Read this
http://www.carm.org/jw/false_prophecies.htm
2006-10-20 19:05:18 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Some of these Witness answers are unbelievable. They remind me of Jesus' words to the rich man that it would be useless to send someone from the dead to preach to some people - they wouldn't believe anyway.
Haven't you people read your Reasoning book? It defines false prophets: Individuals and organizations proclaiming messages that they attribute to a superhuman source but that do not originate with the true God are not in harmony with his revealed will.
In other words, a false prophet is someone who CLAIMS that their predictions are not of their own origination, but they are merely a 'channel of communication' between God and man, which means they are attributing their predictions - not to private interpretation or speculation - but to a superhuman source, namely, Jehovah. Then the prophecies don't happen.
You asked for some specifics - here are some predictions spoken by the Watchtower - an organization which denies teaching human interpretation, but gives credit to and attributes these interpretations to the direction of Jehovah's holy spirit.
By the way, these are legitimate quotations even if somewhat edited to be brief. They are not taken out of context to have their meaning distorted. All references are given - check them out for yourself.
The Time is at hand, page 98, paragraph 4:
"True, it is expecting great things to claim, as we do, that within the coming twenty-six years all present governments will be overthrown and dissolved"
Was that a true prophecy? Did that happen? Was this just a human opinion or was this understanding attributed to the direction of Jehovah?
Notice in the following quotation that Pastor Russell attributed his understanding of the "truths" he presented not to himself, but to the fact that it was GRADUALLY REVEALED to him. He refers to himself as God's MOUTHPIECE. Are you people blind that you can't see he was claiming that God was using him as a prophet?
*** jv chap. 10 p. 143 Growing in Accurate Knowledge of the Truth ***
How did Brother Russell view his own role? Did he claim some special revelation from God? In the Watch Tower of July 15, 1906 (page 229), Russell humbly replied: “No, dear friends, I claim nothing of superiority, nor supernatural power, dignity or authority; nor do I aspire to exalt myself in the estimation of my brethren of the household of faith, except in the sense that the Master urged it, saying, ‘Let him who would be great among you be your servant.’ (Matt. 20:27.) . . . THE TRUTHS I PRESENT, AS GOD'S MOUTHPIECE, WERE not REVEALED in visions or dreams, nor by God’s audible voice, nor all at once, but GRADUALLY . . . Neither is this clear unfolding of truth due to any human ingenuity or acuteness of perception, but to the simple fact that God’s due time has come; and if I did not speak, and no other agent could be found, the very stones would cry out.”
Also, notice that he calls his teachings the "clear unfolding of truth". He didn't say "This is just my own personal opinion.....it isn't necessarily right." No, he called it "truth" that had been revealed to him from a supernatural source - God himself.
Here's another false prophecy published in The Finished Mystery in 1917 written AFTER Pastor Russell died:
"Also, in the year 1918, when God destroys the churches wholesale and the church members by millions, it shall be that any that escape shall come to the works of Pastor Russell to learn the meaning of the downfall of "Christianity". Page 485
What happened in 1918? Was the Watchtower exalted as they prophesied they would be in 1918 after Jehovah destroyed all the other religions? No, the WT leaders were sent to prison that year. Their claimed understanding of 'truth' was proven to be nothing but their own private interpretations and wishful thinking.
I won't even bother to quote Judge Rutherford's words that the reconstruction would begin in 1925 and the prophets would be resurrected. It's on page 97 of Millions Now Living Will Never Die and is mentioned in the Proclaimers book.
Was that a true prophecy? Did Abraham come back to life in 1925? If not, then how could an honest-hearted clear-thinking person believe that Judge Rutherford wasn't a false prophet? Is it because you think he humbly said "This is just my opinion...I don't claim that this is God's truth". Do you think that is how he viewed his opinons? In the book Riches he wrote on page 7 "this book does not contain the opinion of a man, but sets forth the truth taken from the Word of God." The Watchtower leaders have ALWAYS claimed they don't teach personal opinion, only the truth - SO WHY HAVE THEIR PROPHECIES FAILED?
In 1971, the Watchtower prophesied in the book The Nations Shall Know that I am Jehovah". that "Shortly, within our twentieth century, the battle in the great day of Jehovah will begin".
Did that happen? Did Armageddom begin in the 20th century? If not, then are you blind? What do you think a false prophecy is? All through that book, the Watchtower claims to be God's prophet speaking HIS judgments against false religion and that their words will not fail to come true.
If these are not examples of false prophecies, then what is?
October 8, 1968 Awake says (paraphrased) "in the past, there were those who predicted an "end to the world" even announcing a specific date....it didn't happen...they were guilty of false prophesying.....lacking from these people was God's spirit and the evidence that he was guiding them.
Well, when you say you're a prophet and your prophecies don't come true, THAT is the evidence that God is not guiding you.
In all the years I was a Witness, I saw denial on their part sometimes, but I really didn't have a clue as to how totally blind they really are.
2006-10-21 06:56:11 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Bravo Bill!!! You really said it!!! I agree with you. And I would like to know what false prophesies these are? People out there just look at website that feature a whole lot of stuff about us - hate campaigns - and immediately believe it without stopping to question whether they are facts or fiction (and there is some excellent fiction online, I should say).
And regarding some of the so-called "false prophesies" that are mentioned online, there are some that are really weird!!! There are so many references quoted on these sites - and I have personally researched these in the original books that I have in my library and there is nothing of the sort in it. In most cases, the "excerpts" that are featured online are lines that are taken totally out of context with what was originally written and "modified" to suit the context.
I agree that there were a couple of occasions where we probably specified some particular time or event too specifically, but there again, Insight on God's Word is based on the light that gets brighter gradually - and God does not blind people with the light of his truth all at once. (Proverbs 4:18). To Illustrate, a man who gets up before daybreak and who sets out on foot to travel through the countryside. He might see an outline of a building in the distance, but at first cannot tell whether it is a barn or a house. Gradually as day dawns and he gets closer he can see that it is a house. After a while he is able to tell that it is a wooden, not a brick, house. Then, later, he can make out the color of the house, and so forth.
The experience of God’s servants has been just like that. Viewing certain matters from a distance in time and with only a little light on the subject often we have had an incomplete, and even an inaccurate, view of things. In such situations we may well have been influenced by previously held views. But as the light gets brighter and we draw much closer to events, then our understanding of the outworking of God’s purposes becomes clearer.
Jehovah has dealt in this way with His servants of old. Even in among the First Century Christians, among the apostles, SPIRIT ANOINTED APOSTLES OF JESUS WHO SPENT 3 1/2 YEARS WITH HIM, there were many things that were not clear - circumcision, the matter of the Gentiles accepting the Kingdom, etc. These were not made clear immediately but gradually. Their thoughts and their teachings on these subjects needed to be readjusted.
The same is true of Jehovah's people today. I dont see why people dont see that!!!
2006-10-21 00:49:56 · answer #2 · answered by Joy 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Simply put, Jehovah's Witnesses do not themselves prophesy. In modern times, they never have.
Despite the lying slander of their more deceitful critics, Jehovah's Witnesses have humbly taught that they are *NOT* infallible and *NOT* inspired by God; that's more than 125 years of unwavering eschewal of the definition of "prophet" insisted upon by this so-called "questioner" and other anti-Witness activists.
Jehovah's Witnesses apply the term "prophet" only in a very limited sense to themselves as a religion, not to individuals. The Scriptures indicate that whenever Jehovah purposes to execute judgment upon a people, he always makes arrangment for a 'prophet's work' as a warning. Their self-description as a "prophet" (in this limited sense) does not indicate special inspired knowledge or foreknowledge, but their willingness to perform Christ's assigned warning work in our day leading up to Armageddon.
What group is working harder than Jehovah's Witnesses to preach God's message globally (as Noah did before the Deluge)?
(Amos 3:7) For the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will not do a thing unless he has revealed his confidential matter to his servants the prophets.
(2 Peter 2:5) Noah, a preacher of righteousness...
(Matthew 24:14) And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.
Learn more at Jehovah's Witnesses' official website:
http://watchtower.org
http://watchtower.org/library/w/1999/7/15/article_02.htm
2006-10-21 04:14:38 · answer #3 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Unless you are Jewish, Deut. 18:22 does not apply. Try Acts 1:7.
Just a word about the early Christian church. They expected for Jesus to return in their life time.
The [Christian] bible is God's word as spoken by the prophets. While Deut 18:22 explains what is and what is not God's words, I believe your real issue lies else where. Check the Gospel of John and see how Jesus deals with non believers.
2006-10-20 19:13:13 · answer #4 · answered by J. 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
An unbroken chain of Arian heresy, is your argument -- no longer the timeline. they are able to declare "hidden" status surely adequate. stable success with your debate. BTW Catholicism has extra ideal documentation of their very own timeline of popes. And Ron R, your claims of JW validity by Calvin is shameful. His help of the catholic (usual) church exchange into no longer in any way a help of Jehovah's Witnesses. ordinary which you attempt to fulfill the standards of a meant 'heretic.' ...extra arguments for then you definitely, Candi.
2016-10-15 06:19:24 · answer #5 · answered by Erika 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One thing Jesus will do when he returns, is get rid of "false religion" along with anyone practicing it.
What is false religion?
Why does religion seem to be at the root of so many problems?
The fault lies, not with all religion, but with “false” religion.
False Religion...MEDDLES IN WAR AND POLITICS: How many religions can you think of whose members engage in war?
False Religion...SPREADS FALSE DOCTRINE: Most religions teach that the soul of spirit is some invisible part of a human that survives the death of the physical body. However, the Bible teaches a different doctrine. “The soul that is sinning, it itself will die.” Ezekiel 18:4 Jesus taught that the dead will be resurrected, an unnecessary action if humans had an immortal soul. Does your religion teach that the soul does not die?
False Religion...TOLERATES IMMORAL SEX: Church groups ordain gay and lesbian members of the clergy. What, though, does the Bible teach? It plainly states: “Do YOU not know that unrighteous persons will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be misled. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men kept for unnatural purposes, nor men who lie with men.” 1 Cor. 6:9,10 Do you know of religions that condone immoral sex?
How to identify true religion.
True Religion...PRACTICES LOVE: True worshippers are “no part of the world,” are not divided by race or culture, and display “love among themselves.” Rather than killing one another, they are willing to die for one another.
True Religion...TRUSTS GOD'S WORD: Instead of teaching “tradition” and “commands of men as doctrines,” true religion bases its doctrine on God's Word, the Bible
True Religion...STRENGTHENS FAMILIES AND UPHOLDS HISH MORAL STANDARDS: True religion trains husbands to “love their wives as their own bodies,” helps wives to develop “deep respect for their husbands,” and teaches children to “be obedient to their parents.”
True Religion is available, search for it.
Does any religion meet these standards? The book “Holocaust Polities,” published in 2001, says: “If more people practiced versions of what the Jehovah's Witnesses preach and practice, the Holocaust could have been prevented and genocide would scourge the world no more.”
Indeed, in 235 lands, Jehovah's Witnesses do not just preach the Bible's moral standards, they live by them.
I assume False Religion would include the one you belong to, if you do belong to a religion.
2006-10-20 19:20:39 · answer #6 · answered by BJ 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Our whole goal is to help ones to be spared from Armagedon, and to bring out what is truely in people's hearts. Is your religion the true religion? Go to www.watchtower.org Look at "The End Of False Religion Is Near" is your religion guenuine? By the way, what false prophicies? You tell me. I really am one of Jehovah's Wittnesses. Email me at soonersssooners@yahoo.com
2006-10-20 19:19:30 · answer #7 · answered by DerekM 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is not our place to judge, only God's, but it is our place to turn a deaf ear and know what our One True God has said. "No one, not even the Angels in Heaven, will know the day I return. I will come as a thief in the night."
This is in the Bible, so how could anyone claiming to be a profit of God even profess they know the date. Hmmm
2006-10-20 19:16:29 · answer #8 · answered by Mary D 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because they are a cult. A cult is explained as a group formed by unconventional beliefs. That explains the false prophesies.
2006-10-20 19:09:45 · answer #9 · answered by Barbara 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Yikes
2006-10-20 19:07:47 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋