Jehovah's Witnesses- Your religion has many times set exact dates for the end of the world...?

Question

... and every time these exact dates have come and gone without incident. Since Jehovah's Witness has been proven a false religion with each of these passings, why do you still refuse to believe in the pre-existent Christ of the Trinity?

Please answer these questions:

http://www.towerwatch.com/Witnessing/for_thinking_jws.htm

Answer 1

I have previously been a JW and they have never set exact dates. Also your resource is not an official Jehovah's witness site.

I have no problem with people questioning religion, but get your facts straight and don't pull them out your @rse.

Answer 2

This post is hilarious and all the dates you have down are even more laughable! You "think" you did your homework, but I can see that you got this off one of the Apostate web-sites. You really need to be acting like the early Christians, that would keep in "Eager Expectation" of Christ's Kingdom. Do you really know what that means? I'm sure you being a Catholic, have memorized this prayer already. Matthew 6:9, 10 “YOU must pray, then, this way: “‘Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified. Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth. The kingdom or "government" is the whole theme of the Bible. If you are supporting the World Governments, which I suspect you are, you would not be expectation at all. I hope you think about that one. And we are living at the VERY END of this SYSTEM! Daniel 2:44, 45 “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite; forasmuch as you beheld that out of the mountain a stone was cut not by hands, and [that] it crushed the iron, the copper, the molded clay, the silver and the gold. The grand God himself has made known to the king what is to occur after this. And the dream is reliable, and the interpretation of it is trustworthy.”

Answer 3

Regardless of their errors, one thing you can say for JWs is that they keep striving to live in the light of Christ, 24-hours a day, and not just on holidays or just on Sundays. They follow the Bible, as a whole, in far more things than all the other religions, combine. Not even the Amish have a lower divorce and illegitimate birth rates than the JWs.

I just had a young woman in my taxi. She's a single mother raising her child alone. Her church has helped her get a place to live and food. She belongs to a 6000 member congregation. When I asked her where it was, she said St. Louis, 270 miles from where she lives. I asked if they have a congregation locally, but she said no, but she went to the Methodists, though they weren't as good as her church.

This is the most significant difference with the JWs. Since every witness if taught the same, a congregation need not get so large that individuals can get lost. In the JWs, that would have been 30 congregations, each with their own elders and leadership. They don't have any one individual speaking for thousands. And since every individual is a minister, it is easy to start new congregations in other cities, so there's not a problem with finding a place to go that teaches all the same thing and ways as the one you came from.

With this system, in the event of a diaster, every witness is taken care of, since their elder knows exactly where they live. In New Orleans, every witness could be found in Texas, but now they are all back in home rebuilt for them by other witnesses.

Answer 4

JWs do not say that they are "prophets" in the sense of foretelling the future from God.

Please note these :

Jehovah’s Witnesses, in their eagerness for Jesus’ second coming, have suggested dates that turned out to be incorrect. Because of this, some have called them false prophets. Never in these instances, however, did they presume to originate predictions ‘in the name of Jehovah.’ Never did they say, ‘These are the words of Jehovah.’ The Watchtower, the official journal of Jehovah’s Witnesses, has said: “We have not the gift of prophecy.” (January 1883, page 425) “Nor would we have our writings reverenced or regarded as infallible.” (December 15, 1896, page 306) The Watchtower has also said that the fact that some have Jehovah’s spirit “does not mean those now serving as Jehovah’s witnesses are inspired. It does not mean that the writings in this magazine The Watchtower are inspired and infallible and without mistakes.” (May 15, 1947, page 157) “The Watchtower does not claim to be inspired in its utterances, nor is it dogmatic.” (August 15, 1950, page 263) “The brothers preparing these publications are not infallible. Their writings are not inspired as are those of Paul and the other Bible writers. (2 Tim. 3:16) And so, at times, it has been necessary, as understanding became clearer, to correct views. (Prov. 4:18)”—February 15, 1981, page 19.


The Greek pro•phe´tes literally means “a speaker out [Gr., pro, “before” or “in front of,” and phe•mi´, “say”]” and thus describes a proclaimer, one who makes known messages attributed to a divine source. (Compare Tit 1:12.) Though this includes the thought of a predictor of the future, the fundamental meaning of the word is not that of prediction. (Compare Jg 6:7-10.) Nonetheless, living in harmony with God’s will requires that the individual know what Jehovah’s revealed purposes for the future are so that he may bring his ways, desires, and goals into line with the divine will. Hence, in the great majority of cases, the Biblical prophets did convey messages that were, directly or indirectly, related to the future.

As w61, 10/1 states "
” by doing the foretold prophesying, the ‘preaching of this good news of God’s kingdom in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations" They also served the people by telling them of God’s will for them at that time, often also warning them of dangers and calamities (W 72)
(And they are prophesying or publicly preaching. w57)

The prophesying that JWs means is not of foretelling the future but PREACHING the good news of God's kingdom and WARNING people of dangers and calamities that will befall them if they don't have faith and do the will of Jehovah and his Son Jesus.

It is better that JWs admit their mistakes, which is a sign of humbleness, rather than other religions who adamantly hang on to proven mistakes of their teachings.

Answer 5

Despite the lying slander of their more deceitful critics, Jehovah's Witnesses have always humbly taught that they are *NOT* infallible and *NOT* inspired by God. They do not "prophesy", and in modern times they never have.

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:
http://www.watchtower.org/e/19990715/article_02.htm

Answer 6

You are dead on with your assessment. Things prophecied in the times past that done come to pass are the mark of a false prophet.
The JW's answer with Provbers 8 where things get more visible as the daylight comes. This is of course not a valid answer because God can see in the dark. Proverbs 8 truly shows that God gets to see better what is happening as time goes on.

Answer 7

You're saying that because the Witness people have 3 times said the end is near and it hasn't happened, therefore they are a false religion.
Wow!
Does that negate their stand on doctrine like the trinity, hell-fire, immortal soul, etc.?
If you were a look-out and saw movement on the horizon and told the people the enemy was near and it was a false alarm, would it mean your moral values were rotten?
Would it mean you are a deceiver?
Would it mean you are no good?
Or, would it mean you are simply 'on the watch' as Jesus told his followers to be (over and over again).
Matthew 24:42.
Give those people a break.

Answer 8

Basically, it goes like this:

The WT claims to be 'spirit-directed' and in the name of Jehovah, they interpret prophecy which they claim is not of their own origination, but merely announcing what is clearly explained in the Bible. They claim to have foreknowledge as is shown in the WT of July 15, 1960 which I have quoted in other answers, where they claim they were "tipped off" by the unerring Holy Spirit. They claimed to have "amazing advance information".

Then when the prophecy fails, they do just as the prophets did in Zechariah's day. They say "I am not a prophet" and remove their mantles, because they are embarrassed NOW to be called a prophet.

They also talk out of both sides of their mouth claiming that God is directing them and their words are reliable while at the same issuing a disclaimer in case the prophecy fails.

If I had more time, I'd post a few dozen of their comments.

Answer 9

I use to study with Jehova Witness and I found that some of their teachings and calculation are false. It clearly states in the bible that know one knows the exact day or the hour of the lord's coming not even the angels in heaven. That's why I do not associate myself with a particular group. I just trust in God and his words and meditate on that.

Answer 10

I would like to thank you. I always enjoy reading older publications, it always strengthens me and helps me to see how Jehovah is continuing to direct and use his people today.

When you read in Yahoo Q/A such statements as:

“I can prove the bible teaches the earth is flat” or

“Who can trust the bible when it’s full of contradictions” or

“God approves of raping women and murdering small children”

What do you know about such comments?

How did the Jews react to Jesus in these verses?

John 6:60, 66; John 7:47-53; John 10:19, 20; Matt 11:17-19.

The WTBS has never claimed to be inspired or infallible. They have humbly admitted when they were wrong Luke 22:61,62.

The bible has several occasions when Jesus disciples thought the kingdom was going to be established, even as late as Paul’s writings in 2 Thess. 2:3, Even Jesus didn’t know the day or the hour, but he said true Christians would be on the watch, that we are to stay awake, watching the times and seasons, Rev 16:15.

Taking things out of context, be it the bible or in any other publication, enables people to prove anything they want.

Instead of reading “samples” of the WBTS articles, try reading the entire series of articles on that subject.

Then cross reference them with other articles to get the balanced understanding of what the WBTS is actually teaching.

You can find scriptures that by themselves can prove anything you want, that doesn’t make that teaching correct.
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A true prophet, such as Ezekiel, Elijah, etc received specific messages from Jehovah, by way of an angel, vision, dream, etc. According to Deut. False prophets make this same claim.

The WTBS has received not such communications and never has claimed to receive such. They have used Jehovah’s inspired Word, the Bible to determine what Jehovah’s will is in these last days.

2 Pet 1:12 tells us that even the angels are interested in the fulfillment of Jehovah’s timetable.

Should we who are living in that period of time be less interested?

In the publications when they (and your web site showed) use the term “prophet” it is in a figurative manner, and is used to compare Christendom to WTBS teachings, standards of conduct, faith in Jehovah, etc and not as inspired, infallible messengers of God.

I believe Jehovah is using the WBTS as an organization to direct the work today, just as he has used an organization since Moses, who tried 40 years earlier than Jehovah’s time table to free his people, who lost his temper and lost out on entering the promise land. Is the WTBS equal to Moses, No, are they being used by Jehovah? Yes. Matt 24:45

Another definition of false prophet is found at Jer. 23:27, who today has made people forget the name of God, by using LORD in their bibles? Did you know that Baal translated into English is Lord? Which Lord are you worshipping?

The first century Christians were spirit anointed, but they made mistakes, they had wrong assumptions, and had to be corrected.

That did not make them false prophets.

As an individual, as an organization, Jehovah’s people have made mistakes. Where does it say that people and organizations have to be perfect to serve God? Heart condition, Humility and a Willingness to submit to Jehovah are what he searches for.

If the WTBS is in error in the future, I’m sure Jehovah will reveal it in his do time (Prov 4:18)

You say they are prophets,

They say they are not.

My relationship is with Jehovah and His Son.

My faith is in Jehovah, His Son, and His inspired Word.

Answer 11

God tells us that if any man tells us he knows the day of his return...he is a liar! Not even the son, Jesus Christ, who sits at the right hand of the Father knows the day of his return, only the Father knows.