Spirits rather than the spirit

Joseph Rutherford, second president of the Watchtower, actually claimed that this holy spirit was no longer needed as a Helper to the church, since Christ was now invisibly present and would direct the organization in person through his angels! Note:  

By his spirit, the holy spirit, Jehovah God guides or leads his people up to a certain point of time, and thus he did until the time when "the comforter" was taken away, which would necessarily occur when Jesus, the Head of his organization, came to the temple and gathered unto himself those whom he found faithful when he, as the great Judge, began his judgment, in 1918. Preservation, Rutherford, 1932, p.193-194.

 With the coming of the Lord to his temple and the gathering together unto himself of the chosen ones (2 Thess. 2:1) the holy spirit would there cease to function as a paraclete or advocate for the church. -ibid., p. 46. 

Rather than an inanimate "holy spirit" directing things from afar, Rutherford taught that the angels, or ministering spirits, were now communicating directly with the organization:  

Jehovah has made the necessary arrangements within his organization to instruct his people, and all recognize that for some years The Watchtower has been the means of communicating information to God's people. That does not mean that those who prepare the manuscript for The Watchtower are inspired, but rather it means that the Lord through his angels sees to it that the information is given to his people in due time, and he brings to pass the events in fulfillment of his prophecy and then invites those devoted to him to see the same. Riches, Rutherford, 1936, p. 316.

Note the denial that either Rutherford or The Watchtower were inspired. The claim, as clarified in the following quote, is that Jehovah and Christ Jesus do all the interpreting of the Bible, and this interpretation is passed on by angels to the Society through those who prepare The Watchtower: 2 

This does not signify that the faithful remnant or society of Jehovah's anointed witnesses are an earthly tribunal of interpretation, delegated to interpret the Scriptures and its prophecies. No; Christ Jesus the King has not entrusted that office to them. THE SUPREME COURT STILL INTERPRETS, thank God; and Christ Jesus, the Court's official mouthpiece of interpretation, reserves to himself that office as Head of Jehovah's "faithful and wise servant" class. He merely uses the "servant" class to publish the interpretation after the Supreme Court by Christ Jesus reveals it. The Watchtower, July 1, 1943 p. 203.

 

How did these angelic spirits communicate this "interpretation" to Rutherford, so he could publish it?

These angels are invisible to human eyes and are there to carry out the orders of the Lord. No doubt they first hear the instruction which the Lord issues to his remnant and then these invisible messengers pass such instruction on to the remnant. The facts show that the angels of the Lord with him at his temple have been thus rendering service unto the remnant since 1919. Vindication, Rutherford, 1932, Vol. 3, p. 250. 

Certain duties and kingdom interests have been committed by the Lord to his angels, which include the transmission of information to God's anointed people on the earth for their aid and comfort. Even though we cannot understand how the angels transmit this information, we know that they do it; and the Scriptures and the facts show that it is done.  Preparation, Rutherford, 1933, p. 36, 37.

 The remnant do not hear audible sounds, because such is not necessary. Jehovah has provided his own good way to convey thought to the minds of his anointed ones. To all on the outside of the organization of Jehovah his is a secret organization. ibid., p. 64

 Original spirit still in charge

With the passing of Rutherford, the emphasis on angels was dropped, and the one "holy spirit" was reemphasized. It apparently was in charge all along. Accordingly, the emphasis on secrecy and exclusivity remains, as this quote from The Watchtower of 7/1/73 reveals: 

Consider, too, the fact that Jehovah's organization alone, in all the earth, is directed by God's holy spirit or active force. (Zech. 4:6) Only this organization functions for Jehovah's purpose and to his praise. To it alone God's Sacred Word, the Bible, is not a sealed book.... How very much true Christians appreciate associating with the only organization on earth that understands the "deep things of God"! p. 402. 

This mysterious "holy spirit," appears to operate in a somewhat erratic course. Admitting to this inconsistency, the picture of the sail boat (below) is taken from the December 1, 1981 Watchtower, p. 27, where they note:  

However, it may have seemed to some as though that path has not always gone straight forward. At times explanations given by Jehovah's visible organization have shown adjustments, seemingly to previous points of view. But this has not actually been the case. This might be compared to what is known in navigational circles as "tacking." By maneuvering the sails the sailors can cause a ship to go from right to left, back and forth, but all the time making progress toward their destination in spite of contrary winds.



A close investigation reveals that they have at times gone back to previous views, 3 and even if they were honest in this matter, one cannot but question why this "holy spirit" would not tell them right out what is doctrinally correct. After all, they claim this "spirit" has anointed them to be prophets to the world in these last days. Note the following claim:  

Who is this prophet?... Today they are known as Jehovah's Witnesses.... Of course, it is easy to say that this group acts as a "prophet" of God. It is another thing to prove it. The only way that this can be done is to review the record. What does it show? The Watchtower, 4/1/72, p. 197. 

As we begin to review their record, an ominous undercurrent will emerge. The "holy spirit" behind their changes in doctrine may suddenly appear to be much more intelligent than expected. As the reader will discover, this "spirit" has full knowledge of its past errors, yet enforces blind obedience to whatever it wishes to teach at present, under pain of disfellowshiping. Under the article on page 5, "Holy Spirit or Deceptive Spirits?" it will become even more obvious that this "spirit" is intent on deception and mind control of the unwary. Take heed to Deuteronomy 18:20-22: 

However, the prophet who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded him to speak... that prophet must die. And in case you should say in your heart: "How shall we know the word that Jehovah has not spoken?" when the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that Jehovah did not speak. With presumptuousness the prophet spoke it. You must not get frightened at him. New World Translation, italics mine.

Source: freeminds.org