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Who are the Friends of Jehovah’s Witnesses who have created this website?

We are your brothers and sisters, the children of the original Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, founded and guided by Pastor Charles Taze Russell until his death in 1916. Afterward, Judge Rutherford took control of the Society, removed the editorial committee (designated in Pastor Russell’s Will) and cast out of Bethel those still loyal to the original teachings. Many left the Society as they saw the doctrines changing and the spirit of love changing to the spirit of fear.  Many of those who left, or were disfellowshipped, formed the Associated Bible Students.  We are set up just like the original Bible Students in the days of Pastor Russell.  There is no governing body, except that Pastor Russell’s teachings remain a guiding influence among us.  Each Bible Student Group elects their own elders and deacons, just as was the practice in the early church and in the early Truth movement in Pastor Russell’s day. We hold no ill will to the Society or the brethren who make it up.  In the spirit of love, we extend the warm hand of greetings and fellowship.

You can find more on the history of the Associated Bible Students here, here and  here

92 comments to About

  • Kovni

    I got here by curiosity!, Why do you call yourselves “Friends of JW”? What do you have in common and what is the difference between you and them? Why don’t you call yourselves “friends of catholics”? in other words, WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IN?

  • Gasa

    Thank you Christopher
    The great crowd come out of the great tribulation the one mentioned by Jesus where he says Mt 24:21 otherwise no flesh would be saved. I would understand that the days are cut sort on earth so these survive on earth, as Noah did. Are you suggesting they have to once survived on earth to be raptured to heaven? In Rev7:15 says God spreads his ‘tent’ nwt and v14 it says ‘people ‘ gn In Rev 21:3-5 says Gods ‘home’ gn ”tent’ nwt say that God is with mankind, people these humans are on earth they no longer suffer a physical ailment because the new Jerusalem comes down, not like a space ship it a holy city in heaven buts it rule does come down Just as Jesus commanded us to pray for this Kingdom to come on earth as it is already in heaven.
    The Israelites stood before God in mount Sinai. Humans reside before him on his footstool.
    Jesus gave his life to undo the works of Satan he is the second Adam, Adam if he had stayed obedient would be alive today as a perfect man. Rev22:2,3 ‘tree of life, which bear twelve manner of fruits …for the healing of the nations.” Kjv Water of life like the water mentioned to the Samaritan woman. V17 kjv
    Why oh why do so many Christians want heaven? Humans were created to live in their home, here.
    Thanks for your points,
    Regards

    • Christopher Johns

      Gaza,
      Thanks for the reply. Yes I we believe the great multitude is in heaven. We have so many Christians that wants to go to heaven because it’s the hope that Jesus set for his followers. Jesus never preached a two hope system. Christians in the New Testament were all anointed. You don’t see non-anointed followers of Jesus after the spirit begettal. We believe that many are called and few are chosen. What about those who ran for the mark of the prize of the high calling yet didn’t make it because they weren’t faithful enough? We believe since they are spirit begotten they don’t go back to the earth but serve God in his temple before the throne. . Now don’t get me wrong. When we say that the great crowd is in heaven we are not saying there is not earthly paradise. We are saying that Jesus said that his followers of faithful would be joint heirs. Do you notice there is no memorial service in the New Testament that has instruction for non-partakers? Why is this? Because no one in the New Testament that followed Jesus wanted an earthly hope.

      As for the “tent”. Even the 144,000 are said to reside with them. “2 Corinthians 6:16 – For we are a temple of a living God; just as God said: “I shall reside among them and walk among [them], and I shall be their God, and they will be my people.”. If you look in the kingdom interlinear you notice one is not the same word as the other. Ones a verb and ones a noun. In 21:3-5 “σκηνὴ” is used for tent. The other is a verb in 7:15 “σκηνώσει” meaning he will shelter them. In the same verse it says that they would be serving him day and night in his NAOS which even the kingdom interlinear says “Divine Habitation”. This same word is used for the Most Holy which is a symbol of heaven as Hebrews says is a type of heaven.

      As for the tent. We can’t necessarily say because they both have the tent then they are both the same group. Because if we did that then the great crowd is said to be “enopion” the throne and the 144,000 also are singing “enopion” the throne. So we conclude they are the same group or have the same location?

  • Gasa

    Christs seed is his bride the elect as he explains is the Israel of God the New Jerusalem. The Abrahamic seed the earthly seed as discribed in Old Testament is the one that is ruled over by Christs seed. That is why this heavenly group are called kings and priests who rule over the Abrahamic seed including the general population that make up the kingdom subjects. Jesus never rejected his Jewish heritage he never said the earthly seed was not still promised. He confirmed when he spoke to evil one on the stake/cross that he would remember him, that he would be in paradise. This paradise is. The earthly Jewish paradise as clearly the future hope of Jews on earth. Jesus quoted ps37 when he said meek will inherit the earth. The kingdom he instructed to be prayed for was for his kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven. The great crowd stands before the throne in the symbolic courtyard of the spiritual temple. The courtyard is the earth. Gods tent is with mankind. Rev21 His rule comes via the kingdom down to the earth. Thank you

    • Christopher Johns

      Gaza,
      I love your comments. Yes we agree with 99% of what you said. However we believe the Great Crowd serves God in NAOS. In Rev 7:15 it states that the great crowd serves God in his “temple”. The Greek word here is NAOS means “divine habitation” (See Kingdom Interlinear). This term for temple is also used in reference to the Most Holy which is a symbol of heaven that the priest could only enter into once a year on the Day of Atonement.

      Revelation 11:1-2 “And a reed like a rod was given me as he said: “Get up and measure the temple [NAOS] of God and the altar and those worshiping in it. But as for the courtyard “Heiron” that is outside the temple [NAOS], cast it clear out and do not measure it, because it has been given to the nations,…”

      Would the courtyard that God said cast out be the courtyard the great crowd is worshipping in?

      The term NAOS refers to the temple sanctuary where only the priests were allowed to enter.

      The WT did an article on this in the 1980 and many saw the errors and left the society.

      Rev 7:9 says they are BEFORE THE THRONE. Now the JW teach that the Greek word for BEFORE THE THRONE is “enopion” which means “in sight of the throne” showing they can still be on earth while not literally being before the throne in heaven. However other beings in heaven are said to be before the throne.

      “Revelation 5:8 – “And when he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before (enopion) the Lamb, having each one a harp and golden bowls that were full of incense, and the [incense] means the prayers of the holy ones.”

      The 144,000 are also said to be ENOPION in Rev 14:3.
      Does this mean the four elders are on earth too?

      Rev 19:1 says they heard the voice of a Great Multitude in heaven. These are not angels.

      Psalms 45 shows the symbolism of the Bride.
      Vs 13 “Inside the palace the king’s daughter is absolutely magnificent;Her clothing is adorned with gold.”

      Gold is a symbol of divining and the Kings daughter is the bride of Christ. However if we go down to verse 14 there is a group called “her virgin companions.” And they are said to “follow her into the palace”.

  • Anonymous

    Why did Aaron the High Priest need to offer a sin offering for himself? (See Leviticus 9, please)

    • Chris Johns

      Good afternoon Brother,
      From Tabernacle Shadows pg 55-56.

      “Thus shall Aaron come into the Holy [and Most Holy] with a young bullock for a sin-offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sinoffering which is for [represents] himself, and make an atonement for himself [the members of his body—the under-priests] and for his house [all believers, the entire “household of faith”—the Levites]. And he shall kill the bullock of the sin-offering which is for [represents] himself. And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the Lord, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small [powdered], and bring it within the vail [the first vail or “door”]. And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the Lord [the censer of coals of fire was set into the top of the golden altar in the “Holy,” and the incense crumbled over it gradually yielded a smoke of sweet perfume], that the cloud of the incense [penetrating beyond the second vail] may cover the mercy seat, that is upon [covers] the testimony [the Law], that he die not [by infracting these conditions, upon which alone he may come into the divine presence acceptably]”—vs. 3, 6, 1113. Looking through the type to the antitype, let us now, step by step, compare the doings of Jesus with this prophetic picture of his work. When the man Christ Jesus had consecrated himself he immediately, as the new creature, begotten by the holy spirit, took the sacrificed human life (blood of the bullock) to present it before God as the ransom-price “for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” Spirit-begotten, he was no longer in the “Court” condition, but in the first “Holy,” where he must tarry and offer his incense upon the fire of trial—he must demonstrate his loyalty to God and righteousness by the things suffered as a begotten Son, before entering the “Most Holy,” the perfect spiritual condition—Heb. 5:8. “

  • Nubby Tope

    Hello, just checking to see if my nickname came through.

    • Jacqueline (Bible Student)

      Yes it did my friend. I will let everybody know by email who you are if you dont want to say publicly.

      • Nubby Tope

        Yes please Jacqueline, apparently when the 2 elders visited me they said they’d been told by someone that I was on this site, they accused me of apostasy and as I prefer the BS then D’F will follow probably, then they left after saying when my Mum comes back in Resurrection that she’ll be wondering where I am. Emotional blackmail or what? I got angry at that point and raised my voice and they buzzed off. So I’ll be more anonomous now, but thanks for all the support from you and the others as it means the world to me.

        • Jacqueline (Bible Student)

          Nubby Tope no problem, I never admit when accused of being on a site. In fact my family accused me of being the person on a site that I am not that person at all.
          Don’t let these men blackmail you. You are a part of the brotherhood as a Bible student, association makes you a brother. When asked by friends or relatives what religion are you?
          I say I am in the association of Bible students. How do you join? I say if your eyes are open and you have accepted Jesus as a Ransom for all men and consecrated your life to him accepting the Bible as your only guide then welcome. We dig in the Bible. Every group or people have some customs as Jesus had.

          Luke 4:16 “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read.

          But the customs are for order of service, supported by the Jewish days etc which Jehovah said was a shadow or a pattern.
          But nothing has to be adhered to if not supported by scripture and no one will get angry at you for making a decision not to participate or accept.
          Like the Tortoise and the Hare these brothers just stuck to the path and have come out ahead.
          Rutherford’s organization appeared to be the winner with it millions, DF over 80,000 a year for every transgression except child molestation and rape. But it left the course of the Bible and we are now seeing the results. Millions fleeing as they discern something is very wrong. Elders have no incentive to see the wrong because they are a part of the system, but regular people are noticing the grab for funds is getting out of hand and the remodeling of building then selling them.
          They are paying out the pedophile cases like water using the money of these people. If they did nothing wrong why not fight it? But it is not their money.
          So Nubby Tope you have been called to peace. I would not be fooling with these people after all the years you have been gone.
          I see elders, wave and speak but think nothing of it. You do know you can do that right? Even the organization says anyone not identifying as a witness can just leave.
          So I never act as if they are my elders or mean anything to me or come under their scrutiny. That is the behaviour that transforms your mind after you ignore them time after time. Never humble yourself before them to acknowledge any authority over you and your mind not just your body will be free. I tell them I am with the association of Bible students and let them deal with it. Just a suggestion to help leave mentally since you have left physically. They have no power over you or us.

        • greg (Bible Student)

          Nubby Tope

          Following up on Jacqueline’s comment, someone I respect very highly once told me some words I’ve found very wise:

          “You can have respect for authority figures. But never fear authority. Most importantly, never submit or rebel. Both acknowledge the other as having authority over you. Every organization has its own spirituality. Never let a “gang” (or organization) dictate how you will act. Always remember to stay connected to your own spirituality, and then CHOOSE to act ONLY in accord with your values.”

          Of course, the Governing Body and many (most??) of the elders (at least the one’s I know) want your fear. Never give them that satisfaction.

          The hardest thing to do when being falsely accused and/or reviled is to stay silent and stay connected to yourself.

          Hang in there amigo. Pray lots. Even silently. Especially when you’re being accosted. When your focus is on God, Jesus, the Bible, and Godliness, the other persons start to seem pitiable instead of terrifying.

          -greg

          • Nubby Tope

            Thanks Greg and Jacqueline,

            Your words mean a lot to me and I’m feeling better now, especially as my anger has cooled down!

            • greg (Bible Student)

              Nubby Tope,

              For the benefit of other readers I really want to speak about the issue of Anger.

              Anger is a healthy, natural, alarm bell that often rings loud and clear whenever we experience or observe hurt or injustice. As JW’s, we’re subtly and erroneously taught that we must have no emotions. Being led to believe that’s a noble aspiration, we often try to suppress and bury them. But anger is one of the emotions that refuses to be denied or ignored. The more we try to ignore it, the louder it gets.

              Depression is similar, probably because depression is essentially anger that’s directed more at one’s self than at others. It, too, only gets louder and stronger the more we try to deny or ignore it.

              Emotions are the colors of life. They let us know we’re alive. Emotions are necessary indicators that Jehovah gave us to provide vital feedback on how well we’re doing at caring for the important things that help us stay alive and healthy.

              Changing gears a bit…

              I recall the time when two local elders came knocking on my door. I had worked past most of my anger, but Wow! did they sure know how to throw painful verbal punches!! After a couple of hours of translating their barrage of opinions and “you statements” into “you questions” and attempts at reflecting back their deeper needs, it took everything I could muster to tell them they were welcome to come back anytime they wanted.

              After they left and I had closed the door I broke down shaking and crying from sheer exhaustion.

              Thankfully, they never came back, and no one has never contacted me since. Hopefully you, too, will be left in peace now.

              -greg

        • Ted R. (Bible Student)

          I guess my question would be, who told them that you were on this site? Did you tell someone? If not then how would they know unless they are illegally hacking your computer and monitoring where you surf! What happened to the two witness rule? I have heard that they have a section at Bethel where they spy on the rank and file by means of computer hacking. Maybe its true. I wouldn’t admit to anything. Make them present two witness’s that can attest to seeing you post on the site. If they cant then by their own rules you cannot be found guilty. Its a shame that the organization is so paranoid!

          • greg (Bible Student)

            Ted,

            I find what you said both hilarious and tragic at the same time. I really appreciate your honest and refreshing take on things. Excellent advice and perspective on things, at least in my opinion.

            Thanks, Ted. And, I hope you are doing well.

            -greg

  • Nigel James

    Hi… was this site originally called “Comments from the Friends” ?

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