The Christian Scriptures do not provide any specific process or
hierarchal structure for the congregation. A person is spiritually mature enough to be
considered one of the older men if meeting a simple list of criteria.
The Watchtower Society has made several major changes to the elder arrangement, showing
how easily Scriptural principles can be melded to fit desired outcomes.
This section is of interest in that it highlights a technique the Watchtower uses to gain
acceptance of changing doctrine. Assertions of unknown early
Christian's behaviour are made, followed by dogmatic claims that
Jehovah is behind the changes. Russell held to the orthodox view
that elders be selected by the congregation.

"Among God's people from the 1870's down into 1932, men
who had been voted into the office of elder congregationally
supervised congregational Bible
studies and lectures. The elders and deacons were elected congregationally each year by a showing of hands on the part of
persons associated with each congregation." Yearbook 1975 p.164

In the 1930's a major change came, with elders to be appointed by "the Society". By
preventing congregations
selecting their own elders
Rutherford created a hierarchal structure with control transferring to head office.

"This altered arrangement for the
congregations of Jehovah's witnesses continued on from
October of 1932 down to 1938. In this latter year the June 1 and 15 issues of The Watchtower
published the two parts of the article "Organization" on what
was set out as theocratic
organization of the
congregations. After that all the officers of the congregation
were appointed by the
governing body at
headquarters." Watchtower 1971
November 15 p.693

The justification for this move was that to be "ordained" in Apostolic times meant to be
selected by the "Governing Body".
""As to voting," explains Herbert H. Abbott, "then it was thought that at Acts 14:23 the Greek
word rendered 'ordained' [King James Version; "appointed," New
World Translation] related to stretching forth the hand and meant to be a voter at those elections of class leaders. [See
Acts 14:23, Rotherham.] We did not then know that it came to be
used in the sense of appoint or designate by the apostles or
governing body." Yearbook 1975
p.164

This reasoning contains
hypothetical assertions. The word Governing Body does not appear in the Bible and there is no evidence of a "Governing
Body". The Watchtower takes the concept of a Governing Body
from Acts 15. Yet this sole
mention of a gathering to decide doctrine included all the elders, not just a small group of leaders.
In 1971 another significant change came with the introduction of a body of elders.
The Watchtower 1971 November 15 p.685 and p.691 said that the
Early Christian elder bodies "likely
rotated" and so enforced
rotation, such that each elder would hold a responsibility such
as Presiding Overseer for just one year. Four years later the 1975 Yearbook p.250 praised
the success of this new
arrangement as "God's doing."

"Reflecting on the new
congregational arrangement
providing for elders and
ministerial servants, Roger Morgan was moved to say: "This is God's doing." "Truly, Jehovah is
bringing his congregated people into an organizational condition
in which they will be able to ride out Armageddon into God's new
order under divine rulership.""
Yearbook 1975 p.250

However rotation did not work effectively and it was done away
with in the 1983 Organised to Accomplish You Ministry p.41.
How can a procedure be God's doing with Biblical backing if within a few years it required
changing?
LOADING...

Why does the mosaic law after few years required changing that it is only thru Christ we can be saved and the mosaic law done away with. Think about that too. The truth gets brighter and brighter day by day, year by year.

Bumiite: Why does the mosaic law after few years required changing that it is only thru Christ we can be saved and the mosaic law done away with. Think about that too. The truth gets brighter and brighter day by day, year by year.

erm.... But there was never a time where The Apostles asked us to revert back to the mosaic dispensation.

CAN A BRIGHTER TRUTH REVERT BACK TO IT'S FORMER STATE OR CONTRADICT ITSELF? Answer me!

Here is a excerpt of one of the many "watchtower truths" that have reverted back to its original state

who Watchtower says angel micheal is

~The Pope and Antichrist

"Michael and his angels"--the papacy and its supporters--fought against the dragon--
pagan rulers, etc.,-- and the great dragon was cast out of heaven.
Zion's Watch Tower 1879
December p.6

Michael was the pre-human Jesus Christ

"Can it be that he who was called Michael--Jehovah's chief-messenger--was none
other than our Lord in his pre-human condition? we
conclude that HE
must have been "chief
messenger." " Zion's
WatchTower 1883 June p.3

The Pope again
"Michael.--- "Who as God," the Pope." The Finished Mystery 1917 p.188

give me an honest answer, is that truth^^ getting brighter?