Archangel Michael
puts Jehovah's Witnesses
in turmoil

Split as star's Thriller
fans form the MJ Cult

                      
From PHILIP FINN in New York
POP superstar Michael Jackson has been pronounced the Archangel Michael by adoring young members of his religious sect, the Jehovah Witnesses.
But it has bitterly divided the two and a half million Witnesses world-wide and upset the clean-living singer. Older Church members far from putting Jackson on a pedestal, cannot forgive him for appearing as a devilish werewolf in his smash-hit video, Thriller.
Young Witnesses, hooked on the Prince of Pop's music, his dress and his shadow dancing have formed the MJ Cult. They believe the 26-year old multi-millionaire is the Archangel Michael as described in the Book of Daniel, Chapter 12. Verse 1, and "will deliver his people" Part of the passage reads: "And at that time, shall Michael stand up, the Great Prince which standeth for the Children of God." But more fundamental witnesses feel Jackson represents an unhealthy and decadent faction which is damaging the Church's image. James Penton, a professor of religious studies in Alberta, Canada, said yesterday that Jackson had even  been  threatened with disfellowship, excommunication from the Church  because of his "worldly activities."

BURGLAR CONFESSED
'FOR RELIGIOUS REASONS'.

A Burglar admitted 98 offences in which he stole goods worth £187,000 after telling police he wanted to become a Jehovah's Witness and had to clear his conscience, it was said at the Old Bailey yesterday.

But Judge Argyle, QC, said it was the second time Donald Buxton, 33, had used this ploy as mitigation for burglaries.
Delaying sentence for three weeks he said he would welcome "some communication" from Jehovah's Witnesses .
. .
(Daily Telegraph. 29/5/81).

DEACON FONDLED GIRL 14, IN A CAR.

A CHURCH deacon fondling a 14-year-old girl in his parked car looked up, saw a police car, and yelled: "Bloody hell--it's the fuzz."
And in a desperate bid to escape, he drove off at 80 miles an hour, with the terrified girl still stuck on the reclining passenger seat.
The unmarked police car sped after him through the darkness. And the chase only came to an end when the deacon's car was stopped by a fallen boulder in Swansea Docks.

             TEARS
The girl was in tears, and when police accused Vincent Evans, a 31-year-old Jehovah's Witness deacon, of assaulting her, he replied: "I would not do such a thing".
But later Evans, of Dylan Drive, Caerphilly, South Glamorgan, admitted indecently assaulting the girl because she had excited him… etc.
  (Daily Express. 28/4/81).

"…and you people walk in their counsels; to the end that I may make you      an object of astonishment and her inhabitants something to be whistled at; and the reproach of peoples you men will bear."
        (Micah 6:16).

     "Do not rejoice over me, O  you woman enemy of mine. Although I have fallen, I shall certainly rise up; although I dwell in the darkness, Jehovah will be a light to me. The raging of Jehovah I shall bear     for I have sinned against Him     until He conducts my legal case and actually executes justice for me. He will bring me forth to the light; I shall look upon His righteousness. And my enemy will see, and shame will cover her, who was saying to me: "Where is He, Jehovah your God?" My own eyes will look upon her. Now she will become a place of trampling, like the mire of streets."
      (Micah 7:8 10).

WHOSE WITNESSES?
"And now this commandment is to you, O priests. If you will not listen, and if you will not lay it to heart to give glory to My Name," Jehovah of armies has said, "I shall also certainly send upon you the curse, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have even cursed the blessing, because you are not laying it to heart." "Look! I am rebuking on your account the [sown] seed, and I will scatter dung upon your faces, the dung of your festivals; and someone will actually carry you away to it. And you will have to know that I have sent to you this commandment, in order that my covenant with Le'vi may continue," Jehovah of armies has said."  (Mal 2:1 3).

OBJECTS OF
ASTONISHMENT TO
BE WHISTLED AT.

       WITNESSES BUSY
Cwmbran housewife Mrs. Janet Hoccom supervised over 200 nappy changes at a recent convention.
Mrs. Hoccom
of The Birches, West Pontnewydd, was at the Jehovah's Witnesses circuit convention at the Ebbw Vale Leisure Centre, which was attended by two congregations from Cwmbran.
The half-yearly conference attracted many families, and a special mothers' room was operated for the benefit of the youngest visitors.
Mrs. Hoccom was helped by her daughter Jane (14). Her husband was one of the convention organisers.
Teams of volunteers looked after catering, cleaning, first aid, platform, public address and other departments over the two days. Mr. Jack Saunders of Old Cwmbran ran a volunteers desk for visitors who wished to help.
An audience of 1,180 heard district supervisor Mr. David G. Carter speak on "Deliverance in a Time of Anguish". Cwmbran witnesses will be sharing some of the things discussed on their regular house to house calls over the coming weeks.
       (
Cwmbran Star. 21/10/81).

"This witness is true. For this very cause keep on reproving them with severity, that they may be healthy in the faith, paying no attention to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn themselves away from the truth. All things are clean to clean persons. But to persons defiled and faithless nothing is clean, but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They publicly declare they know God, but they disown him by their works because they are detestable and disobedient and not approved for good work of any sort".
                      
(Titus 1:13 16).

"You must not take up the Name of Jehovah your God in a worthless way, for Jehovah will not leave the one unpunished who takes up His Name in a worthless way."  (Exodus 20:7).
 

YOUR ANGUISH,
REPROACHES AND
ABHORRENCE. Dan 12:2.
"And I will give attention to everyone that is climbing upon the platform in that day, those who are filling the house of their masters with violence and deception."  (Zeph 1:9).
 

       Professor Penton who says he was himself excommunicated in 1981 that Jackson subsequently renounced the Thriller video in an issue of Awake, a sect publication which has a circulation of nine million. In the article, Jackson says: "I realise now it was not a good idea…I'll never do a video like that again." The row is expected to explode next month with a week-long series of protests by young dissidents outside the Witnesses' headquarters in Brooklyn, New York. One of the protest Organisers. Mr David Riccobini, of Connecticut, said "It is the first time Witness kids have had someone to look up to. Otherwise they lead a very drab life." Jackson, who often disguises himself to do missionary work for the Church, was touring last night and unavailable But friends say he is "deeply troubled" by the row.
  (Daily Express. 30/8/84).


ANOTHER
OBJECT OF ASTONISHMENT TO BE WHISTLED AT. (Micah 6:16).

"Woe to you, scribes and   Pharisees, hypocrites! because you shut up the Kingdom of the heavens before men; for you yourselves do not go in, neither do you permit those on their way in to go in. Woe, to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you traverse sea and dry land to make one proselyte, and when he becomes one you make him a subject for Gehenna twice as much so as yourselves."
         
(Matt 23:13 15).
 

666Q.
21/10/81.

.

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