Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time.-Matthew 24:45 NWT

The Watchtower Society has been known for its doctrinal flip-flops, serious enough to disqualify it as “God’s channel of communication”. However flip-flops is not only the most serious allegation concerning the Society as we shall see.

The Society under the leadership of Charles Taze Russell claimed the interpretation of Matthew 24:45 was to be applied to a class that was dispensing spiritual food at the proper time (Watchtower, 9/1880, pg. 8). Later, that interpretation was changed to apply to an individual (Watchtower, 3/1/1896, pg. 48) and that individual was of course identified as Russell himself (Watchtower 12/15/1916, pg. 394).

After Russell’s death, Joseph Franklin Rutherford took over and was instrumental in changing the organization that to a large degree reflects the modern Society today in most respects. Rutherford slowly introduced “new light” that was eventually aimed at transforming the doctrines and devotion that held Russell as “that servant”. By 1928, Rutherford was comfortable enough to announce in the publication “Prophecy” that the Elijah class (period under Russell) had passed in favor of the Elisha class (time under Rutherford) which had a “double portion of the spirit”. By 1928, Russell’s position as “that servant” had been usurped, the slave was now viewed as a class, after that any devotion to Russell was look upon as “creature worship”, Russell was passé.

Despite the faithful and discreet slave being viewed as a class and was suppose distribute food at the proper time, it was actually Rutherford that was dispensing spiritual food through his plethora of books, pamphlet’s, and of the course the Society’s main publication, the Watchtower. Virtually all his books and published materials bore his name which raised questions as to the actual role of the slave class.

Prior to Russell’s passing, he stipulated in his will that editorial charge was be given to a committee of five men in a editorial committee for the sake of keeping safeguards over the “truth”, the committee consisted of W.E. VanAmburg, J. Hemerey, R.H. Barber, E.J. Coward, and J.F. Rutherford (Watchtower 3/1/87, pg. 14). Contrary to Russell’s will, Rutherford abolished the Editorial Committee as stated in the 1932 Yearbook:

“As you know, for some years there have appeared on the title page of the Watchtower the names of an editorial committee, provisions for which was made several years ago. During the fiscal year, at a meeting of the board of directors a resolution was adopted abolishing the editorial committee. “(1932 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses, pg. 35)

This left Rutherford in complete and discretionary control as to what went inside the publications of the Watchtower Society.

Since Rutherford’s time, the Society has made it clear that angels transmit information to the remnant of Jehovah’s Witnesses, particularly starting under Rutherford:

“These angels are invisible to human eyes and are there to carry out the orders of the Lord. No doubt they first hear the instruction which the Lord issues to his remnant and then these invisible messengers pass such instruction on to the remnant. The facts show that the angels of the Lord with him as his temple have been thus rendering service unto the remnant since 1919.” (Vindication III, 1932, pg. 250)

Under Rutherford, many doctrines of the Jehovah's Witnesses were formulated such as:

• Vindication of Jehovah's name

• Christ's presence in 1914

• The Theocracy

• The name "Jehovah's Witnesses"

• The earthly class of JW's referred to as the "Great Multitude"

These are just a portion some of the WT doctrines accepted by Jehovah's Witnesses today and without question . Along with the doctrines were false prophecies, the most widely know was the 1925 date:

“Based upon the argument heretofore set forth, then, that the old order of things, he old world, is ending and is therefore passing away, and that the new order is coming in, and that 1925 shall mark the resurrection of the faithful worthies of old and the beginning of reconstruction, it is reasonable to conclude that millions of people now on the earth will be still on the earth in 1925. Then based upon the promises set forth in the divine Word, we must reach the positive and indisputable conclusion that millions now living will never die.” (Millions Now Living Will Never Die, p. 97, 1920)

The Society has claimed God's holy spirit is essential in providing new direction or "light". They said:

"God's spirit has always worked in harmony with his Word. It cannot go contrary to it. He will not give us some contrary direction or new direction if he has it there in his Word for us to learn, but he will help us understand what is written (The Watchtower, 1/15/67, pg. 556

The Society has claimed that after 1918, there came better and more clearer understanding of truth. They said:

"But the true followers of Christ Jesus could not and did not see that "sign in heaven" until after 1918, because it was in 1918 that the Lord came to his temple and began to give the temple class greater light upon God's Word. (Prophecy, 1929, pg. 82)

Were the doctrines given by the Society after 1918 the product of God's "holy spirit"? The Society does claim that during the Rutherford administration, "clearer understanding" was formulated during that time and it is what Jehovah's Witnesses believe today. But how could this be if they were without "holy spirit":

"The Lord Jesus came to his temple in 1918 and that would mark the time of the cessation of the work of the holy spirit as an advocate, helper and comforter for the members of the church on earth." (Preservation, 1932, pg. 202-203)

Instead of "holy spirit", the Society teaches that angels were responsible for any information or light that would get into the Society's publications (Preservation, 1932, pg. 203). So during Rutherford time which was a period that set forth the spiritual foundation for what is the Watchtower today, we can see several things:

• Rutherford was in sole control and author of the publications of the Watchtower Society, hence he and only he was dispensing meat in due season.

• Holy Spirit was taken out of the picture since 1918.

• Angels transmit information from Jehovah to the remnant (Rutherford).

• Since Rutherford was the person in sole control, messages had to have been transmitted from angels to him thus making Rutherford a medium.
  

During Rutherford’s time, doctrinal flip-flops, false prophecies, as well as doctrines and policies that endangered peoples lives were promulgated. Therefore we can make the conclusion from the evidence that the Society doctrines are not based on “Holy Spirit” or Jehovah, but is information from a medium which brings us to question who these angels are? Angels of God or demons of Satan?

Jesus said:

If you love me, you will obey what I command And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you FOREVER-the spirit of truth..." John 14:15-17