Why do people claim the Jehovah's Witnesses are false prophets but offer no proof?

Question

OR claim the Watchtower is a false prophet w/o proof

Answer 1

First off let’s see if they ever claimed to be a prophet.

"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 Watchtower, 4/1/72.

It would seem to be yes, as they claim to be a prophet. Don’t get sidetracked by those who act like there is a clear separation between the WTBS and Jehovah’s Witnesses. WTBS is run by Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Now has a false prophecy or prediction ever been made?

1897 "Our Lord, the appointed King, is now present, since October 1874," Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 4, page 621.

This one seems to be false – later they changed it to 1914.

1908 "...the ‘battle of the great day of God Almighty' (Revelation 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, page 101

The end did not happen here – a false prediction!!!!

1918 "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 11, to the condition of human perfection." Millions Now Living Will Never Die, page 89.

Another false one!!!!!!

1931 "There was a measure of disappointment on the part of Jehovah's faithful ones on earth concerning the years 1917, 1918, and 1925, which disappointment lasted for a time...and they also learned to quit fixing dates." Vindication, page 338.

They did make predictions about 1975.

This last one says it best!!!

1968 "True, there have been those in times past who predicted an ‘end to the world', even announcing a specific date. Yet nothing happened. The ‘end' did not come. They were guilty of false prophesying. Why? What was missing?.. Missing from such people were God's truths and evidence that he was using and guiding them." Awake, 10/8/68.


Decide for yourself

Answer 2

Many people turn to the false predictions to prove Jehovah Witnesses are false prophets, but thats now what a false prophet is. Jehovah Witnesses expected things to occur, but they also said not to put to much in the bible prophecies because no one knew for sure what was going to happen. If this was a false prophet act, then all of Churches, Groups ect would be considered false prophets since they all did similar things.

A false prophet claims to be inspired by God directly, and as you can see.. theres many religious leaders that do that (Benny Henn ect.).

Jehovah Witnesses did not state the end was going to come, they clearly stated it could occur based on bible prophecy.

Josh W - Jehovah Witnesses do not think they are prophets. You can turn to the WT 1972 as your proof, but that article was taken out of context.

If anyone thinks Jehovah Witnesses are scared to discuss the bible, then you're completely wrong. I'll be more than happy to discuss the bible and prove that our doctrines are accurate.

Just give me a message

UPDATE:

Blind? Well, I know what the truth is, and I know apostate created sites fail to show the actual truth on the matter. They may quote certain articles, but you have to actually read the entire publication to get a actual meaning of what was quoted.

http://users.picknowl.com.au/~hepburn/prophecy.htm#APROPH

This sites puts everything into context, and it also shows what apostate sites misquoted or took out of context on their websites.

Answer 3

This is just one example: The Nations Shall Know that I am Jehovah, on page 216 says that within the 20th century, the battle of Jehovah will begin against Christendom. On pages 291 and 292, it says that "some" aren't conviced that Jehovah's Witnesses are true spokesmen for Jehovah", but that the message delivered by the Ezekiel class "must come true".

There is no other way to interpret this 'message' other than to say that Jehovah's Witnesses predicted that Armageddon would begin in the 20th century. They based this message on the "fact" (as they see it) that God has appointed them to deliver His message of judgment to the rest of the world - at the "proper time".

You can read it in context, out of context, upside down and sideways: It can only mean one thing:

Even a prophet in a 'limited' sense must limit himself to what the Bible says. Jehovah looks harshly on "the prophet who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded...that prophet must die." - Deut. 18:20-22.

A "prophet" might issue a "disclaimer" in case it turns out that Jehovah isn't directing the prophet's 'message', as the self-appointed presumptuous 'prophet" had believed. A true prophet doesn't need to issue disclaimers along with their prophecies because they confine themselves to the Bible and what is "truth".

Answer 4

I'm not sure what your question is getting at.

In the context of your question, are you talking about an inspired, infallable prophet of God?

or someone who picks up a bible starts reading chapter and verse.

Both are technicially 'prophets' but only the first definition can be called 'false'

No where in the WT publications will you find the comment "we are inspired of God"

You will find such words as 'discerned, or reasoning' on the scriptures

You will find statements that deny inspiration or infallablity.

Billy Graham said the end would come in the 1950's.

Many born again christians have told me the Gentile times ended in 1948.

What most people dislike about Jehovah's Witnesses is our zeal for true worship.

.

Answer 5

JW JR is living proof of the proverb, 'There's none so blind as them that don't want to see'. He knows of the proof of the Governing Body's claim to be Jehovah's modern day prophet as printed by them in the 1st April 1972 Watchtower mag. But he dismisses it as being taken out of context. Well, I have that article in its entirety, have read every word of it, and assure JWs it categorically claimed that '[God] had a prophet to warn them. 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?' Indeed! Therein lies the proof! But the evidence given in that article fails to include the great list of mistaken doctrines, expectations, beliefs and practices up till that year. And, of course, we then had the 1975 date (October) stated by the Governing Body to be the very latest for Armageddon. This is denied by all JWs today. But what do they know? They're only reading their leaders re-writing of history. And, as they are STILL God's chosen chanel today, they couldn't possibly tell lies.... could they? They could if they were / are false prophets (despite all post-1975 claims that modesty forbids they state that openly.) There is proof in abundance - for those who want to see it. You can take a horse to water but...

Answer 6

well the fact that they think they are prophets is proof enough, i mean cmon, people stoped believing that another person is a prophet a long time ago.( well at least those of us that arent mindless drones to religions) what makes you think that one person is more in touch with their god than you are? Why would god talk to one person and not another? that is the type of crap that was used to control the masses back in the day, telling people that they could not be in contact with god because god only talks to the leaders of the church. Open the eyes, question the beliefs, if the beliefs dont hold up to questioning, than they are no good.

But i cant make you see reason and logic, so go on believing that one person in the hiearchy of your church is in contact with god, when you die and you cease to exist, than it wont matter.

Answer 7

K's post is a perfect example of your point. She lists all this things that JWs believe, apparently claiming they are wrong, but does not provide any evidence that they are wrong.

Take the Holy Spirit. Where in the Bible does it say the Holy Spirit is a living entity, and not a spiritual force? Where is the doctrine of the Trinity explicated in the Bible?

The question of the nature of Jesus was only resolved by the execution of those who disagreed with the idea that Jesus was God. Murder - a great way to solve Biblical disputes.

No, the problem is most people who disagree with JWs do not know what the Bible really says.

Answer 8

Yes, there IS plenty of proof that their teachings are false.
Just compare most of what they teach with the bible, then you will know!
Heres 10 to get started if you would like to know more, i can show you.
There is one God in one person, Make Sure of All Things, p 188.
There is no Trinity, Let God be True, p. 100-101; Make Sure of All Things, p.386.
The Holy Spirit is a force, not alive, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp.
406-407.
The Holy Spirit is God's impersonal active force, The Watchtower, June 1, 1952,
p. 24. (EDIT) Scripture shows that the Holy Spirit is a person and is God 2 Peter 1:21,1 Peter 1:12; Matt 28:19,
the Holy Spirit has intellect, emotions, and will, and can be grieved. This means that the Spirit has a personality.As God, the Spirit is cause, and that cause has effect. Yet, there are those in the Christian churches who reduce the Holy Spirit to a force.
Jehovah's first creation was his 'only-begotten Son'. . . was used by Jehovah in
creating all other things", Aid to Bible Understanding, pp. 390-391. (EDIT) What does the bible say was Gods first creation? its in genesis
Jesus was Michael the archangel who became a man, The Watchtower, May 15,(EDIT)> Where do scriptures say Jesus was Michael the archangel??
1963, p. 307; The New World, 284.
Jesus was only a perfect man, not God in flesh, Reasoning from the Scriptures,
1985, pp. 306. (EDIT) Jesus is the Word.
...the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us...John 1:14
Jesus did not rise from the dead in his physical body, Awake! July 22, 1973, p. 4. (EDIT) Jesus rose from the dead in the same body He died in. In John 2:19-20, Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews therefore said, 'It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?' But He was speaking of the temple of his body." Jesus prophesied that He would rise from the dead in the very body that He died in.
Though He was raised physically, His body was a glorified body. It was the same body, but it was different. 1 Cor. 15:42-44 says, "So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body."
Jesus was raised "not a human creature, but a spirit." Let God be True, p. 276.
Jesus was born again, The Watchtower, Nov. 15, 1954, p. 682.(EDIT) Jesus did not need to be born again to go to heaven as the Watchtower teaches, because Jesus already received the kingdom of God by inheritance. Hebrews 1:1, 2 says "God, who long ago spoke on many occasions and in many ways to our forefathers by means of the prophets, has at the end of these days spoken to us by means of a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the systems of things."
EDIT> Sorry i was assuming that if you read the bible you would see that this what they believe is false. I will show scripture.
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." (Matt. 28:19)
Jesus said: "I and the Father are one." (John 10:30)
"He who has seen Me has seen the Father." (John 14:9)
"He who beholds Me beholds the One who sent Me." (John 12:45)
If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. (Rom. 8:9) pronouns "us" and "our" in Genesis 1:26 -- Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

Answer 9

Bigotry, for the most part.

Jehovah's Witnesses have never pretended that they are infallible or inspired. Jehovah's Witnesses have never pretended that they experience miraculous messages from God or Christ. For more than a century, Jehovah's Witnesses have always presented their suppositions as the result of sincere bible research, rather than as "predictions" or "prophesying".

Interestingly, however, even those Christians who did enjoy direct communication from heaven at times came to wrong conclusions; these wrong conclusions were even communicated "out among the brothers"!

For example, the apostle Peter enjoyed remarkable privileges in the early congregation, but it seems that he was the source of an incorrect teaching about the apostle John that was not formally corrected until several DECADES had passed, and John himself finally wrote his gospel about 98 C.E.

(John 21:21-23) Peter said to Jesus: “Lord, what will this man do [that is, the apostle John]?” Jesus said to him: “If it is my will for him to remain until I come, of what concern is that to you? You continue following me.” In consequence, this saying went out among the brothers, that [the apostle John] would not die. However, Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but: “If it is my will for him to remain until I come, of what concern is that to you?”


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 arrangement 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://watchtower.org/e/20000622/
http://watchtower.org/e/19990715/article_02.htm

Answer 10

Anyone who believes that 'heaven' and 'hell' are right here is a false prophet.

Anyone who says I have a soul but no spirit is a false prophet.