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Light Gets Brighter

Jehovah's Witnesses claim to be the only group to teach truth, as revealed to their Governing Body by Jehovah. If this is the case, why has Watchtower doctrine experienced ongoing changes? Watchtower justifies this as the "light gets brighter." This article examines the logic behind such a claim.

A key premise of this site is that constant changes in doctrine and failed predictions are clear indication that Jehovah does not direct Watchtower. For the external observer this is the logical conclusion, yet for one of Jehovah's Witnesses it barely raises a grimace. How can this be? Because changes and failures are immediately dismissed by the thought stopping concept:

Does truth change?


"The Bible tells us the light would get brighter."

This is based on a phrase from Proverbs.

"But the path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established." Proverbs 4:18

Addressing this claim is required to render the information contained within this site effective.

The main justification from the Watchtower for changed doctrine is Proverbs 4:18.

“The Light Keeps Getting Brighter … Increasing light from Jehovah continues to illuminate their way organizationally, doctrinally, and morally. What are some of our beliefs that have been clarified in recent years?” 2016 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses p.25
““The path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established,” states Proverbs 4:18. Yes, Jesus’ leadership is progressive, not stagnant. Another way to cooperate with Christ’s “brothers” is to have a positive attitude toward any refinements in our understanding of Scriptural truths as published by “the faithful and discreet slave.”” Watchtower 2011 May 15 p.27
“Regarding progressive spiritual enlightenment, Proverbs 4:18 has proved true. It says: “The path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established.” How thankful we are for the progressive spiritual enlightenment we have experienced!” Watchtower 2001 Jan 15 p.18
“IT IS proof of divine wisdom that, in keeping with Proverbs 4:18, the revealing of spiritual truths has taken place gradually by means of flashes of light. In the preceding article, we saw how this text was fulfilled in apostolic times. If the large body of Scriptural truth had been revealed all at once, it would have been both blinding and confusing—much like the effect of coming out of a dark cave into brilliant sunlight. Moreover, gradually revealed truth strengthens the faith of Christians in a continuous way. It makes ever brighter their hope and ever clearer the pathway they are to tread.” Watchtower 1995 May 15 p.15

The Watchtower interprets the word "light" in Proverbs 4 as referring to Watchtower "doctrinal" understanding, yet this is simply done as justification for prior error. Aspects to consider are:

  • What is the intended meaning of Proverbs 4:18?
  • Is Watchtower doctrine getting brighter or changing?
  • Would Jehovah direct a religion to promote falsehood?

Proverbs 4:18

For thousands of years, people have understood Proverbs chapter 4 to be discussing behaviour, as is easily identifiable when reading the entire chapter in context. The verses surrounding 18 state:

"… the wicked do not sleep unless they do badness. … The way of the wicked ones is like the gloom; they have not known at what they keep stumbling … listen to the discipline of a father … keep my commandments … safeguard your heart."

Christian writers explain:

"What is clear from Proverbs is that the reader can choose to either seek wisdom or live a life of folly. (Prov 4:14-19)" (thisischurch.com25 Mar 2005)

Proverbs 4:18 was not intended to be prophetic indication that God gradually reveals truth to the Watchtower Society. Rather than extract a sentence, when taken in entirety the context of Proverbs chapter 4 is a comparison of behaviour between good and bad people, not the dispensing of doctrinal truth through an organization. From the outset, it can be seen that using this Scripture to discuss doctrinal errors and changes is without basis.

Brighter or Changed

Regularly, Watchtower light is not brighter, it is vastly different than the past

Proverbs 4 identifies that righteous people fare better than the wicked, and not prophetic of the Watchtower Society. However, let us entertain the idea that within this passage there is the prophetic foreshadowing that God progressively reveals truth to his people during the time of the end. This concept cannot apply to Watchtower history, as Watchtower doctrine has not refined but changed. Consider whether the following change is really a matter of doctrinal light getting lighter:

Imagine being the Witness parent of a child that needed a kidney transplant in 1970. Although the Awake! 1949 Dec 22 had described transplants as "wonders of modern surgery", in 1967 God revealed that transplants were wrong in his eyes. The Watchtower 1967 Nov 15 pp.702-704 stated that being now "enlightened by God's word" God's people understood that transplants are against divine principles and cannibalistic. The parents must sincerely have believed they were putting Jehovah first when watching their child die, refusing them the opportunity of possible survival through a transplant. How would that parent feel on reading the Watchtower 1980 Mar 15 p.31 - "There is no Biblical command pointedly forbidding the taking in of other human tissue. It is a matter for personal decision. " The enlightenment of 1967 had proved to be dark, harmful and in need of later correction, a regressive doctrine that resulted in the unnecessary death of members. When a doctrine changes and then reverts back to the original position this is not evidence of light getting brighter, it is evidence of a lack of Holy Spirit directing the Governing Body.

The concept of light becoming brighter implies that previous doctrine was correct, but incomplete. Russell eloquently wrote the following truism that:

"If we were following a man undoubtedly it would be different with us; undoubtedly one human idea would contradict another and that which was light one or two or six years ago would be regarded as darkness now;… But with God there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning, and so it is with truth; any knowledge or light coming from God must be like its author. A new view of truth never can contradict a former truth. "New Light" never extinguishes older "light" but adds to it…"


Zion's Watch Tower 1881 Feb p.3

Watchtower has used the illustration that their increasing understanding of truth is like a sailing boat "tacking." They make slight adjustments to their teachings, but always a step forward in promoting truth.

“Of course, such development of understanding, involving “tacking” as it were, has often served as a test of loyalty for those associated with the “faithful and discreet slave.” However, progress is being made continually toward fuller appreciation of the “good news” and all that it means. It has been the experience of those who stay close to God’s organization that questions and things hard to understand are always cleared up with the passing of time. And as the light shines forth ever more clearly, how heartwarming and satisfying the way proves to be!” Watchtower 1981 Dec 1 p.31

Image Source: Watchtower 1981 Dec 1 p.27

The point here is clear, teachings may be refined, but not contradict previous teachings. This has not been the case with Watchtower doctrine. Many Watchtower teachings were later discarded as incorrect. Others have changed back and forth numerous times, some reverting to their original position, others contradicting a former truth. It has regularly been the case that Watchtower doctrine was not illuminated but eclipsed.

It was not increasing light that dictated:

These were not clarifications - these were wrong teachings. How many wrong teachings did God allow to become part of the Bible canon? Now compare that with how many wrong teachings are contained within the Watchtower over less than 150 years. Ongoing reversal of doctrine can only indicate God is not involved in these new flashes of light that later turn out to be falsehoods. Yet the Watchtower leadership claim these changes are from Jehovah, not to be questioned.

“How do you react when Jehovah, the Source of spiritual enlightenment, sheds light on “the deep things of God” found in the Bible? (1 Cor. 2:10-13) We have an excellent example in the apostle Peter’s reaction when Jesus told His listeners the words of today’s text. Taking those words literally, many disciples said: “This speech is shocking; who can listen to it?” They “went off to the things behind.” But Peter said: “Lord, whom shall we go away to? You have sayings of everlasting life.” (John 6:60, 66, 68) Peter relied on God for spiritual enlightenment. When spiritual light on some matter gets brighter, do you try to understand the underlying Scriptural reasons for the adjustment? (Prov. 4:18)” Examining the Scriptures Daily 2013 p.17

When is it truth?

This concept is applicable to any Christian religion similar to the Witnesses, such as Christadelphians and Church of God. Both of these have a doctrinal structure almost identical to Jehovah's Witnesses. It has equal application to Seventh-day Adventists, who started concurrently with the Witnesses from the same basic teachings of Miller. Seventh-day Adventists preach and grow at the same rate. A person raised in any of these religions is equally convinced that the "light getting brighter" will clarify things wrong with their religion.

The Church of God uses the same "new light" reasoning, as shown in an experience of a member at ex-sda.com (May 2 2006):

"Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong still took what seemed to me a less than candid approach. He called our Divorce & Remarriage change "new light," "new truth" which God has (finally) shown us. In other words, he subtly blamed our doctrinal error on God."

So do Mormons. In an experience of a Mormon that converted to being a Jehovah's Witness, it is ironic that one of his reasons was:

"I dug deeper into the teachings of my faith and also consulted with responsible Mormon Church leaders. I was told that the answers to my questions involved mysteries that one day would be solved as the light became brighter." Watchtower 2013 Feb 1 p.9

The following article about the Catholic Church is equally applicable to the Watchtower Society.

""Tell me," he asked, "how can I have confidence in anything? How can I believe in the Bible, in God, or have faith? Just ten years ago we Catholics had the absolute truth, we put all our faith in this. Now the pope and our priests are telling us this is not the way to believe any more, but we are to believe 'new things.' How do I know the 'new things' will be the truth in five years?"" Awake! 1970 Apr 22 p.8

Ironically, the root of "New Light" is apostasy. A person - be it the Governing Body, someone from the writing department or a question from readers - shows disagreement with Watchtower truth and presents an alternate point of view. Regularly, the alternate point of view is not accepted, and the advocate may even become labelled an apostate. Yet at other times, what starts out as an apostate idea becomes doctrine, and is termed new light. The resultant conclusion can only be that the previous teaching was false, or potentially the new teaching is false, but either way the Watchtower was, or is, teaching apostasy.

Why So Long?

One must also wonder, if Jehovah wants his organisation to be clean in comparison to all others, why he waited so long to reveal important truths. The Watchtower holds itself and its spiritual light in high esteem.

“Jehovah is the source of spiritual light. While the world remains in dense darkness the true God continues to shed light on his people. Increasing light from Jehovah continues to illuminate the path of his people. It refines them organizationally, doctrinally, and morally." Watchtower 2006 Feb 15 Walking in the Path of Increasing Light

This article is revealing, more so in what it does not contain. For instance, whilst it claims the teaching on Superior Authorities was correctly revealed in 1962, it fails to mention that it was going back to a doctrine that was originally correct, and had been incorrectly changed by Rutherford in 1929.

Whilst the article attributes the 1945 ruling against blood transfusions on use of blood in World War II, it does not adequately address the length of time to arrive at this ruling. Since the modern technique of blood transfusions was mastered in 1916, why wait until 1945 to forbid blood transfusions? If any use of blood is wrong, why wait until 1927 to direct his people not to eat it, almost 50 years after the Watchtower started being printed.

Smoking became a disfellowshipping offence in 1973. Yet smoking has always been harmful to health. "Societies were formed to discourage smoking" from the early 1900's1 and scientists proved the connection to lung cancer in the 1930's.2 Further, smoking was introduced as wrong because it was related to spiritism,3 in which case it was wrong from the birth of the religion and would not be something God should wait 100 years to provide enlightenment on.

Most importantly, if only the Governing Body form the Faithful and Discreet Slave, why wait until 2012 to reveal this truth? Prior to 2012, it was stated that Jehovah had dispensed truth through the Slave class since Jesus time, which was comprised of the entire group of 144,000. Since then, it was only the Governing Body after the year 1919. Surely Jehovah could have correctly revealed his source of truth and light as soon as it was manifest in 1919.

What the Bible Says

The Bible explains that the meaning of some truths were to be understood later. This did not allow for Jehovah directing his people with falsehood.

John 16:13 "However, when that one arrives, the spirit of the truth, he will guide YOU into all the truth, for he will not speak of his own impulse, but what things he hears he will speak, and he will declare to YOU the things coming."

At John 16:13, Jesus was referring to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Jesus did not refer to partial or incorrect truth; the Spirit would reveal truth, including "things coming". As discussed in the section on dates, the Watchtower Society has had a 100% failure rate in predicting things "coming".

Daniel 12:4, 10 "And as for you, O Daniel, make secret the words and seal up the book, until the time of [the] end. Many will rove about, and the [true] knowledge will become abundant... Many will cleanse themselves and whiten themselves and will be refined. And the wicked ones will certainly act wickedly, and no wicked ones at all will understand; but the ones having insight will understand."

Though Daniel did not understand what he wrote, he did not make false interpretations. The Society's interpretation of Daniel has changed constantly with explanations that were applied to the 1800's now applied to the 1900's. Despite this, the Organization insists that God only enlightens them to interpret these Scriptures accurately.

Rather than indicate that doctrine would get brighter or change, the Bible warns against anyone that promotes false doctrine.

1 John 4:1 "Beloved ones, do not believe every inspired expression, but test the inspired expressions to see whether they originate with God, because many false prophets have gone forth into the world."

Galatians 1:8, 9 "But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed."

Watchtower Justification for Doctrinal Error

Proverbs 4:18 is the primary justification for why much of early Watchtower doctrine has changed and continues to change. There are additional lines of reasoning that are invoked, but each is equally insipid.

Apostles Made Mistakes

The Watchtower justifies errors through comparison with the Apostles and the mistakes that they made.


Watchtower 2013 Jan 1 p.8
"Like the apostles of Jesus Christ, they have at times had some wrong expectations." Reasoning from the Scriptures p.136

In a similar vein, I regularly receive emails from Witnesses that God used Moses, Abraham, David and other kings, priests and prophets to lead his people, even though they were sinners.

This is a straw-man argument, as it addresses an issue quite different to the one at hand. This is not a question of individual early Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses or members of the Governing Body being perfect or holding to a perfect understanding of doctrine. The issue is whether the Governing Body operates under guidance of Holy Spirit as a collective group, after prayer. Does Jehovah direct what appears in the Watchtower journals? Obviously not, since so much has been wrong.

Rather than suggesting that Apostles made mistakes, consider "What percentage of the Apostles writings in the Bible are wrong?" Zero percent. "What percentage of Watchtower statements has been wrong?" The difference being, the Apostles were directed by God, the Governing Body is not.

Since the Watchtower Governing Body is unlike the Apostles and not directed by God when arriving at doctrine, they should not be followed blindly, without question.

God is testing us

Another justification has been used several times after Watchtower prophecies went unfulfilled. The Watch Tower 1916 February 1 said about the incorrect understanding of 1914:

"We inferred from this that the Church's 'change' would take place on or before that date. But God did not tell us that it would be so. He permitted us to draw that inference; and we believe that it has proven to be a necessary test upon God's dear saints everywhere."

What sort of group would accuse God of allowing them to promote falsehood as a test of his followers? If false teachings are a test from God, how do we differentiate between one Church and the other?

Eager

Additional Watchtower justification for incorrect interpretations is to attribute them to eagerness. People that criticise this righteous eagerness are negatively trying to divert people from the importance of the times.

"It is easy for the established churches of Christendom and other people to criticize Jehovah's Witnesses because their publications have, at times, stated that certain things could take place on certain dates. Have they not, rather, encouraged spiritual sluggishness by considering expectation of "the end" to be "meaningless" or "an insignificant myth"? Have apostates promoted Christian alertness? Have they not, rather, induced spiritual sleepiness?" Watchtower 1984 Dec 1 p.18

"Jehovah's Witnesses, in their eagerness for Jesus' second coming, have suggested dates that turned out to be incorrect." Awake! 1993 Mar 22 p.4

"In modern times such eagerness, commendable in itself, has led to attempts at setting dates for the desired liberation from the suffering and troubles that are the lot of persons throughout the earth." Watchtower 1980 Mar 15 p.17

In application to itself the Watchtower insinuates that alertness is more important to truthfulness. In application to other religions sincerity is not enough, teaching untruths makes their followers unacceptable to God.

"For us to be acceptable to God, our sincere beliefs must be based on accurate information. Jehovah's Witnesses in your community will be happy to assist you in examining what is involved in serving God with sincerity and truth." Watchtower 2003 Feb 1 p.32 Sincerity-Desirable, but Is It Enough?

To be eager does not justify being totally wrong. Many religions are eager, without relying on false predictions to motivate their members. The Seventh-day Adventists use statements such as "See you later, God Willing" to show they recognise God may intervene at any stage. This is a healthy recognition of God's timetable without encouraging serving to a date. Making mistakes in God's name has not promoted long term eagerness; it has resulted in followers losing their faith in the Organization.

Does Jehovah's direction include falsehoods

Brighter light is used to explain why previous doctrine was wrong. It is never presented as showing that current doctrine is likely to be also wrong. Yet that is the result if the Brighter light justification is applied to current truth.

"Furthermore, the Bible’s counsel is timeless. Although it was completed nearly 2,000 years ago, its words are still applicable." A Book For All People p.26

If Bible guidance remains applicable after 2,000 years, why is much Watchtower doctrine out of date every few decades?

Watchtower claims "of course" Watchtower does not produce perfect food.

"Of course, Jesus did not tell us that his faithful slave would produce perfect spiritual food." Watchtower 2017 Feb p.26

"Of course, ..." This term is included in the sentence to subtly influence the reader, yet comes with no logical justification. If Jehovah is perfect, and he inspired Bible writers to provide the Bible to be perfect and infallible, for what possible reason would he direct his organisation in our time to include falsehoods? If the Watchtower Governing Body proclaim to be part of the faithful slave, then it should be held to the same standard as the slave in the first century.

Rutherford made the comment that "only as the Lord God directs the "servant" to speak he does speak..." Is God directing the Servant, or Slave as it is now called, to speak falsehoods and errors? Is not such a concept blasphemous?

"The "servant" is not to tell his own message. Jehovah has made his "faithful servant" the "watchman", and only as the Lord God directs the "servant" to speak he does speak, having always a "Thus saith the Lord" for every part of the message that is delivered." Vindication Vol-1 (1931) p.45

What is the difference between "imperfect spiritual food" and "false religious teachings"? The only difference is whether Watchtower is applying the term to their own false teachings, or the false teachings of other religions.

The Watchtower Society did not originate the concept of excusing failed predictions as "new light". Barbour had used this concept to justify why the end did not arrive as predicted in 1874. Religions claiming to have all the answers consistently prove to be wrong. The Watchtower reliance on the "new light" doctrine is no more than an excuse to justify inaccuracies. "New light" is an unhealthy concept that promotes blind, unquestioning devotion to an earthly Organization.

Deuteronomy 18:20 - 22 provides a foolproof way to determine if words spoken have come from God:

"However, the prophet who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded him to speak or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die. And in case you should say in your heart: "How shall we know the word that Jehovah has not spoken?" when the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that Jehovah did not speak. With presumptuousness the prophet spoke it."

Watchtower changes include numerous false dates, significant doctrine and the promotion of pagan symbols and teachings. Rules on shunning, medical advice and education have been adversely life changing, even life threatening. Falsehood does not originate from Jehovah. Doctrinal meandering cannot be justified as new light; rather it is proof that God does not direct the Watchtower Society.

Truth, in matter of religion, is simply the opinion that has survived - Oscar Wilde

References

1. Richard Doll (June 1998), "Uncovering the effects of smoking: historical perspective", Statistical Methods in Medical Research 7 (2): 87–117,doi:10.1191/096228098668199908,PMID 9654637, retrieved 2008-06-01, ↩

2. Oreskes N Conway EM (2010). Merchants of Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming. San Francisco, CA: Bloomsbury Press. ISBN 1-59691-610-9.↩

3. Watchtower 1973 Jun 1 "The Scriptural evidence points to the conclusion that they do not. As has been explained in other issues of this magazine, the Greek word phar·ma·ki´a used by Bible writers and translated "practice of spiritism" or "spiritistic practices" has the initial meaning of "druggery." (Gal. 5:20; Rev. 9:21) The term came to refer to spiritistic practices because of the close connection between the use of drugs and spiritism. Tobacco was also used initially by the American Indians in this way. It can properly be placed, therefore, in the category of addictive drugs like those that provided the source for the Greek term phar·ma·ki´a. … Do we want to have Jehovah God be a speedy witness against us as addicts to drugs or other habit-forming injurious weeds, things that expose us to the influence of the spirit demons? Jehovah’s judgment against such addicts during the oncoming "great tribulation" will mean their destruction." ↩

Footnote

Terms used For Incorrect Watchtower Doctrine

“errors”
“mistakes”
“misplaced zeal”
“unrealized hopes”
“previous failures”
“misinterpretations”
“misunderstandings”
“our understanding”
“misplaced optimism”
“wrong expectations”
“hopes and expectations”
“premature expectations”
“misplaced expectations”
“disappointed expectations”
“errors in their teachings”
“incomplete concepts”
“inaccurate concepts”
“serious disappointments”
“formerly cherished views”
“mistakes in their understanding”
“views in need of refinement”
“an expressed opinion”
“cherished errors”
“wrong beliefs”
“old truths”
“past truths”
“expectations needing some adjustment”
“matters on which corrections of viewpoint have been needed”

Terms Used For Incorrect Doctrine of Other Religions

“falsehoods”
“false stories”
“false teachers”
“false teachings”
“false doctrines”
“false prophets”
“false prophecies”
“false religious views”
“false religious teachings”
“false religious philosophies”
“doctrines with pagan religious routes”
“God dishonoring doctrines of Babylon the Great”
“the disfiguring of God”
“nauseating teachings”
“God dishonoring”
“pagan doctrines”
“godless myths”

Source: Captives of a Concept, Don Cameron, pp.55-56

Written 2005. Latest update May 2024.







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