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." (web.archive.org as of 24 June 2010 - translated with the assistance of Google Translate)

It was 2 days after this interview that the Watchtower changed its official position by releasing the October 22nd letter, contradicting the above statements and claiming it only applied for library access.

Stance Since 1990

Between 1990 and 2010, therehas been a significant reduction in references to the United Nations in the Watchtower magazine.

Even more noticeable is the reduction in the number of times the United Nations is referred along with the term "wild beast" in the Watchtower.

The number of references to the United Nations in the Awake has remained relatively constant over the last four decades, but Awake references are almost exclusively in regards to world conditions and human rights, not regarding Bible prophecy and the Beast.

The changing tendency to paint the United Nations in a positive light is understandable, with the Watchtower Society attempting to gain political acceptance. As shown at Political Involvement, Watchtower is actively involved in areas of politics that will advance its political freedoms.

Conclusion

Barbara Anderson was part of the writing department in