For years the Watchtower society has condemned and continues to condemn Christendom and in particular the Catholic Church for being part of Babylon the Great, an entity described as a prostitute in the book of Revelation which it interprets as the empire of false religion. (Rev. 17:5) This is partly because of her affiliation with and support of the United Nations. Witnesses consider the UN to be the scarlet colored wild beast that the woman rides.
The book God’s Kingdom Rules published in 2014 states:
“Who or what will carry out the attack against “Babylon the Great”? A “wild beast” with “ten horns.” The book of Revelation indicates that this wild beast refers to the United Nations (UN). The ten horns represent all present political powers that support this “scarlet-colored wild beast.” (Rev. 17:3, 5, 11, 12) How devastating will the attack be? The nations of the UN will plunder the prostitute’s wealth, devour her, and “completely burn her.”—Read Revelation 17:16. (God’s Kingdom Rules pg. 223 par. 6)
The UN is also believed to be the disgusting thing of Daniel’s prophecy:
“The king of the north has supported the king of the south in one key endeavor; they “put in place the disgusting thing that causes desolation.” (Dan. 11:31) That “disgusting thing” is the United Nations.
The United Nations organization is described as a “disgusting thing” because it claims to be able to do something that only God’s Kingdom can do—bring world peace. And the prophecy says that the disgusting thing “causes desolation” because the United Nations will play a key role in the destruction of all false religion. (The Watchtower May 2020 study edition pg. 7 pars. 17-18)
…Scripture(s) Dan. 12:11; Rev. 13:11, 14, 15
Prophecy A two-horned wild beast takes the lead in creating “an image to the wild beast” and gives “breath to the image.”
Fulfillment The Anglo-American World Power takes the lead in creating the League of Nations. This organization is supported by other nations. Eventually, the king of the north joins the League as well—but only from 1926 to 1933. Like the United Nations (UN) after it, the League is given praise that is due God’s Kingdom. (The Watchtower May 2020 study edition pg. 10)
This condemnation of Christendom was expressed in the Watchtower in 1991:
Today, Jehovah’s Witnesses warn that a flood of executional armies will soon sweep over Christendom.…If Christendom had sought peace with Jehovah’s King, Jesus Christ, then she would have avoided the coming flash flood.…However, she has not done so. Instead, in her quest for peace and security, she insinuates herself into the favor of the political leaders of the nations—this despite the Bible’s warning that friendship with the world is enmity with God. (James 4:4) Moreover, in 1919 she strongly advocated the League of Nations as man’s best hope for peace. Since 1945 she has put her hope in the United Nations. (Compare Revelation 17:3, 11.) How extensive is her involvement with this organization? …A recent book gives an idea when it states: “No less than twenty-four Catholic organizations are represented at the UN. (The Watchtower June 1, 1991 pg. 17 pars. 9-11)
The shocking irony of this condemnation is that only one year later, in 1992, the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society became a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) member of the United Nations, just like the aforementioned twenty-four Catholic NGOs. It remained a member for 10 years, renewing its membership on a yearly basis as required by UN policies, and only renounced membership when a UK newspaper article (The Guardian) exposed its relationship with the United Nations.
Is this true or is it just a rumor spread by opposers whose only aim is to ruin the reputation of God’s organization?
The Watchtower urges caution in believing everything we hear:
“AS TRUE Christians, we need to develop the ability to evaluate information and reach accurate conclusions. (Prov. 3:21-23; 8:4, 5) If we do not cultivate this ability, we will be far more vulnerable to the efforts of Satan and his world to distort our thinking. (Eph. 5:6; Col. 2:8) Of course, only if we have the facts can we reach right conclusions. As Proverbs 18:13 says, “when anyone replies to a matter before he hears the facts, it is foolish and humiliating.” (The Watchtower August 2018 study edition pg. 3 par. 1)
I think this is excellent advice. So why not check the facts for yourself? Recently the United Nations has experienced an upsurge in the number of inquiries into this past relationship with the Watchtower society. As a result, an official statement has been posted on the United Nations website.
I also invite you to visit this site. Also this site and this site for additional information.
The Watchtower society denies having any secret link with the United Nations. Yet how many of Jehovah’s Witnesses were aware that they were registered as a non-governmental organization (NGO) for ten years? The fact that the United Nations was inundated with inquiries after the Guardian newspaper first published the story indicates that many did not know and were deeply disturbed when it became public knowledge. Even 20 years later many are just now finding out for the first time that such a relationship existed and are writing the United Nations for confirmation. This information never appeared in any of the publications for the rank and file witness to read about. How then can this not be termed a secret link?
The explanation is given that the membership was only for continued access to the UN library and that this does not mean that they are incorporated into the United Nations system. This is apparently what they mean by “link”. This gives the impression that there was nothing wrong with becoming an NGO. In fact, they have said that they “never were part of the United Nations”.
Well then, why keep it a secret? Why disassociate and dissolve the NGO status immediately after it was reported in the Guardian newspaper? If the organization did not view becoming an NGO as conflicting with Christian principles, that their membership was simply a matter of conscience, was it out of a desire not to stumble others similar to reasoning presented in a 1976 Kingdom Ministry about employment?
“The apostle Paul’s inspired counsel to Christians at Corinth aids us to see the balanced viewpoint in this regard. Though not discussing employment, Paul presents principles that apply there as well. In the Corinthian meat markets there was sold meat that came from animals offered up in sacrifice to idols. By buying such meat would the Christian be failing to “flee from idolatry” and would his paying for the meat cause him to become guilty of supporting such idolatry? Would his eating such meat make him unclean? Paul pointed out that this was not the case, since “to Jehovah belong the earth and that which fills it.” Looking upon the meat as actually from Jehovah and thanking him for it, the Christian would show he did not view the idol as being actually a god, nor did he worship such. He could eat with a clear conscience. At the same time Paul counseled the Corinthians not to use their freedom in such a way that someone else’s conscience could be wounded.—1 Cor. 10:14, 18-33.
Earlier in his letter the apostle had pointed out that not all persons would see this matter so clearly. (1 Cor. 8:4-8) To those whose consciences did allow them to eat such meat, Paul therefore said: “Keep watching that this authority of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to those who are weak. For if anyone should see you, the one having knowledge, reclining at a meal in an idol temple, will not the conscience of that one who is weak be built up to the point of eating foods offered to idols?”—1 Cor. 8:9, 10.
The apostle does not say that the eating of the meat on the idol temple grounds was of itself a sin meriting disfellowshiping. But there was an inherent danger in such act. If seen by another who viewed it as implying a condoning of the false worship, that one’s conscience might be emboldened to return to practices of false worship. So, while the act of itself was not wrong, to ignore the consciences of others to the point of actually stumbling them from the way of life would be “sinning against Christ,” who died as a ransom for such ones.—1 Cor. 8:11-13. (Our Kingdom Ministry September 1976 pgs. 4-5)
This would be a fine explanation if indeed there was nothing scripturally objectionable about becoming accredited to the United Nations as an NGO. It would explain how the conscience of members of the organization could allow them to associate themselves with the United Nations and do so secretly so as not to stumble anyone having a weak conscience. But does the society really say there is nothing scripturally wrong about becoming an NGO?
I’d like to draw your attention to the June 1, 1991 Watchtower articled quoted at the outset.
Paragraph 11 states:
“A recent book gives an idea when it states: “No less than twenty-four Catholic organizations are represented at the UN. Several of the world’s religious leaders have visited the international organization. Most memorable were the visits of His Holiness Pope Paul VI during the General Assembly in 1965 and of Pope John Paul II in 1979. Many religions have special invocations, prayers, hymns and services for the United Nations. The most important examples are those of the Catholic, the Unitarian-Universalist, the Baptist and the Bahai faiths.” (The Watchtower June 1, 1991 pg. 17 par. 11)
What is the unnamed recent book the society is quoting from? The book is entitled: New Genesis: Shaping a Global Spirituality by Robert Muller
Chapter 6, under the subheading, “Prayer And Meditation At The United Nations” it states:
“Prayer, meditation and spirituality at the UN are fascinating subjects. All major world religions are accredited to the United Nations as non-governmental organizations . For example, no less than twenty-four Catholic organizations are represented at the UN. Several of the world’s religious leaders have visited the international organization. Most memorable were the visits of His Holiness Pope Paul VI during the General Assembly in 1965 and of Pope John Paul II in 1979. Many religions have special invocations, prayers, hymns and services for the United Nations. The most important examples are those of the Catholic, the Unitarian-Universalist, the Baptist and the Bahai faiths.” (New Genesis: Shaping a Global Spirituality by Robert Muller 1982(ISBN # 1-680465-04-3)
The society roundly condemns the Catholic Church for its involvement with the United Nations but fails to include in its quote the sentence just prior which states that the church organizations were accredited as NGO’s. This in the very same year they themselves were applying for NGO status! Clearly there is a double standard being applied. The whole Watchtower study article denounces the Churches of the world for being represented at the UN as NGO’s while claiming for itself that NGO status does not make them part of the UN.
You can no doubt imagine how extremely disconcerting all of this would be to a sincere Christian that put their trust in an organization claiming to be God’s sole channel of communication on earth. First of all, the claim was made in their letter that being an NGO was not a secret link to the UN because being an NGO member does not make them part of the UN. Then they condemn other Catholic organizations for being part of the UN while cleverly concealing the fact that they are NGO members. Hence, if, by becoming an NGO member, the Catholic Church is, according to the 1991 Watchtower article, taking refuge in a lie, the conclusion is difficult to escape that by becoming an NGO member the Watchtower society is taking refuge in the same lie. They also claimed that the requirements for access changed in 1991 causing them to register as an NGO. This claim is flatly contradicted by UN officials. This raises the obvious question that if library access was still available to the Watchtower society in 1991 what was their reason for becoming associated with the UN as an NGO?
In the newspaper The Public in an interview on Saturday October 20, 2001, Pedro Candeias, spokesman for the Association of Jehovah’s Witnesses (AJW) in Portugal stated:
“Registration as a Non Governmental Organisation was only done because you can give humanitarian aid and protect human rights in various countries around the world”.
The newspaper went on to relate that in Portugal, however, a relaxation of registration is not yet known officially by the AJW, which represents nearly 50,000 believers.
The official says the religious group to which he belongs has had an “important role” in helping the populations of countries like Angola, Bosnia, Georgia, Rwanda and other African or Latin American. “Reaching out to these countries was complicated and therefore it was necessary to register” the WTBTS in the United Nations. But this registry, he says, did not compromise the Jehovah’s Witnesses to “any political involvement” with the UN.”
The 1991 Watchtower draws a parallel between faithless ancient Jerusalem’s relying on political alliances for salvation and modern day Christendom doing the same:
“Like ancient Jerusalem, Christendom looks to worldly alliances for security, and her clergy refuse to take refuge in Jehovah. Why, they do not even use his name, and they mock and persecute those who do honor that name. Christendom’s clergy have done just what the Jewish chief priests in the first century did when they rejected Christ. They have said, in effect, “We have no king but Caesar.”—John 19:15.
9 Today, Jehovah’s Witnesses warn that a flood of executional armies will soon sweep over Christendom. Moreover, they point to the true place of refuge from that flood. They quote Isaiah 28:16, which says: “This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah has said: ‘Here I am laying as a foundation in Zion a stone, a tried stone, the precious corner of a sure foundation. No one exercising faith will get panicky.’” Who is this ‘precious cornerstone’? The apostle Peter quoted these words and applied them to Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:6) If Christendom had sought peace with Jehovah’s King, Jesus Christ, then she would have avoided the coming flash flood.—Compare Luke 19:42-44.
10 However, she has not done so. Instead, in her quest for peace and security, she insinuates herself into the favor of the political leaders of the nations—this despite the Bible’s warning that friendship with the world is enmity with God. (James 4:4) Moreover, in 1919 she strongly advocated the League of Nations as man’s best hope for peace. Since 1945 she has put her hope in the United Nations. (The Watchtower June 1, 1991 pgs. 16-17 pars. 8-10)
Unfortunately, this reasoning placed the organization in the position of condemning its own actions.
But someone might ask why be so concerned about something that happened more than 20 years ago? After all, haven’t they resigned and are no longer a member of the UN? I think the best answer to that question was given by Gerritt Losch in a JW broadcasting episode:
As for whether they have totally resigned from involvement with the UN, that will be the subject of a future article.