From 1881 to 1953 the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society reasoned and taught that God resided in the vicinity of the star cluster known as the Pleiades, the bright star being Alcyone. They belived that this region was the absolute centre of the universe. The idea was supported by citing a few Old Testament verses (Job 3:31, Amos 5:8) and also by studying the position and dimensions of the Great Pyramid in Egypt, which Watch Tower writings even called God’s ‘Stone Witness’. (Studies In The Scriptures, Thy Kingdom Come, 1891, p.327) Sound like Pyramidology?
In his book Reconciliation, (1928, p.14) Watch Tower president J F Rutherford wrote these words,
“But the greatness in size of other stars or planets is small compared with the Pleiades in importance, because the Pleiades is the eternal throne of God.” (See photo at the top of this page)
Over time, with vastly improved technology and greater astronomical study, we of course now know that the universe is much larger than we had previously thought, even immeasurable.
Watch Tower theological ignorance was once again revealed and in 1953, they discarded the teaching.
A couple of questions might be asked.
Since the Pleiades are part of the created things, how can they be eternal?
Did the Creator, who is eternal, not have a place to dwell until He created one?
If the questions seem shallow it may be because Watch Tower concepts seem shallow compared to the depth of God’s eternity. God’s word is emphatic on this:
“But will God really dwell on the earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain You. How much less this temple I have built.” (1 Kings 8:27)
“Am I only a God nearby, declares the LORD, “and not a God far away?” “Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them”, declares the LORD? “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” (Jeremiah 23:23-24)
Perhaps the Witnesses of Jehovah might respond that it was ‘old light’ or ‘present truth’ and that now they have ‘brighter light’.
Really? Really confusing. That fact is that J.F. Rutherford’s assertions were never accurate knowledge. He merely thought that it was truth as did his predecessor C.T. Russell and their hopeful followers believed them.
In regard to the organization that calls itself the only channel on earth that God uses; instead of the appearance of red faced embarrassment, perhaps expressing even a trace of humility, we are shown the lily white face of spiritual pride, ever proclaiming that the light is getting brighter. Such darkness!
Glory to the Father of all the bright lights in the heavens, in whom there is no variance, no shadow, no changing and no confusion!
So then, where does God live?
As immaculately as His presence is demonstrated throughout His immense creative physical masterpiece, His scope is way beyond finding out, further than the outskirts of infinity. He is utterly transcendent!
There is yet something even more full of wonder!
God who plays no favorites is pleased to dwell with and in anyone who will personally receive His Son Jesus as the final sacrifice for every sin and the justifier of any and all who come to Him alone for salvation. (Romans 4:5, John 6:37, John 14:6)
This immanence is made entirely possible through the promise of the indwelling Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 3:16, John 14:17, Romans 8:9)
I doubt that I can even scratch the surface of comprehension regarding the nature of God, Divine and Incarnate, but may I offer a perspective?:
As for any who would become interested and involved in knowing the affairs of the Most High, may I say?
If we would know who God really is, we would very quickly humble ourselves and ask,
“Who do we really think that we are?”
We must understand that any place where God is said to dwell, live or be present, whether it be past, present or future, cannot confine Him nor restrain Him.
God reveals Himself through the Bible and in the person of Jesus Christ; His life, death and resurrection!
Let God Be True!
Questions or Comments?
Email me at Gary@DoorwayChristianOutreach.info
(Please mention title of article)
All correspondence is confidential
chillyD
15.03.2019 07:59
"Give me that old time religion," used to be a song people believed in. Now it is all about relationship with our creator, which never really changed. Amen.
Latest comments
14.09 | 00:17
Is it your intent to share your faith with me? I'm a devout Latter-day Saint.
30.06 | 17:21
Let's add, the keys to Death and Hades (Revelation 1:18) the key of David (Rev. 3:7) the key of knowledge (Luke 11:52) and the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Matt.16:19) only given to Simon/Peter.
24.05 | 06:04
Intuitive
10.02 | 23:31
Checked out the great video. 👍 Thumbs up!
The Mormon Religion was officially founded by Joseph Smith Jr. on April 6. 1830 after the Book of Mormon (BOM) was published in that same year.
Joseph Smith Jr. was born in Vermont on December 23, 1805. He claimed that when he was 14, he received a vision from God the Father and Jesus Christ in a grove of trees near his home where he received instructions not to join any of the Christian churches because they were all wrong.
Three years later, Smith claimed that an angel named Moroni (a character found in the BOM) appeared to him in his bedroom whom he said revealed to him that he was selected to translate "Reformed Egyptian" (a language that does not exist) from gold plates into old English. These plates were supposedly hidden near Palmyra, New York and are said to be written around the 4th century. The BOM was named after Moroni’s father, Mormon. Mormons view the BOM as sacred. No one is able to study the original plates because Joseph Smith claimed the angel took them back on May 2, 1838 (History of the Church 1:60).
Smith had a scribe named Cowdery. Smith did not actually translate directly from any plates. Rather, in his writings, he said he placed a "seer stone" in a hat and covered any light from entering it as he placed his face in the hat. According to Martin Harris, “By aid of the seer stone, sentences would appear and were read by the Prophet . . . , and when finished he would say, ‘Written,’ and if correctly written, that sentence would disappear and another appear in its place, but if not written correctly it remained until corrected,” Smith said, “By the power of God I translated the Book of Mormon from hieroglyphics".
Despite such methods of translation, there have been at least 3,913 changes made in the BOM from the time it was first published. Joseph Smith stated, “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.” Smith also claimed that John the Baptist appeared to him on May 15, 1829 while he was translating the BOM, and instructed him to restore the church by preaching the only true gospel.
Mormons regard the BOM as sacred writings, and view it in higher standing than that of the Holy Bible. Mormon Missionaries will ask you to pray that it is true. (See our page Pray to Know)