Q: I want to thank you Perimeno for all your hard work in your website, I believe you have helped many brothers through many difficult times. I sincerely believe you have your readers best interests in mind.

One thing I would like to bring your attention to is the way in which you refute other christian's beliefs. For instance I know you believe whole heartedly in the Watchtower's understanding of the great crowd and the 144000. That is fine. None of us can be completely sure if certain doctrines we believe are 100% correct. There is nothing wrong with giving an opinion and promoting are understanding of certain bible teachings. However, when we call a certain teaching we don't agree with absurd or that those who teach something we don't personally agree with as irresponsible, and apply 2 Timothy 4:3,4 to those who don't agree with our personal take on the scriptures, are we truly pleasing God?

As you know that is what the Society does. If anyone disagrees with them they go to the extreme of saying their a false, apostate Christian! Would you admit there is some possibility that you are wrong on this subject? However small? I know I would admit I could very well be wrong. I'm just asking for tolerance and christian unity. After all, none of us will be completely right in doctrine. And that is not what is important. Jesus will look more at the love we showed, the forgiveness we gave others, and the mercy we extended to all.
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A: Thank you for your kindly worded concern and loving counsel. Please allow me to explain the reason why I feel the need to sometimes strongly disagree with certain teachings and opinions as expressed by some, either in letters that I receive, or what some are inviting me to look at (and comment on) in connection with what is being discussed on some forums on the internet, notably by former Witnesses.

We need to keep reminding ourselves of the seriousness of our situation in this particular time in history in which we now live. We acknowledge, for example, that “the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one,” and, as “the god of this world,” Satan “has blinded the minds of the unbelievers” and is "misleading the entire inhabited earth." (1 John 5:19; 2 Cor. 4:4, ESV; Rev. 12:9) But do we realize how this reality involves all of us personally, including you and me?

When we see the proliferation of conflicting views and opinions of many who are posting on the internet, and who offer their "something new" interpretation of the Scriptures by casting doubt on what is actually written in order to bolster their own ideas, we must keep in mind that the same Scriptures have warned us regarding this development for our day. Satan and his demons are well aware that they have only "a short period of time" left and therefore are working overtime in their endeavor to mislead and fool as many as possible! (Rev. 12:12) The apostle Paul forewarned: “God's Spirit clearly says that in the last days many people will turn from their faith. They will be fooled by evil spirits and by teachings that come from demons. They will also be fooled by the false claims of liars whose consciences have lost all feeling.” (1 Tim. 4:1, CEV; 1 John 4:1)

Satan deceives us with outright lies, false claims and foolish reasoning. How do you suppose he goes about doing that? Why not consider 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, 20! Yes, and also 2 Timothy 4:3-4, for these scriptures are especially applicable today! Should we be surprised when the teachings of demons include a lot of “nonsense,” and "absurd" and “outrages claims” that contradict God’s Word, making a "mockery" of it; and that those who spread such lies in God's name are not only "irresponsible" but also pose a danger to God's people, of "leading them astray"? (Psalms 40:4; Prov. 19:9; Jer. 23:32; Ezek. 13:9,10) Do you honestly feel that we should show respect for such teachings, viewing them simply as someone else’s valid opinions? (consider Ezek. 14:10) When I show that they speak "without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions," why compare me to the Watchtower Society? Did not Jesus and his faithful disciples also boldly expose those who "were not walking straight according to the truth of the good news," even when it applied to one of the twelve? (1 Tim. 1:7, ESV; Gal. 2:11-14) Do you think it is wrong to do so? Please note how Jesus addressed the people who refused to listen to the truth. He said: "Why aren't my words clear to you? Because you can't really hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil. You want to obey your father's wishes. From the beginning, the devil was a murderer. He has never obeyed the truth. There is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his natural language. He does this because he is a liar. He is the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you don't believe me! Can any of you prove I am guilty of sinning? Am I not telling the truth? Then why don't you believe me? Everyone who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you don't hear is that you don't belong to God." (John 8:43-47, NIRV; 1 John 4:6; compare Matt. 23:13, 16,17, 24, 27,28, 33)

We should expect false prophets and false teachers to abound in “the last days.” We were forewarned! Jesus included this reality among the signs he gave which would help identify the “conclusion of the system of things,” and he warned that these false teachers could prove to be a danger even to “the chosen ones.” Do some perhaps feel immune, bullet-prove? (Matt. 13:39-40; 24:11, 24-25; 2 Peter 2:1)

Does it really matter to Jehovah whether or not we accept what he tells us in his Word the Bible, and that we listen to him? (James 1:22-24) Jesus said that we “must” worship God “with spirit and truth, for, indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him.” (John 4:23-24; 17:17) Contrary to what the "misleading inspired utterances of demons" are teaching, we cannot worship God in whatever way suits us personally. (1 Cor. 10:20-21) Worshiping God in "spirit and truth" means that we listen to Jehovah, and accept what he says, for at stake is our "eternal life" or “the punishment of eternal destruction.” (Matt. 25:46; 2 Thess. 1:9-10, ESV) Those are not my words! What could be more sobering? Everyone—without exception, who fails to listen to Jehovah and has fallen prey to the frog-like croaking of demons, will perish, “as a retribution because they did not accept the love of the truth that they might be saved.” (2 Thess. 2:9-12; 2 Cor. 4:3; Zeph. 1:17,18; Rev. 16:13,14) This basic truth is not subject to our own personal interpretation or opinion. That is what Jehovah is telling us!

Satan effectively deceived Eve with just a couple of questions by which he cast doubt on God’s clearly stated and simple command. Did he really expect Eve to believe that she would become like God, all-knowing; and his insinuation that God is a liar, and that she would not die if she disobeyed? Yet his manner of attack proved successful. Eve listened to him and turned her back on Jehovah. (Gen. 3:1-5; 2 Cor. 11:3-4; 1 Tim. 2:14) Is it any different today? Satan may not expect us to believe every lie that he is floating around at the mouth of his "deceitful workmen," but if he can shake our confidence in the reliability of God's inspired Scriptures and get us confused regarding what it says, eventually resulting in our losing faith in God’s promises, then he might also be able to succeed in getting us to turn a deaf ear to the truth, and reject God's clearly stated requirements for salvation. (2 Cor. 13:5-6) This would become evident by our contradicting or diminishing God's expressed will for us, such as claiming that all that God requires of us to gain salvation is to have love in our hearts, and be tolerant of others. (compare Matt. 7:21; Eph. 5:6-8, 17) We may become convinced that since no one can possibly understand the truth therefore all opinions are equally valid and should not be criticized; which, by the way, is what most religions of this world also teach. But "we are not ignorant of [Satan's] designs." (2 Cor. 2:11)

As history shows, Jehovah's people have always been a rebellious bunch, not just in ancient times but even more so today, in spite of having in our possession his inspired written Word. (Rom. 15:4; 2 Tim. 3:16-17) For more than three decades now, Jehovah has been making his people aware of the unauthorized presence of "the man of lawlessness" within his household—his temple, who is exercising authority right at the very top; but whose presence is "according to the operation of Satan," contrary to their claim of having been appointed by Jesus. This realization has thrown many within God's household into confusion because they cannot comprehend that Jehovah would allow such a thing, although he clearly foretold it in order for us not to be stumbled "when the hour for them arrives." (2 Thess. 2:3-12; 1 Cor. 3:16-17; John 14:29; 16:1-4; Matt. 26:54) Since many have decided for themselves to no longer submit to this "higher authority," the situation for them is similar to what it was in the time of Israel, after Moses and Joshua had passed off the scene and before there was a king, when the people seemed leaderless: "As for everybody, what was right in his own eyes he was accustomed to do." (Judges 17:6; Rom. 13:1-2) What was the problem? Why the confusion? It's not as though the people had no way of knowing what God required of them. After all, they had received the Law when God made his covenant with them at Mt. Sinai. Rather, the problem existed in that the people refused to subject themselves to God, by listening to him and keeping his commandments. Likewise today, because of rejecting God's discipline, and failing to submit to his instructions, many are finding themselves "at the brink of utter ruin in the assembled congregation." (Psalms 81:11-13; Prov. 5:12-14, ESV; 1 John 5:2-3)

Jehovah has assured us that he has not left his people who have not left him! (2 Chron. 15:2, 7) Everything he has told us is still valid! All his promises are still certain to come true! (Joshua 23:14) At present he is still guiding us on how we should walk in order to have his approval: "I, Jehovah, am your God, the One teaching you to benefit yourself, the One causing you to tread in the way in which you should walk. O if only you would actually pay attention to my commandments. Then your peace would become just like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea. . . One's name would not be cut off or be annihilated from before me.” (Isaiah 48:17-19; Mal. 3:17,18; Jude 21) As it is, we do not enjoy peace at present. There are many who are sowing confusion! How true the prophet Isaiah’s words ring today:


18 “Listen, you who are deaf! Look and see, you blind!

19 Who is as blind as my own people, my servant? Who is as deaf as my messenger?

    Who is as blind as my chosen people, the servant of the Lord?

20 You see and recognize what is right but refuse to act on it.

    You hear with your ears, but you don’t really listen.”

21 Because he is righteous, the Lord has exalted his glorious law.

22 But his own people have been robbed and plundered, enslaved, imprisoned, and trapped.

   They are fair game for anyone and have no one to protect them, no one to take them back home.

23 Who will hear these lessons from the past and see the ruin that awaits you in the future?" —Isaiah 42:18-23, NLT; Matthew 15:7-9.


Jehovah has shepherds whom he has entrusted with the responsibility of “keeping watch” over his sheep in order to feed (teach, instruct) and protect them. They realize that the sheep are “God’s inheritance” and that they will be held accountable for how they watched over them. (1 Peter 5:2-34; Heb. 13:17) Jesus himself set the example, and he could say in prayer: “When I was with them I used to watch over them on account of your own name which you have given me; and I have kept them, and not one of them is destroyed except the son of destruction [Judas Iscariot], in order that the scripture might be fulfilled.” (John 17:12; 21:16,17) It is vital that God’s appointed teachers “stick to the true message they were taught, so that their good teaching can help others and correct everyone who opposes it. There are many who don't respect authority, and they fool others by talking nonsense.” (Titus 1:9-10, CEV) How foolish for anyone to belittle the counsel of God while at the same time praising the nonsense spread by those who have no respect for authority.

By the way, I accept what God's Word teaches regarding the great crowd and the 144,000, not because of any influence from the Watchtower, but because I recognize the Bible as God's inspired word of truth. "We received, not the spirit of the world [nor of the Watchtower, or some other publication; nor of some individual on some forum on the internet], but the spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that have been kindly given us by God. These things we also speak, not with words taught by human wisdom, but with those taught by the spirit, as we combine spiritual matters with spiritual words. But a physical man does not receive the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot get to know them, because they are examined spiritually." (1 Cor. 2:10-14) I pray that Jehovah will eventually find me faithful for having cared for my assignment of "holding firmly to the faithful word," teaching and protecting his precious sheep, while correcting "everyone who opposes it" and tries to "fool others by talking nonsense."

 
 


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