While many examples could be given of their doubly changing explanation of scripture, one more should suffice. That is their explanation of the resurrection of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. First, let it be pointed out that sincere Bible students, who were once associated with the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, including Charles Taze Russell, believed and taught that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah will be resurrected during the Millennium, and for that matter still do. Even J. F. Rutherford taught the same. (See the first Watch Tower, July 1879, page 8, and “Studies in the Scriptures” by Charles Taze Russell, also the books Creation and Vindication by J. F. Rutherford.)
Now then, reviewing the Watchtowers from 1952 to 1960, keep in mind that the “Faithful and discreet slave class” who publish The Watchtower is supposed to be the “Channel” used by Jehovah God.
“…Our previous consideration of 2 Peter 2:5-9, has shown that those destroyed by God at Sodom and Gomorrah are eternally cut off . . .” (Watchtower, 1952, page 335, par. 8)
“… So those who die at Armageddon will pay the same penalty as the people of Sodom did, that is, they will not have a “resurrection of judgment” during the 1,000 year judgment day, but they will stay dead forever . . .” (Watchtower, 1955, page 200, par. 2, top of page)
“Since the supreme judge never makes a mistake, there is no need for him to take under review any judgments that he has passed. His judgments are final. That means the people that perished in the flood of Noah’s day will never be resurrected to stand trial again. The same is true with the people of Sodom and Gomorrah as well as Adam and Eve…” (Watchtower, 1960, page 53, par. 4)
Now note the complete reversal of that position as published ,in the Watchtower of 1965, in an article entitled “Who will be resurrected from the dead,” page 137, quoting from par. 15, “… Were those Sodomites worse than the rest of the Canaanites? No; … And Peter does not say that the Sodomites and Gomorrah were destroyed everlastingly…”
Again, after quoting from Jesus words at Matt. 10:15, it makes this statement, “… It would be necessary for former inhabitants of that land to be present on the judgment day…” (Watchtower, 1965, page 479)
In all our research, we can find no admission that any misunderstanding or mistake was made in previous Watchtowers, or previous “Truths” which were claimed to come from Jehovah since 1938, implying that any wrong understanding came from a time before 1938. Yet in regard to the above mentioned examples (the Superior Authorities, and the Sodomites) The Watchtower again endorses the old truths, rather than the “New Light” of the 1950’s. We can only ask, was the God of the Watchtower Society confused before 1962 or is he confused now? If the Watch Tower Society is now God ruled, is it the one described in 2Cor. 11: 12-15?