Expert: Derrick Holland - 5/8/2006

Question
Derek, In 1956 The Watchtower exposed Johannes Greber as being a Spiritist. They went into great detail about Johannes Greber's occult involvement in the February 15, 1956 Watchtower.

They then quoted favorably from Johannes Greber in:

Aid to Bible understanding Page 1669, The Word
Aid to Bible understanding Page 1134, Memorial tombs
Make sure of all things... Page 489, "a god"
The Watchtower 9/15/1962 Pg 554, The Word
The Watchtower 10/15/1975 Pg 640 No Resurrection
The Watchtower 4/15/1976 Pg 231 No Resurrection
The Word Pg 5 "a God"

Derek,
1]Why is their theology lining up with a spirit medium on a number of points?
2]Why did the people in charge of "food at proper time" use an occultist as a source of reliable information to quote from?
3] Can you really trust this organization for your eternal salvation?

Answer
Hello Laurie, and thank you for writing.  

Let me answer your last 3 questions first, in reverse order...

You ask...."] Can you really trust this organization for your eternal salvation?"

My answer to that is, NO, you cannot trust this Organization for eternal salvation.  I am happy to tell you that I am trusting in the shed blood of Jesus Christ alone, as the payment for my sins, and THAT is the assurance I have of eternal salvation.  I think you may have misread my profile, as I am not a JW, but serve on this board as a Christian voice.

To answer the other 2 questions.....

"1]Why is their theology lining up with a spirit medium on a number of points?

2]Why did the people in charge of "food at proper time" use an occultist as a source of reliable information to quote from?"

These are excellent questions.  You are exactly right in your documentation about Johannes Greber.  The WT Society knew of his occult involvement back in 1956, and STILL continued to quote him as an authority, especially in support of his "a god" translation of John 1:1.  JWs should also know that Mr. Greber claimed that he often times saw the translation "illuminated" on the wall in large letters, and other times he got the translations from his wife, who was a spirit medium.  

The only reason I can possibly think of using this "translation" as an authority, would be DESPERATION!!  Apparently support for the John 1:1 rendering is so weak, that they had to resort to something like that.

An even more disturbing question would be....If this translation of John 1:1 came from demons, why would the demons WANT John 1:1 to say "a god"?  And why would the Watchtower want their own translation of this verse to agree with a translation which was inspired by demons??  

Here is what I suggest, Laurie.  Ask this exact question to some of the JW experts on this board, in the same way you asked me.  And if you decide to do this, I would LOVE for you to send me their answers.    

In closing, if I can be of any further help, please ask.  Take care, and God bless.

Derrick