can a false self proclaim prophet be use by god to prophesy? read this article Awake!, October 8, 1968, p. 23?

Question

True, there have been those in times past who predicted an "end to the world," even announcing a specific date. . . 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!, October 8, 1968, p. 23

The above quote actually reinforces an earlier Watchtower article of May 15, 1930. On page 154 it states: "Since the Bible was completed and `inspiration' is no longer necessary, a true prophet is one who is faithfully proclaiming what is written in the Bible." The magazine went on to say that a true prophet's words will come to pass exactly as prophesied and that if it does not come to pass, the prophet is a false prophet. That same magazine states: "It matters not whether he proclaims his message with deliberate, willful and malicious intent to deceive, or whether he is the blinded and deluded dupe of Satan and hence unwittingly used of him. In either case, he is a false prophet and hence the agent of Satan."

The Watchtower did not hesitate to prophesy, however, and they have the dubious distinction of not having ANY of their prophecies fulfilled in over 100 years. This puts them in a bad light, as they not only claim to be a prophet of God like Jeremiah and Ezekiel (which were certainly inspired), but they claim divine direction upon what is published in the Watchtower. The May 1, 1938 Watchtower p. 143 states, "The interpretation of prophecy, therefore, is not from man, but it is from Jehovah; and Jehovah causes events to come to pass in fulfillment of the prophecy in due time." The July 1, 1943 issue on page 203 states that Jesus Christ "merely uses the servant class

to publish the interpretation after the Supreme Court by Christ Jesus reveals it." Vindication III, 1932, p. 250 states, "No doubt [the angels] 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."

person rightfully asks, "How is it possible that mistakes have been made in prophetic interpretation if these (abovementioned) claims are true?" Surely Jehovah is capable of mistakefree communication through imperfect men, since he has done so by prophets in the Old and New Testaments.

The Watchtower follows other similar religious groups in providing an alibi for their past record. The alibi usually follows these guidelines:

1. Disappointment due to failure of own prophecies, leading to excuses to save face.

2. May even go so far as to misrepresent their past or change the history books.

3. Followers are discouraged from reading older material on the grounds that it will "weaken their faith."

Use of Blood

1909 Acts 15:135 (including prohibition on blood) not considered as a law for Christians. WT REPRINTS 1909, p. 4374.

1945 Denunciation of blood transfusions as pagan and God-dishonoring. WT, July 1, 1945, p. 198201.

1961 Taking a blood transfusion is grounds for disfellowshipping. WT, 1961, p. 63, 64.

Donating organs (eyes) for transplant up to your conscience. WT, 1961, p. 480.

1963 Any fraction of blood considered as a nutrient not to be used in medical treatment. WT, Feb. 15, 1963, p. 124. (See also Awake! of Feb. 22, 1975, p. 30.)

1967 Organ transplants are a form of cannibalism and to be shunned. WT, Nov. 15, 1967, p. 702704. [compare 1961]

1977 Blood transfusions are organ transplants: "...many a person might decline blood simply because it is essentially an organ transplant that at best is only partially compatible with his own blood." Jehovah's Witnesses and the Question of Blood," 1977, p. 41. [compare 1961]

1978 Ban on certain blood fractions lifted for hemophiliacs. WT, June 15, 1978, p. 30. [compare 1963]

1980 Organ transplants are a matter of conscience, decided by the individual. WT, March 15, 1980, p. 31. [compare 1967, 1977]

1984 Accepting a bone marrow transplant is up to your conscience. WT May 15, 1984, p. 31.

Prophecy & Inspiration

1844-1874 Marks the "tarrying" (delaying) of Christ (Matt. 25:5). WT REPRINTS, Oct. 1879, p. 3941.

1873 6000 years of man's existence ends this year. WT REPRINTS, Apr. 1880, p. 88.

1878 Gospel era closed-saints to be raptured to heavenThree Worlds, p. 8593. (In 1881 Russell developed explanation of invisible rapture occurring at death of the saints individually.)

1878 The autumn of 1874 to 1878 corresponds with 3 1/2 years of Christ's ministry on earth. A "sifting out" is occurring among those who don't accept 1878 as the coming of the Bridegroom. WT, Oct. 1879, p. 3941. Division between the "wise & foolish virgins" was over the 1874 date of the return of the bridegroom. WT REPRINTS April 1880, p.88.

1880 Restoration of Jews to Palestine and the conversion of 144,000 literal Jews due before 1914. WT June 1880, p. 108. In 1914 the kingdom of God will be set up on earth and destroy all earthly kingdoms. WT REPRINTS Aug. 1880, p. 124.

1799 was the beginning of "time of the end". 1260 years of Papal supremacy ended in 1798 with the dethroning of the Pope, and the release of the "Two Witnesses" of Rev. 11:3 (Old and New Testaments). WT REPRINTS, April 1880, p. 87.

1883 God placed the Great Pyramid in Egypt. WT REPRINTS, Sept. 1883, p. 525.

1885 The "signs in sun, moon and stars" of Matthew 24:29 had their fulfillment in two mysterious events that occurred in 1780 and 1833. WT REPRINTS, Jan. 1885, p. 711.

1891 "With the end of A.D. 1914, what God calls Babylon, and what men call Christendom, will have passed away, as already shown from prophecy." Thy Kingdom Come, p. 153.

1914 End of Gentile Times; Church to be taken home in a rapture; this year marks the farthest end of the rule of imperfect man. The Time Is At Hand, C.T. Russell, 1908, p. 77. [compare 1878]

1917 "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." The Finished Mystery, p. 485. [compare 1891]

1919 Significance of 1874 date proved by measurements of the Tabernacle. WT May 15, 1919, p. 159.

1920 "Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the faithful prophets of old, particularly those named by the Apostle in Hebrews chapter eleven, to the condition of human perfection." Millions Now Living Will Never Die, p. 89,90.

1922 Rutherford: "Fulfilled prophecy shows beyond a doubt that (Christ) did appear in 1874. Fulfilled prophecy is otherwise designated the physical facts; and these facts are indisputable." The time of the end is from 1799 to 1914. "We understand that the jubilee type began to count in 1575 B.C.; and the 3,500 year period embracing the type must end in 1925... It follows, then, that the year 1925 will mark the beginning of the restoration of all things lost by Adam's disobedience." WT Nov. 1, 1922, p. 333, 346. [compare 1880]

1923 "Our thought is, that 1925 is definitely settled by the scriptures. As to Noah, the Christian now has much more upon which to base his faith than Noah had upon which to base his faith in a coming deluge." WT April 1, 1923, p. 106.
1925 "With great expectations Christians have looked forward to this year. Many have confidently expected that all members of the body of Christ will be changed to heavenly glory during this year. This may be accomplished. It

(September) "It is to be expected that SATAN will try to inject into the minds of the consecrated the thought that 1925 should see an end to the work." WT Sept. 1925, p. 262. [What did we just say about 1925?]

1928 Since the death of the apostles, "...the gospel of the kingdom of God and of his Christ was not preached until after 1918 A.D." WT Dec. 1, 1928, p. 364.

Great Pyramid built under direction of Satan; not Jehovah. WT, 1928, p. 339345, 355362. [compare 1883]

1935 The time period from 1914 until Armageddon is the "great tribulation." WT August 15, 1935, p. 246, 251.

1936 Any who reject message of JWs after 1918, plus all small children who might die at Armageddon, will have no hope of a resurrection. Consolation, 6 May 1936, p. 508; WT 1938, p. 133, 313, 314, 326, 376, 327; 1939, p. 170.

1940 "The witness work for the Theocracy appears to be about done in most of the countries of "Christendom"...(we are) anxiously and watchfully waiting for the appearance of the sign for the battle (Armageddon) to begin." WT Sept. 1, 1940, p. 265.

1941 We are "in the remaining months before Armageddon." WT Sept. 15, 1941, p. 288.

1943 How prophecy is revealed: "...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." WT July 1, 1943, p. 203.

1950 "Princes" not to be resurrected until after Armageddon. Divine Purpose, p. 252, 253. [compare 1920]

1951 Prophecies of Daniel 12:712 all now fulfilled. "There are those who may think it strange that these 2500-year-old prophecies are now receiving fulfillment in a few short years. But we must realize that they must come to pass sometime, and why not now?" WT July 15, 1951, p. 433434.

1965 Resurrection will include people of Tyre and Sidon, and Sodom and Gomorrah; as well as most who die before Armageddon, even if having heard the message of Jehovah's Witnesses. WT, March 1, 1965, p. 137142. [compare 1936]

1966 "According to this trustworthy Bible chronology, 6000 years from man's creation will end in 1975, and the seventh period of 1000 years of human history will begin in the fall of 1975." Life Everlasting, p. 29 [compare 1873]. Adam & Eve were created in 4026 BC. WT May 1, 1968, p. 271.
1968 "True, there have been those in times past who predicted an `end to the world,' even announcing a specific date... The `end' did not come. They were guilty of false prophecying.... Missing from such people were God's truths and the evidence that he was guiding and using them." Awake!, Oct. 8, 1968, p. 23. [compare 1880, 1891, 1914, 1917, 1920, 1941, 1966]

1976 Armageddon will come after the time period corresponding with the time between Adam's creation and Eve's c

1980 Three members of Governing body propose that the "generation" of people that would see Armageddon be adjusted to those who witnessed the beginning of the space age (referring to Matt. 24:29). These would be those who witnessed 1957, with the orbit of the first sputnik. Proposal rejected. Crisis of Conscience, Raymond Franz, 1983, p. 218220. [compare 1885]

1981 The gospel preached by JWs since 1918 (about the enthronement of Christ in 1914) is a new gospel not preached during all the centuries past. WT May 1, 1981, p. 17.
1984 Though we had false expectations in times past, who can blame us for being overanxious? "It is easy for the established churches of Christendom and other people to criticize Jehovah's Witnesses because their publications have, at times, stated that certain things could take place on certain dates. But is not such line of action in harmony with Christ's injunction to `keep on the watch'?" "Is it not far preferable to make some mistakes because of overeag

Answer 1

* If the bible is true and the word of the one and only God, there are many false prophets and n that includes anyone who teaches a different version of the gospel than what the bible says. Galations 1:8,9

That includes teaching anything different than what is found in the bible.*

Answer 2

K.. so I guess this means you really don't like JW's? Just a note, Only God knows the time of the Second Coming. No one else knows. It will happen when He wants it to, not when someone says it will. To say otherwise is to believe in false doctrine.

Also, Noah talked TO GOD directly. He wasn't just blindly following what someone said.

I don't believe in the rapture. No where in the bible does it ever say the word rapture, or that only JW's will be taken up to heaven. Read it again if you don't believe me. It says that all saints that believe and are righteous. That could be many people from all different faiths.

I agree with some stuff you said, but they are still allowed to live what they believe, and I won't knock what they believe. I don't think it's fair to do that to others. It's done to me so often that sometimes I get defensive about my beliefs and about my religion. I can understand where others would have the same reaction. So what if you found inconsistancies to what was written. We are human, we make mistakes. Only God and Christ are totally perfect. I won't judge others. I'm very glad that won't be my job. Let them worship how, where or what they may. won't make any difference in my life.

Answer 3

Why? It's not necessary for God to use false prophets. And if God did use "false prophets," then God would have to lie to them, or they would be "true prophets." So your question is really of no consequence.

But you do bring up an interesting point. Virtually all prophets who predicted the end of the world were wrong. Virtually all prophets who predicted the return of Jesus were wrong too.

Here's a prophecy for you though.

Daniel 9:25Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

They just started working on the street, or ramp to the Temple a couple of days ago. According to that, he should be showing up in the near future. It's not clear if he will make his presense known in 7 weeks and watch them, or if it will be 69 weeks. Regardless of which it is though, it looks like the much anticipated events are finally at a point where we can watch the clock.

Regards,

Chris

Answer 4

I have not yet. I just got back from a Bible study that is in dire need of this. Her mother has Alzheimer's and is in the disruptive/anger stage and this is affecting this new publisher to tears and lack of sleep. She has had to leave her job - that is the news I got today - and she can use all the help she can get, as we all can. I have another Bible study who called me a few minutes ago, in a little of a panic about her unemployment running out shortly. I think it has hit her full force. And I'm sure this will help her also. "Food at the proper time". I'm going to call them both with this verse.

Answer 5

So what if the JW's don't have a whole lot to validate their beliefs? That's the beauty of America- we all have the right to believe and worship as we see fit... as long as it's not harming others.

I don't agree with the Jehovah Witness viewpoint. When they knock at my door, I offer them the same thing they offer me- my idea of religious enlightenment.. They've never taken me up on the offer, but I still do it politely.

Answer 6

The Lord warned about false prophets very strongly who do more damage than enough, one of the worst proponets of this was Joseph Smith who started the Mormons,he made several false predictions concerning the end times and each time the date arrived he made excuses for his failures.

Answer 7

"And it shall come to pass that any man who will not listen to and carefully consider My Word which He [the Messiah] shall declare in My name (shem - title, authority, mark, designation, character, individuality, position, and report), I will question and investigate and judge, holding him accountable ’" (Deuteronomy 18:19)

That’s clear enough. The Messiah will speak for God; He will speak in God’s shem - His name, character, mark, report, title, position and authority. That’s rather powerful because this shem belongs to the Creator.
"But the prophet which shall seethe and be furious speaking words in my authority (shem) which I have not enjoined and appointed (constituted and commanded - i.e., recitals that conflict with Scripture), he who recites and subdues in the name and authority of other foreign gods, that prophet shall be put to death (Deuteronomy 18:20)

False prophets are so devastating to humankind, they must be killed and their message must be obliterated. The consequences of tolerating the religions of men with Messianic complexes like Muhammad and are devastating.
"If you question in your heart, ‘How shall we know the words which God has not spoken'? When a prophet speaks in the name or authority (shem) of Yahuweh, if the promise does not come to pass and become true, those are words which Yahuweh has not declared. That prophet has spoken arrogantly and presumptuously .You should quarrel with and be intolerant of him." (Deuteronomy 18:21-22)

If you want to know a false prophet from a real one, examine their predictions. If even one of them fails to materialize, they are not speaking for God.
If the prophet’s sayings conflict with God’s Scripture, the message and messenger are false.

But why is it that Christians and Jews alike ignore this admonition? We are instructed to be vigilant and then intolerant of false messengers and messages - to be hostile to them. Ignorance of this command has led the world into great wars and poverty, ultimately culminating with the end of the world as we know it. Associating with those who forsake God, separating themselves and their message from Him - has hellish consequences.

Answer 8

Jesus told us we should test the spirits,if they prophecy and it comes to pass then it's God,if it does'nt then we know it is not from God

Answer 9

I really wish they still had thumbs down for questions.

Answer 10

Who cares. Its all lies anyway, just to get you to give them your money