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Robert Skynner xx xxxxx Road Launceston Cornwall xxxx xxxx 28th October 1999 Dear Alan, I hope that you are well, and thank you for your letter that I received last month. I am however, puzzled by a few of the comments in several of the Watchtower society books that I have recently purchased. As I have a scanner, I have scanned the relevant passages and was wondering if you could please help me, with some of these strange comments and also in my own humble opinion ‘unbiblical’ statements. Firstly, I have enclosed below a photocopy taken from: ‘Then is finished the mystery of God’ page 222. You will notice that it uses one of Satan’s ‘names’; ‘Apollyon’ for Jesus Christ! The point that I have difficulty accepting here, is simply that Jesus Christ is not Satan, and that I find the application of one of Satan’s names to Jehovah’s Son highly disrespectful. On the next page (223), this same book states that JW’s, are symbolised as following Apollyon out of the bottomless pit. (I cannot post scans from this word document into Worthy Christian Forums) The next scan has been taken from page 223 of the same book. The symbolic locusts from the pit of the abyss who accompany Apollyon are supposed to be Jehovah’s Witnesses !!! (I cannot post scans from this word document into Worthy Christian Forums) Another photocopy (below) is taken from the book ‘Deliverance,’ it states on the fifth unnumbered page that at one time Jesus and Lucifer were brothers !!!! I most certainly do not believe this, and find it a most offensive comment indeed. (I cannot post scans from this word document into Worthy Christian Forums) I find these comments about who Jesus is very dubious, but especially so in the light of the fact that the Watchtower, makes audacious claims for itself. In the scan below taken from the Watchtower of 4/1/72 page 197, the Watchtower claims that it is an inspired prophet. If the Watchtower is a prophet, that speaks for God, I must ask you Alan, why then has it made changes and mistakes. Does God lie or makes mistakes? Certainly not in the light of Deuteronomy 13:1-5, 18:18-20 and Isaiah 8:20. (I cannot post scans from this word document into Worthy Christian Forums) In the following quote (below) Watchtower May 1st 1957, page 274, the Watchtower society is likened to a ‘Mother’ in a very similar way that the heretical mediaeval Roman Catholic Church also called itself ‘Mother Church’ to whom one went for salvation …. or so those poor deluded Roman Catholics believed! (I cannot post scans from this word document into Worthy Christian Forums) In the middle ages, the medieval Roman Catholic Church taught that one had to go to their religious organisations for salvation, rather than go to his Son for salvation (Acts 4:12). It is therefore strange that the Watchtower makes a very similar claim below. The Watchtower 15th November 1981, page 21 (below). (I cannot post scans from this word document into Worthy Christian Forums) In the following quote has been taken from The Watchtower 15th February 1981, page 19. The Watchtower Society takes the place of the ‘Holy Spirit’, (John 16:13), by leading us into ‘all truth’. This again is very similar to the claims of the Roman Catholics, and most modern sects such as the ‘Mormons’, which would claim that only their religious organisation can lead us to Christ, who in turn then leads us to Jehovah (God). Thus the Bible is the word of God (for RC’s) as the Pope will claim, but only he being an apostle of Christ and successor of Peter, is inspired by God to interpret Scripture for us. Likewise the Mormons will also admit that the Bible is God’s word, but they also regard it as a closed book, that can only understood by their leader and prophet in Utah, USA. Who speaks to us through the book of Mormon, and the other Mormon literature and publications. Thus both of these religions claim, that Jesus is the only way to the Father, yet also affirm that their religion is the only way to Jesus. (I cannot post scans from this word document into Worthy Christian Forums) Here the Society claims in the 1983 yearbook of JW, on page 21, that a man-inspired magazine is the sole interpreter of the Bible. This is similar to the Pope claiming that he and he alone is the sole interpretator of the Scriptures, the Mormons claiming the same for their leader, the Moonies claiming the same of Rev Moon etc and etc. (I cannot post scans from this word document into Worthy Christian Forums) Here in Vindication Book 3, page 250, and published 1932. Judge Rutherford claims to receive ‘angelic messages’ from angels who directly pass on instructions from Jehovah God to leaders of the society. I should not have to point out to you Alan that spiritism (contact with spirit beings) is strictly forbidden in the Scriptures. (I cannot post scans from this word document into Worthy Christian Forums) Thank you very much for taking the time to read this letter. I would be most grateful if you would take to time to reply to these concerns of mine. I am anxious to find out why the Watchtower makes claims for itself and its authority which are so very similar to that of the Pope and Roman Catholic system. Yours sincerely Robert Skynner