cults Jehovah Witnesses
To really understand the Jehovah witness cult we must first go back to it’s roots. The JW’s are a distorted offshoot of the Seventh Day Adventist Church which is a distortion of the Millerite Adventist movement from the early 1800’s. The Adventists founder William Miller was born in 1782 on the east coast of the United States. He was licensed to preach by a Baptist church but was
never ordained. After having studied the Bible for two years, in 1818 Miller announced to the world that in 25 years (March 1844) Jesus Christ would return to the earth.
At the height of his ministry, Miller had gathered some 50,000 followers, who had also become known as "Adventists." When March 1844 came and went with no sign of Jesus Christ having returned, Miller recalculated the new date to October 22, 1844. When Jesus did not return on October 22, 1844, the entire Millerite movement collapsed as his followers' Christian faith were destroyed. Miller revamped his doctrine to say that Christ had indeed returned, but that Miller had not understood that Christ first had to come to the "Heavenly Sanctuary," which He is now busy cleaning. Once Jesus has cleansed things up in heaven, He would be coming back to the earth.
The remnant that bought into this lie formed the Advent Church and in 1845 William Miller became its first president. The name was later changed to Seventh Day Adventists and after the death of Miller in 1849 a new false prophet came on the scene, this time a woman, Ellen G. White. Her ascension as a "prophetess" in the Seventh Day Adventist Church had now begun. During her years as the "seer" for the SDA church, she prophesied a number of predictions, which did not come true. One of the most blatant false prophecies she made was when she predicted before the American Civil war, that the Union would not be preserved but that the United States would be divided, slavery would not be abolished but England would intervene and declare war on the United States.
Ellen G. White taught that all other churches except the SDA church were teaching lies from the Devil. Only SDA members are true and obedient believers; prayers spoken in other churches are only answered by the Devil.
They believe that in the last days just before Christ returns, only those worshipping on Saturday will be saved. They particularly believe that worshipping on Sunday will be the mark of the beast. They consider themselves to be the only true, remnant church and all others will be condemned in time. They believe the doctrine of soul sleeping, which states that the souls of believers in Christ are not in heaven, but are sleeping in the graves. The Bible says those who were saved on earth by receiving Jesus Christ as their Savior and died are now living a full and joyous life in heaven. Rev. 7:9-17
They believe in the final and total annihilation of the wicked, where they will simply cease to exist after the final judgment. This doctrine is in harmony with the Jehovah's Witnesses. The Bible says they will be cast into the Lake of Fire. Revelation 20:12-15
They do not believe in the eternal punishment of Satan and his fallen angels. They believe that the penalty for sinning against a Holy God is merely annihilation. Satan is the scapegoat; the sins of the believers are laid upon him, and he and these sins are finally burned up. The Bible says that Satan and his fallen angels will be cast in the Lake of Fire. Revelation 20:10-15
Another offshoot of the Millerite/Adventist movement was the group which eventually became known as the Jehovah Witnesses. This sect started out in Pennsylvania in 1870 as a Bible class led by Charles Taze Russell. Russell named his group the “Millennial Dawn Bible Study.” Charles T. Russell began writing a series of books he called “The Millennial Dawn,” which stretched to six volumes before his death and contained much of the theology Jehovah’s Witnesses now hold. After Russell's death in 1916, Judge J. F. Rutherford, Russell's friend and successor, wrote the seventh and final volume of the “Millennial Dawn” series, “The Finished Mystery,” in 1917. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society was founded in 1886 and quickly became the vehicle through which the “Millennial Dawn” movement began distributing their views to others. The group was known as the “Russellites” until 1931 when, due to a split in the group, it was renamed the “Jehovah’s Witnesses.” The group from which it split became known as the “Bible students.”
Charles Taze Russell was born from a Presbyterian family. His father was an elite Freemason. Russell joined a Congregational Church but was troubled by the churches teachings of hell, which led him to be skeptical about the church in his early adolescence. By the age of 18 (1869) he participated in a reunion by the Second Adventists, held by Jonas Wendell. What he heard resurrected his faith in the Bible. The Adventists believed that the soul is put to rest after death awaiting resurrection. Therefore, no Hell. Russell studied the Bible and was greatly influenced by many Adventists such as George Storrs, Jonas Wendell, George Stetson and Nelson Barbour. Many of Russell’s doctrines came from the Adventists of the first hour including William Miller’s predictions because of his calculations of date for the return of Christ.
One of the major Adventist influences on Russell was Nelson Barbour whom published the magazine “The Midnight Cry” (later named “Herald of the Morning”). Barbour thought Christ would return in a visible manner in 1874. Since nothing happened in 1874, Barbour thought that Christ did actually come, but remained invisible. In 1876, when Charles Taze Russell received a copy of Herald of the Morning, he believed the invisible return of Christ of 1874. He accepted more of the chronologies of events established by Barbour including the calculations of the ‘Gentile Times”.
Russell wrote an article about the Gentile Times in the periodic Bible Examiner by George Storrs. Nelson Barbour and Charles Taze Russell joined for the publication of the Adventist magazine Herald of the Morning, where Russell became the assistant editor. In Barbour’s chronology, He says that 6000 years since the creation of Adam ended in 1873 and that Christ had returned invisibly in 1874. The harvest would happen between 1874 and 1914 the end of “The Gentile Times”.
The Watchtower bases its beliefs and doctrines on the original and expanded teachings of Charles Taze Russell, Judge Joseph Franklin Rutherford, and their successors. The governing body of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is the only body in the cult that claims authority to interpret Scripture. In other words, what the governing body says concerning any scriptural passage is viewed as the last word, and independent thinking is strongly discouraged. This is in direct opposition to Paul's admonition to Timothy (and to us as well) to study to be approved by God, so that we need not be ashamed as we correctly handle the Word of God. This admonition, found in 2 Timothy 2:15, is a clear instruction from God to each of His children to be like the Berean Christians, who searched the Scriptures daily to see if the things they were being taught lined up with the Word.
What do Jehovah’s Witnesses believe?
Close scrutiny of their doctrinal position on such subjects as the deity of Christ, salvation, the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, and the atonement shows beyond a doubt that they do not hold to orthodox Christian positions on these subjects. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Jesus is Michael the archangel, the highest created being. This contradicts many Scriptures which clearly declare Jesus to be God (John 1:1,14, 8:58, 10:30). Jehovah’s Witnesses believe salvation is obtained by a combination of faith, good works, and obedience. This contradicts countless scriptures which declare salvation to be received by grace through faith (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). Jehovah’s Witnesses reject the Trinity, believing Jesus to be a created being and the Holy Spirit to essentially be the inanimate power of God. Jehovah’s Witnesses reject the concept of Christ’s substitutionary atonement and instead hold to a ransom theory, that Jesus’ death was a ransom payment for Adam’s sin.
How do the Jehovah’s Witnesses justify these unbiblical doctrines?
First, they claim that the church has corrupted the Bible over the centuries; thus, they have re-translated the Bible into what they call the New World Translation. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society altered the text of the Bible to make it fit their false doctrine, rather than basing their doctrine on what the Bible actually teaches. The New World Translation has gone through numerous editions, as the Jehovah’s Witnesses discover more and more Scriptures that contradict their doctrines.
According to Jehovah's Witness' theology, God is a single person, not a Trinity, who does not know all things and is not everywhere. He first created Michael the Archangel through whom He created all "other things," including the universe, the earth, Adam and Eve, etc. This creative work took God 42,000 years. At one point, The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society taught that God ruled the universe from somewhere in the Pleiades star system. They have since modified this to say that the "Pleiades can no longer be considered the center of the universe and it would be unwise for us to try to fix God's throne as being at a particular spot in the universe."1 Such changes and even contradictions are frequent in the Watchtower organization. When a doctrine changes, they tell their followers that the light of truth is getting brighter.
Despite having only a seventh grade education, Russell boasted that he was the incarnation of truth, for he referred to his Studies in the Scriptures as "not mere comments on the Bible, but they are practically the Bible itself" (The WatchTower, Sept. 15; 1910; cited in Martin, p. 46). He insisted that the Bible was not studied for over 1200 years and that only he was competent to interpret it - completely ignoring the Church Fathers.
One of the more remarkable stories involves the very first president of the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, Charles Taze Russell. The man was found guilty of selling phony “Miracle Wheat” through his publication Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald’s of Christ’s Presence. Russell claimed that this “Miracle Wheat” was superior to regular wheat, and would grow five times as fast as any other brand. After the Brooklyn Daily Eagle ran a cartoon ridiculing Russell and his “Miracle Wheat,” Russell sued the newspaper. When the “Miracle Wheat” was investigated by government agencies, it was found to be slightly inferior to standard wheat. Needless to say, the Eagle won the suit. (p. 14, Nov. 1, 1916, Brooklyn Daily Eagle)
In spite of his lack of formal training in theology or biblical languages, Russell claimed to be the only one with the truth, and he vigorously condemned all other Christian religions. As a result, ministers of various denominations began exposing Russell's false teachings and questionable character. Rev. J.J.Ross published a pamphlet that exposed Russell's false claims and doctrines. He revealed that Russell "never attended the higher schools of learning: knows comparatively nothing of philosophy, systematic or historical theology; and is totally ignorant of the [biblical] languages [i.e. Hebrew and Greek]". Ross concluded that Russell's teaching was "anti-rational, anti-scientific, anti-Biblical,[and] anti-Christian". Russell unsuccessfully tried to stop circulation of this damaging information by suing Rev. Ross for defamatory libel.
However, he not only lost the suit, but in the process perjured himself in court when he lied under oath about his knowledge of the Greek language. In the end Russell admitted the statements about himself in the pamphlet were true. He could not even identify any greek letters he was asked to read.
The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, the version of the Bible accepted and promoted by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, is worthy of doubt. It was translated exclusively by members of the Watchtower sect, all of whom entered into the Brooklyn headquarters, over a short period of three years. Of the seven translators known to this author, only Frederick Franz had any training whatsoever in the original biblical languages, and nowhere near the caliber we might expect of a qualified translator. Franz was self-taught in Hebrew, and had studied Greek for two years. In Franz's autobiography, concerning his education at the University of Cincinnati, we find the following: "What a blessing it was to study Bible Greek under Professor Arthur Kensella! Under Dr. Joseph Harry, an author of some Greek works, I also studied the classical Greek. I knew that if I wanted to become a Presbyterian clergyman, I had to have a command of Bible Greek. So I furiously applied myself and got passing grades…" (The Watchtower, May 1, 1987, p. 24).
Franz misleads the reader into thinking that biblical Greek studies were his primary pertinent coursework in this matter, and that his studies in classical Greek were supplementary. In fact, quite the opposite is correct: Franz took 2 hours of Bible Greek and 21 hours of classical Greek. Furthermore, Kensella lacked a Ph.D. and taught entry-level courses. Hence, he was an instructor, not a professor as Franz alleged, demonstrable by a quick perusal of the course catalog of 1911.
To contrast, the New International Version, was translated over a period of eighteen years by an international assembly of over one hundred scholars, from fifteen denominations. Why is that significant? I don't know about you, but the fact that only four members from the same sect were responsible for the New World Translation makes me suspicious.
The Jehovah Witness New World translation deliberately mistranslated many biblical verses to support their unchristian doctrines.
Jehovah or Jesus? Jesus or Michael?
They teach that Yahweh (Jehovah) of the Old Testament is the LORD God who created Jesus, the Archangel Michael who created everything else and was the person who appears in the OT as “The Angel of the LORD”.
This violates scripture as orthodox Christianity teaches that Jesus is the uncreated creator of the universe, equal and of the same substance with the Father and appeared multiple times in the OT in his preincarnate form as “The Angel of the LORD”.
Who is the First and the Last?
In Rev 22:12-13, Jesus Christ, the one who is "coming quickly", says of himself, " I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end". In Rev 1:17-18, Jesus, the one who "became dead, but, look! I am living forever and ever", refers to himself as the first and the last. Rev 21:6, in speaking of God, says, "...I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end ...". God is also referred to as the "first" and the "last" in Isa 44:6 and Isa 48:12. How can this be since by definition of these words there can only be one first and one last?
Isaiah 44:6 (ESV)
Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.
Isaiah 48:12 (ESV)
“Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last.
Who is the Creator?
Jn 1:3 says that Jesus created "all things", but in Isa 44:24, God says that he "by myself" created the heavens and the earth and asks the question "Who was with me?" when the heavens and the earth were created. How can this be since if Jesus was created by God, then he would have been with God when everything else was created?
Isaiah 44:24 (ESV)
Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself,
Who is the Mighty God?
Jesus Christ is referred to as "Mighty God" in Isa 9:6 ("For there has been a child born to us, there has been a son given to us ... And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God ..."). Jehovah is referred to as "Mighty God" in Isa 10:20-21. How can this be if there is only one God (1Cor 8:4, Isa 43:10, 44:6)?
Isaiah 10:20-21 (ESV)
In that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no more lean on him who struck them, but will lean on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. 21 A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.
When would the thief on the cross go to paradise?
Jesus uses the phrase "Truly I say to you, ..." over 50 times in the Bible. In the NWT, the comma is placed after the word "you" every time except in Lk 23:43, where the comma is placed after the word "today". Why is the comma placed after "today" instead of after "you" in this verse? If the translation of this phrase in Lk 23:43 was consistent with the translation of this phrase in all the other verses in which it appears (see concordance), and the comma was placed after the word "you", how would it read?
Luke 23:43 (ESV)
And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Luke 23:43 (NWT)
And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you today, you will be with me in Paradise.”
Other?
In Phil 2:9, the NWT inserts the word "other", even though it doesn't appear in the original Greek. What is the reason for inserting this word?
Philippians 2:9 (NIV)
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
Philippians 2:9 (NWT)
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every (other) name,
διοοθεοςκαιυπερυψωσεν
Therefore the God also highly exalted
αυτονκαι εχαρισατοαυτω
Him and gave him
το ονομαυπερπανονομα
the name above every name
Thomas?
In Jn 20:28, Thomas refers to Jesus in Greek as
Ὁ Κύριός μου καὶ ὁ Θεός μου !
"Ho kyrios moy kai ho theos moy".
This translates literally as "the Lord of me and THE God of me". Why does Jesus, in Jn 20:29, affirm Thomas for having come to this realization? If Jesus really wasn't the Lord and THE God of Thomas, why didn't Jesus correct him for making either a false assumption or a blasphemous statement?
A God?
Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦνὁ Λόγος ,
In beginning was the Word
καὶὁ Λόγοςἦν πρὸς τὸν
and the Word was withthe
Θεόν καὶἦν ὁΛόγος
God and was the God
The NWT translates Jn 1:1 as "... and the Word was WITH God, and the Word was a god". How can the Word (Jesus) be "a god" if God says in Deut 32:39, "See now that I-I am he, and there are NO gods together WITH me ..."?
The Jehovah Witness Claim
After Adam sinned, the paradise which God had created for them was ruined. So, God instituted a system of redemption which was revealed in the Bible and would ultimately lead to the crucifixion of Jesus the messiah. But, in the meantime, God needed to have a visible, theocratic organization on earth to accurately represent Him. Throughout history, this true organization had a remnant of faithful Jehovah's Witnesses (Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, etc.); but it wasn't until the late 1800's that Charles Taze Russell formally began what is now known as the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society which is run out of Brooklyn, New York. This organization claims to be the only true channel of God's truth on earth today and that it alone can properly interpret God's word since it is the angel directed prophet of God on earth.
When it came time for the savior to be born, Michael the Archangel became a human in the form of Jesus. Jesus grew and kept all the laws of God and never sinned. Finally, when Jesus died, it was not on a cross but on a torture stake where he bore the sins of mankind--but this did not include Adam's sins. Jesus rose from the dead as a spirit, not physically (his body was dissolved and taken by God); and during his visitations to people on earth, he manifested a temporary physical body for them to see and touch. Thus began the true Christian church of Jehovah's followers.
Throughout history there have been faithful Jehovah's witnesses who have managed to keep The Truth in spite of the "demonic" doctrine of Trinitarianism that has permeated the Christian church in "Christendom." Christendom is filled with pastors who are antichrists in churches run by Satan and who support the earthly governments which are all of the devil. In other words, all of Christianity is false; and only the Jehovah's Witness "theocratic" organization led by several men in Brooklyn, New York, is true.
A Pyramid Scheme
In the late 19th Century, a number of Bible students became interested in the "mysteries" of the Great Pyramid of Gizeh. One such individual was Charles Taze Russell, founder of the group later known as the Jehovah's Witnesses. In his book "Thy Kingdom Come" vol. 3 (Originally published in 1890), Russell goes into great detail of the various measurements inside the pyramid, using "pyramid inches" (1)in effort to prove that the construction of the pyramid was inspired by God to stand as a corroborating witness To the Bible, as well as reveal the dates of Christ's Second Coming.
"So, then, if we measure backward down the "First Ascending Passage" to its junction with the "Entrance Passage," we shall have a fixed date to mark upon the downward passage. This measure is 1542 inches, and indicates the year BC 1542, as the date at that point. Then measuring down the "Entrance Passage" from that point, to find the distance to the entrance of the "Pit," representing the great trouble and destruction with which this age is to close, when evil will be overthrown from power, we find it to be 3416 inches, symbolizing 3416 years from the above date, BC 1542. This calculation shows AD. 1874 as marking the beginning of the period of trouble; for 1542 years BC plus 1874 years AD. equals 3416 years. Thus the Pyramid witnesses that the close of 1874 was the chronological beginning of the time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation -- no, nor ever shall be afterward. And thus it will be noted that this "Witness" fully corroborates the Bible testimony on this subject.
JWs do not refer to their places of worship as churches, but rather as a “Kingdom Hall.” They have no paid clergy, for they believe the “model of first-century Christianity” is one in which “all baptized members are ordained ministers and share in the preaching and teaching work.” Both men and women can be ministers, though within each congregation “spiritually mature men” serve as “older men,” or elders.” About 20 congregations form a circuit, and congregations receive periodic visits from traveling elders known as circuit overseers.
Doctrinal guidance is provided by a Governing Body made up of longtime JWs who currently work at the international offices in Brooklyn, New York. A number of corporations are in use by JWs, though they are often referred to collectively as “The Society” after the oldest and most prominent of their corporation, “The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania” (which is now located in Brooklyn). Not much is known about the financing of the JW corporations other than that they own significant real estate holdings in New York City. For instance, the group’s headquarters, which is currently for sale, is expected to be sold for around $1 billion.
As of August 2016, Jehovah's Witnesses report an average membership of approximately 8.13 million actively involved in preaching, with a peak of 8.34 million.The Watchtower continues to engage in cultic manipulation of its people through the prohibition of military service, the celebration of holidays, and the saluting of the nation’s flag. The impetus for these restrictions is rooted in their false claim to be the exclusive organized collection of Jehovah’s people. The Watchtower views these practices as devices of Satan to lead people away from Jehovah. The Watchtower sees the entire “world system” (any activity not connected with the Watchtower) as connected to Satan and is thus prohibited. This would include the practice of blood transfusions, which the Watchtower wrongly believes to be prohibited by Scripture. The Watchtower has stated that a blood transfusion “may result in the immediate and very temporary prolongation of life, but at the cost of eternal life for a dedicated Christian.”
Question: “Why do Jehovah’s Witnesses refuse blood transfusions?”
Answer: Acts 15:19-21, 28 is the Scripture Jehovah’s Witnesses typically point to as the reason they refuse to accept blood donations. Acts 15:20 says, “Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.” It is clear from the context that the instructions were against eating / drinking blood, not blood transfusions. Blood transfusions were not even possible in Bible times, so there is no possibility that this Scripture could be referring to blood transfusions. There were many pagan religious practices that involved eating and drinking blood and/or strangling an animal to keep more of its blood in its meat. This is what the Bible speaks against, not blood transfusions.
Is it acceptable for a Christian to receive or give a blood transfusion? Since the Bible does not explicitly say, a decision of this nature can only be made between a person and God. One consideration might be that God created billions of people over the centuries, but only four blood types, making it possible to transfuse blood from one person to another, regardless of race or nationality. Perhaps this is an argument for the legitimacy of blood transfusions. A person should carefully and prayerfully consider what God would have him do in regards to receiving/giving a blood transfusion. There is no command either way in Scripture. Blood transfusions are, therefore, a matter of conscience
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