The Ezekiel Watchman: Part 2 -- The Doctrine's Origins

As seen previously HWA taught that Ezekiel did not deliver his prophecy to Israel (the mythical Lost Ten Tribes) but that his prophecies were written for the end times today and applied to the church warning (physical) "Israel" now, referring to the mythical Lost Ten Tribes, specifically America, Britain and related countries.

HWA never had an original doctrinal thought. So where did HWA acquire this idea?

HWA got this from the Jehovah's Witnesses.

The Jehovah's Witnesses taught a very similar idea concerning Ezekiel. That Ezekiel's writings were not made for his time, but have their ultimate fulfillment today.

In J. F. Rutherford's booklet, His Vengeance, it is taught that Ezekiel was a representation of all Jehovah's Witnesses, who are commanded to warn the people of the coming of Armageddon. This is very similar to how HWA said the church is to warn Israel of the coming Great Tribulation.

You can read this book here. Please note that this is an unofficial pro-Jehovah's Witnesses website.

His Vengeance was published in 1934, around the time HWA began to preach on the airwaves.

Rutherford used this idea to order all his followers to go preaching door to door, however HWA decided not to do that, instead telling his followers that their task was simply to fund him in his commission as God's end time Apostle and end time Elijah by paying the three tithes. They were not required to go door to door.

(It was after reading the first essay that it struck me that HWA stole his watchman idea from the Jehovah's Witnesses, only applying a British-Israelite spin to it.)

The first essay 'Jehovah's Vengeance' is utterly depressing. No wonder the Watchtower does not presently publish anything this man wrote. That and the many teachings which

In these last days God has caused his Word to be made plain, not by man's interpretation, but by bringing to pass the facts, that explain God's prophecies. (pp. 8-9)

This is very similar to how HWA and imitators claim their interpretation of Bible prophecy is not their own interpretation but the true meaning.

"That means to depart from and forsake hypocritical "Christendom", take your stand wholly on the side of God and his kingdom, and obey his Word. Do not follow any man, nor even lean to your own imperfect reasoning. (p. 9.)

Observe how Rutherford refers to Christians with demeaning terms. This is very similar to how Armstrongites have referred to other Christians as "professing Christians" and other such terms.

The Scriptures make it clear that the part of such devoted Christians is merely as servers of notice. They are merely to be witnesses for God and to declare to the people God's purposes. (pp. 10-11.)

"merely to be witnesses...declare to the people". This is very similar in tone to how HWA would claim he was not looking for converts (because they would come after the Millennium). This emphasis on warning rather than converting in from both Rutherford and HWA is strickingly similar.

They will take no part in using physical force against the powers that be. God does not need physical help, and any such exercise by Christians would be entirely contrary to his will. The Christian's work is to proclaim the praises of Jehovah. (p. 11.)

In the second essay 'Jehovah's Sword' this Ezekiel imagery is made even more explicitly.

Jehovah used Ezekiel to picture or represent his faithful witnesses now on the earth. He first enlightens his witnesses concerning the approaching battle of Armageddon and then lays upon them the duty to tell these truths to all the nations of earth as a testimony, that the people who desire to hear may hear and learn and that the others may have no excuse for not hearing. (p. 14.)

"Jehovah used Ezekiel to picture or represent his faithful witnesses now on the earth." HWA did the very same thing, insisting that Ezekiel's prophecy did not apply to his time twenty five hundred years ago, but to our time today.

"lays upon them the duty to tell these truths to all". This is very similar to how HWA presented as message as being "just a warning." Also note how Rutherford uses the imagery of Ezekiel and presents the duty of Jehovah's Witnesses as warning the world of the coming Armageddon. This is very similar to HWA teaching that the church is to warn Israel today.

One difference in the Watchtower's teaching and that of HWA is that the Watchtower doctrine lacks any British-Israelite flavor to it. Clearly when HWA adopted this "Church is the Ezekiel Watchman" doctrine from the Jehovah's Witnesses he then added the British-Israelite component to this imagery.

So now we see that even this "Ezekiel Watchman" doctrine was simply pilfered by HWA from the Jehovah's Witnesses. All those who now use this imagery to support their own organizations are simply mimiking the Jehovah's Witnesses.

We must conclude that HWA is simply a fraud.