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A Christian Discipleship, Apologetics and Evangelism Ministry
Jehovah’s Witnesses False Prophecies: The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society says Examine past publications
“We need to examine, not only what we personally believe, but also what is taught by any religious organization with which we may be associated. Are its teachings in full harmony with God’s Word, or are they based on the traditions of men? If we are lovers of the truth, there is nothing to fear from such an examination.” (The Truth That Leads To Eternal Life, 1968, page 13)
Most Jehovah’s Witnesses today are not taught nor encouraged to examine the many changes of the Watchtower’s history and false prophecies. However, throughout the Watchtower’s publications they have given the green light for those who are curious or suspicious of their history and doctrines, but do Jehovah’s Witnesses have access to these materials? In some Kingdom Halls they still have old publications, but for the most part the average Jehovah’s Witness does not have access to them.
The documentation of the Watchtower’s history is accessible in various books and the internet for those who are truly looking real answers.
How are you examine the Watchtower?
“Reasonable persons agree that the only fair method is to examine the evidence on both sides, both for and against a disputed theory. That is how one arrives at the truth.” (Awake, Oct. 22, 1973, page 6)
“Can there be false religion? It is not a form of religious persecution for anyone to say and to show that another religion is false. It is not religious persecution for an informed person to expose publicly a certain religion as being false, thus allowing persons to see the difference between false religion and true religion.” (Watchtower, Nov. 15, 1963, page 688)
From the above quotes the Watchtower says the following:
- Reasonable persons agree the only fair method is to examine the evidence on both sides. In other words to examine something for truth is to look at the evidence against it and for it, and doing this one will arrive at the truth and have a balanced view.
To show that a religion is false is not religious persecution.
To publicly expose a religion to be false is allowing people to see what the differences are between truth and deception.
The Watchtower said to examine their history to see if they are a true prophet of God!
“So, does Jehovah have a prophet to help them, to warn them of dangers and to declare things to come?…These questions can be answered in the affirmative. Who is this prophet?…This ‘prophet’ was not one man, but was a body of men and women. It was the small group of footstep followers of Jesus Christ, known at that time as International Bible Students. Today they are known as Jehovah’s Christian 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?” (Watchtower, April 1, 1972, page 197)
This quote states the Watchtower is saying:
- Jehovah has a prophet today to warn people of danger and to declare things to come. (prophecy)
Jehovah God’s prophet today is the Jehovah’s Witnesses, who were originally known as the International Bible Students. (the first followers of Charles Taze Russell)
Many people can claim to be a prophet of God, but proving it is something to be demonstrated!
The way to see if Jehovah’s Witnesses are truly a prophet of God is to review their record, which means to examine their history.
What is the history of the Jehovah’s Witnesses?
The history of Jehovah’s Witnesses is the most revealing evidence proving that they are not being led by God and that the Watchtower is a false organization. The following quotes will show that the Watchtower has made false predictions for the end to happen.
“We see no reason for changing the figures – nor could we change them if we would. They are, we believe, God’s dates, not ours. But bear in mind that the end of 1914 is not the date for the beginning, but for the end of the time of trouble.” (Watchtower Reprints, July 15, 1894, page 1672)
“The date of the close of that ‘battle’ is definitely marked in Scripture as October, 1914. It is already in progress, its beginning dating from October, 1874.” (Watchtower Reprints, January 15, 1892, page1355)
“In this chapter we will present the Bible evidence proving that the full end of the times of the Gentiles, i.e., the full end of their lease of dominion, will be reached in A.D. 1914; and that date will be the farthest limit of the rule of imperfect men.” (The Time Is at Hand, Studies in the Scriptures, Volume 2, 1907 ed., pages 76-77)
“The ‘battle of the great day of God Almighty’ (Rev. 16:14), which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth’s present rulership, is already commenced.” (The Time Is At Hand, Studies in the Scriptures, Volume 2, page 101, 1907)
The above quotes are accurate and are not twisting what the Watchtower taught concerning 1914. The Watchtower predicted 1914 for the great battle of Armageddon to take place and that this would the end of the times of the Gentiles. There is no doubt in examining the Watchtower concerning 1914 that they gave a false prediction and would be classified as a false prophet! Among 1914 the Watchtower set other dates for the end to happen.
- The Watchtower predicted 1918 for the end.
The Watchtower predicted 1925 for the end.
The Watchtower predicted 1940 & 1941 for the end.
The Watchtower predicted 1975 for the end.
The Watchtower inadvertently has admitted to being a false prophet!
“True, there have been those in times past who predicted an ‘end of the world,’ even announcing a specific date. Some have gathered groups of people with them and fled to the hills or withdrawn into their houses waiting for the end. Yet, nothing happened. The ‘end’ did not come. They were guilty of false prophesying. Why? What was missing? Missing was the full measure of evidence required in fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Missing from such people were God’s truths and the evidence that he was guiding and using them.” (Awake, 1968, page 23)
Those who have predicted a date for the end and it did not come to pass according to the Watchtower are guilty of false prophesying, and those who gave such dates for the end were shown to be false prophets and that God was not guiding them. Using this same logic the Watchtower has inadvertently said they are guilty of false prophesying!
Has the Watchtower been honest with their false prophecies?
The Watchtower has not been honest with their history and false prophecies. The Watchtower has said at various times that they did not set dates but were giving possible views for when things were going to happen. According to the Watchtower false prophets deny giving false prophecies:
“Jehovah, the God of the true prophets, will put all false prophets to shame either by not fulfilling the false prediction of such self-assuming prophets or by having His own prophecies fulfilled in a way opposite to that predicted by the false prophets. False prophets will try to hide their reason for feeling shame by denying who they really are.” (Paradise Restored to Mankind–By Theocracy, 1972 ed., pages 353-354)
Examining the false prophecies of the Watchtower it is clear that they are denying who they really are, and according to their own literature they have been shown to be false prophets.
This information was given to show that examining what the Watchtower has claimed and taught over the years is not of God, and that they are a false religious organization. Consider the following:
“It is obvious that the true God, who is himself ‘the God of truth’ and who hates lies, will not look with favor on persons who cling to organizations that teach falsehood. (Psalm 31:5; Proverbs 6:16-19; Revelation 21:8) And, really, would you want to be even associated with a religion that had not been honest with you?” (Is This Life Are There Is, 1974, page 46)
The Watchtower has not been honest with their false prophecies and they have deceived many people concerning their past. Why would anyone want to be a part of a false religious organization who has repeatedly changed doctrines and have denied the truth of their history?
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