Is 604 wrong claims by Jehovah's Witnesses enough to keep you from taking them seriously?

Question

Failed prophecies

The Watchtower Society has a long history of making prophecies and then changing them after they proved false. Dozens of references could be quoted and documented, but a few will suffice to prove the point.

For example, the 1920 booklet Millions Now Living Will Never Die, declares,

...we may expect 1925 to witness the return of these faithful men of Israel from the condition of death, being resurrected... Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old. -- pages 89-90
This failed to come true, of course.

Starting in the mid-1960's numerous discussions in the Society's publications pointed to the year 1975:
This seventh day, God's rest day, has progressed nearly 6,000 years, and there is still the 1,000-year reign of Christ to go before its end. (Rev. 20:3, 7) This seventh 1,000-year period of human existence could well be likened to a great sabbath day. . . . In what year, then, would the first 6,000 years of man's existence and also the first 6,000 years of God's rest day come to an end? The year 1975. -- Awake! October 8, 1966, page 19

The August 15, 1968 Watchtower indicates that there might be a slight delay between the end of humanity's first six thousand years in autumn 1975 and the end of the world -- corresponding to the interval of time between Adam's creation and Eve's -- but assures that the delay will be only a few weeks or months, not years:
Are we to assume from this study that the battle of Armageddon will be all over by the autumn of 1975, and the long-looked-for thousand-year reign of Christ will begin by then? Possibly, but we wait to see how closely the seventh thousand-year period of man's existence coincides with the sabbathlike thousand-year reign of Christ. If these two periods run parallel with each other as to the calendar year, it will not be by mere chance or accident but will be according to Jehovah's loving and timely purposes....It may involve only a difference of weeks or months, not years." -- page 499

Such predictions led Jehovah's Witnesses to believe that the end would come toward the end of 1975 or early in 1976.

The most recent prophetic failure is likely to have the greatest impact on JWs: 'New truths' in the November 1, 1995 Watchtower magazine changed the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses concerning "the generation that saw the events of 1914," and the November 8, 1995 Awake! drops that magazine's long-standing prophecy.

Ever since the late 1940's Awake! magazine had been promising the "sure hope for the establishment of a righteous New World" on page 2 of each issue. Then in 1964 it added the thought that this would happen "in this generation" -- "...reflecting sure hope for the establishment of God's righteous new order in this generation."

In 1975 it was no longer Awake! magazine's promise but now became the Creator's promise: "...the Creator's promise of a new order of lasting peace and true security within our generation." -- January 8, 1975

It was a very serious step to add this expression, "the Creator's promise," since it meant that the Watchtower Society (the magazine's publisher) was now prophesying in the Creator's name -- in God's name. The Creator warns in the Bible against doing this without receiving a command from Him to do so:
But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, must be put to death. You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?" If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him. -- Deuteronomy 18:20-22 NIV

Did the Creator really command the Society to say that He promised the new order would come "within our generation"? Elsewhere, the Society specified more precisely what it meant by "our generation":
"Jesus was obviously speaking about those who were old enough to witness with understanding what took place when the 'last days' began....Even if we presume that youngsters 15 years of age would be perceptive enough to realize the import of what happened in 1914, it would still make the youngest of 'this generation' nearly 70 years old today....Jesus said that the end of this wicked world would come before that generation passed away in death." -- Awake! October 8, 1968, pages 13-14
In 1982 the Watchtower Society changed the prophecy on page 2 of each Awake! issue to include the same thought about 1914. It was no longer a vague "our generation" that would see the world's end, but the generation that saw the events of 1914: "...the Creator's promise of a peaceful and secure new order before the generation that saw the events of 1914 C.E. passes away." (January 8, 1982)

Nearly identical wording repeated the same prophecy in each issue until January 8, 1987, when Awake! magazine's statement of purpose was moved to page 4 in a redesigned format. Starting with that issue, the 1914 generation prophecy was dropped entirely. Then it was restored on page 4 of the March 8, 1988 issue -- "...the Creator's promise of a peaceful and secure new world before the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away" -- wording that continued to appear through October, 1995.

By then, however, the generation that saw the events of 1914 had largely passed away. All that remained were a relatively few surviving individuals in their late 90's -- people nearly a hundred years old.

Obviously, the prophecy had failed. Continuing to print it as spiritual food for Jehovah's Witnesses was like serving meat or milk long after the "sell before" date stamped on the package. Like spoiled food, the expired prophecy began to stink.

JW leaders in Brooklyn finally replaced it in the November 8, 1995 Awake! by returning to language similar to that used prior to 1964. Awake! now declares "...the Creator's promise of a peaceful and secure new world that is about to replace the present wicked, lawless system of things."

Actually the prophecy on page 4 of each Awake! is only the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. It is the most prominent part of a whole chronological system of Bible interpretation that has proved false.

This is the most noticeable revision, so far, in a process of changing beliefs that has only just begun. The October 15, 1995 Watchtower (pages 22-23) changes the Watchtower Society's interpretation of when Christ sits down to separate sheep from goats at Matthew 25:31-33.

It transforms this from a process that began when Christ allegedly returned invisibly and became king in 1914 to a future event associated with his judging mankind at the Battle of Armageddon.

The old teaching is presented clearly in the Society's 1982 book You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth (page 183 original edition):
Yes, since Christ returned and sat down on his heavenly throne, all humankind has been on judgment...During the present judgment people are being separated as "goats" to Christ's left hand or as "sheep" to his right.
The October 15, 1995 Watchtower (pages 22-23) rejects this interpretation and substitutes a new one:
Does this parable apply when Jesus sat down in kingly power in 1914, as we have long understood?... ...the parable points to the future when the Son of man will come in his glory. He will sit down to judge... Understanding the parable of the sheep and the goats in this way indicates that the rendering of judgment on the sheep and the goats is future. It will take place after "the tribulation" mentioned at Matthew 24:29, 30 breaks out and the Son of man 'arrives in his glory.'

The change introduced here is two-fold. The Society re-interprets Matthew 25:31-32 so that
(1) Christ's sitting down on his throne does not refer to his becoming king in 1914, as the Society has long taught. Instead, it refers to his sitting as judge during the future great tribulation.
(2) The separating of the sheep from the goats is also a future event -- even though JWs had long been taught that their preaching work was accomplishing that separation right now and throughout much of this century.

Even more significant is the 'new truth' introduced in the November 1, 1995 issue of The Watchtower. On pages 17-19 it changes the Society's interpretation of Jesus' words at Matthew 24:34, "I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened." (NIV)

On page 17 it admits that "Jehovah's people have at times speculated about the time when the 'great tribulation' would break out, even tying this to calculations of what is the lifetime of a generation since 1914." Now it says, instead (page 17):
Rather than providing a rule for measuring time, the term "generation" as used by Jesus refers principally to contemporary people of a certain historical period, with their identifying characteristics.
Then it goes on to identify the generation that Jesus supposedly pointed to at Matthew 24:34-35 in this way (page 19):
Therefore, in the final fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy today, "this generation" apparently refers to the peoples of earth who see the sign of Christ's presence but fail to mend their ways.
This new interpretation drops the thought that the world will end during the lifetime of the people who were alive to see the events of 1914. Instead, it has Jesus speaking of the "wicked generation" -- people who see the sign of his invisible presence but fail to become JWs -- with no time period attached.

BORED TO DEATH?
Yes, the info needed to reach JWs can be tedious. Think of it as comparable to learning Chinese to share the Gospel in China.

Was the recently abandoned teaching about the 1914 generation really a false prophecy spoken by a false prophet? Or was it merely an instance of faithful Christians manifesting eagerness for Christ's return?

Deuteronomy 18:20-22, quoted earlier, supplies the basis for determining the answer. It states that its words of condemnation apply when what a "prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true."

Obviously, the prediction did not come true, and so the Watchtower Society has now stopped making that prediction.

Was the prediction spoken "in the name of the LORD"? Yes, because it was introduced as "the Creator's promise."

The Watchtower has said elsewhere:
Those who are convinced that The Watchtower is publishing the opinion or expression of a man should not waste time in looking at it at all... Those who believe that God uses The Watchtower as a means of communicating to his people, or of calling attention to his prophecies, should study The Watchtower..." -- The Watchtower January 1, 1942, page 5
More recently, the Watchtower Society has tried to escape the "false prophet" label by saying Jehovah's Witnesses have not made prophecies in God's name. "Never did they say, 'These are the words of Jehovah.'" (Awake! March 22, 1993, p. 4)

But the Watchtower Society actually did describe its prediction that the 1914 generation would live to see 'the end' as Jehovah's prophetic word through Jesus Christ.
"Jehovah's prophetic word through Jesus Christ is: 'This generation [of 1914] will by no means pass away until all things occur.' (Luke 21:32) And Jehovah, who is the source of inspired and unfailing prophecy, will bring about the fulfillment...
...
"Just as Jesus' prophecies regarding Jerusalem were fulfilled within the life span of the generation of the year 33 C.E., so his prophecies regarding 'the time of the end' will be fulfilled within the life span of the generation of 1914. ...
"...Yes, you may live to see this promised New Order, along with survivors of the generation of 1914 -- the generation that will not pass away." -- The Watchtower May 15, 1984, pages 6-7 (The bracketed expression "[of 1914]" is in the original.)

So, the Watchtower Society fits the description of a false prophet found at Deuteronomy 18:20-22. The Society made the prediction in God's name, and the prediction failed to come true.

Was this false prophecy simply a one-time offense? No, because the prediction was published repeatedly over the years, not only in Awake! magazine's masthead, but also in other places -- sometimes even with minor variations which indicate that thought was given to the matter on a number of occasions:
"...the generation alive in 1914, some will see the major fulfilment of Christ Jesus' prophecy and the destruction..." -- Awake! October 8, 1973, page 19

"Which generation is this, and how long is it?... "Thus, when it comes to the application in our time, the 'generation' logically would not apply to babies born during World War I. It applies to Christ's followers and others who were able to observe that war and the other things that have occurred in fulfillment of Jesus' composite 'sign.' Some of such persons 'will by no means pass away until' all of what Christ prophesied occurs, including the end of the present wicked system." --The Watchtower Oct. 1, 1978, p. 31

"What, then, is the 'generation' that 'will by no means pass away until all these things occur"? It does not refer to a period of time, which some have tried to interpret as 30, 40, 70 or even 120 years, but, rather, it refers to people, the people living at the 'beginning of pangs of distress' for this condemned world system. It is the generation of people who saw the catastrophic events that broke forth in connection with World War I from 1914 onward. ...
"And if the wicked system of this world survived until the turn of the century, which is highly improbable in view of world trends and the fulfillment of Bible prophecy, there would still be survivors of the World War I generation. However, the fact that their number is dwindling is one more indication that the 'conclusion of the system of things' is moving fast toward its end. ...
"Yes, there was a generation of people that was living in 1914, and that saw the major historical changes...We can be happy, therefore, for Jesus' assurance that there will be survivors of 'the generation of 1914' -- that this generation will not have completely passed away -- when the 'great tribulation' rings down the curtain on this wicked world system." -- The Watchtower October 15, 1980, page 31

"Jesus used the word 'generation' many times in different settings and with various meanings. But what did he mean when he spoke of a "generation that would not pass away"? ...a generation is really related to people and events, rather than to a fixed number of years.
...
...the babies of that generation are now 70 years old or older. And others alive in 1914 are in their 80's or 90's, a few even having reached a hundred. There are still many millions of that generation alive. Some of them 'will by no means pass away until all things occur.'" -- The Watchtower May 15, 1984, page 5

Thus judgment would be executed sometime during the life span of people seeing the first evidence of the time period foretold by Jesus. ...this time period began in 1914. Thus before the 1914 generation completely dies out, God's judgment must be executed. -- The Watchtower May 1, 1985, page 4

"a peaceful and secure new world before the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away" ... "The Hebrews...reckon seventy-five years as one generation...".
"...today, most of the generation of 1914 has passed away. ...Jesus' words will come true, 'this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.' This is yet another reason for believing that Jehovah's thieflike day is imminent." -- Awake! April 8, 1988, pages 4 and 14

In fact, this episode of making predictions concerning "the generation of 1914" was not the first time the Watchtower Society made such prophecies. Years before 1914, it published volume 4 of Studies in the Scriptures, in which it calculated a hundred-year "generation" stretching "from 1780, the date of the first sign" and including the
gathering time beginning October 1874; the organization of the Kingdom and the taking by our Lord of his great power as the King in April 1878, and the time of trouble or "day of wrath" which began October 1874 and will end October 1914 -- 1908 edition, page 604

Alternatively, it calculated the generation of Matthew 24:34 as spanning 36 1/2 years, "the 'generation' from 1878 to 1914." (page 605) Interestingly, the Society encountered similar problems back then as time limits ran out and prophecies proved false. The length of the "generation" was adjusted to accommodate later reinterpretations, in a manner similar to the recent adjustments during the 1970's-1990's. Thus, later editions of the same Studies in the Scriptures volume were reprinted with alterations in the dates. In the reference quoted above from page 604, for example, the words "will end October 1914" were changed to "will cease about 1915" in certain later editions.

Who is Superman Verde talking to? Is this an alcohol abuse problem again?

HE...LOL doubt it...but we can still be friends.

Answer 1

One wrong claim is enough - the claim that Jesus is not Divine.

Answer 2

I wish I could point to how wrong it is to put more faith in the words of religious doctrines that are set before Bible students that can read scriptures
and see what is being said by the ones who write it as coming from God himself.

His thoughts and ways are higher than ours, but by means of His Word that has been made flesh
we can come to have those who feel they can so teach us things by having us read between the lines so to speak; and come to a better way of understanding what the Bible is telling us.

But we must remember to put our faith in what we have come to see as God's Word, and not just those of man who keeps rewriting the Bible in a desire for each of us to have it in our own words
language or tongue.

This has been the task of the W's regarding what they feel they have come to see as the message in the Bible for our day & time. And for the most part it is about the New Kingdom of God that was set up in the heavens in 1914; The sign of which was the 1st World War and the things that have came to be pass after it.

When you compare it to what others have said on this idea, I think they have done a fine job, but not a perfect one, as I am sure we will all agree.

Yours; BG

Answer 3

And considering what other people have done in the name of religion and God I think Jehovah's People are doing rather well.
Yes some mistakes were made but coming to a better understanding and adjusting beliefs is what makes Jehovah's Witnesses stand out.
Jehovah's Witnesses used to celebrate Christmas and smoking was not shunned and the early Watchtowers I believe used to have cross shaped crucifixes on the front cover. All of these things are no longer tolerated as these do not belong to and in pure worship of God.

I am sure the Catholics and other protestant churches would hate to continually have their dirty linen aired. Fact is for Jehovah's Witnesses is having at first incorrect understanding then coming to a better understanding of God's inspired word and changing straight away beliefs and practices is what makes Jehovah's Witnesses so unique. They will not just continue accepting a falsehood because it would be observing and keeping up with tradition to do so.

It is easy to make a long list of complaints about a christian heeding organisation but really what is your felt motive?
Is it to show simply the past errors for educational purposes or more likely a stage to vent your vendettas.

Yes the society has mad mistakes, it is made up of imperfect humans such as literally all of those in the Bible were except Christ. But since Jehovah's Witnesses hold touchstones of truth and they reject any contamination where they should find it even if it is within their own organisation shows the willingness and zeal of the people who aspire to do as Jehovah commanded his true followers to preach the good news of the kingdom as Jesus Christ demonstrated. To be no part of this world and abstaining from adulterous and idolatorous worship. To love one another and most importantly of all to sanctify God's NAME Jehovah !!!

Nothing you have put in your question will take those achievements of true worship, love, dedication, sacrifice and honour away from Jehovah's Witnesses who have devoted and proven faithful to their best to their One and True God even as far as their lives.

People are coming to accurate truths and knowledge of Jehovah's Witnesses and the great crowd of true loyal worshippers are growing more and mroe rapidly.
People have seen the hypocrisy of religions and the bloodshedding they do in the name of God. People want answers to what is the kingdom of God? Why does God permit suffering? What happens when people die? What are the signs that we are living in the last days? What will happen to Satan and his demons? What is the resurrection? Who are the great crowd?
These questions and more are answered by Jehovah's Witnesses not through their own doctrines and creeds but directly from the Bible. Millions are now having their eyes opened for the first time truths that tear down the blindfolds of babylonish doctrines that religious leaders keep preaching.

Answer 4

it's the bible itself, and christianity that keeps me from reentering the church. I used to be a christian, now i am a humanist and deistic believer. everyone is god's children, even you. it does not matter what god's name is because noone really knows god's name. the voices in a man's head gave god a name. the JWs are at least more honest than most denominations. they show notes in their translation that prove portions of the bible have been added to or subtracted from. Even other texts have been shown to have been added to since 1150CE. so, just how can YOU say someone else is not a christian when christianity can not even pass its own tests?

Answer 5

wow thats a lot failed prophecies. watch, if Im lucky enough it will end again in 2012 and it will probably end at least one more time before I die after that. heck assuming nobody in my home dies before 2012, my parents will have experienced three ends of the earth in their lifetimes!

who knows though, maybe if they start by predicting 6 o'clock at 5:30 and gradually work their way up to predicting getting burned when touching a flame, theyll predict the end of the earth several more times before it actually happens.

Answer 6

Regardless of any perceived inconsistencies, the Jehovah's Witnesses do not participate in wars and have strict morals which help keep both them and others in society safe. Surely, if you do not believe in their beliefs you must respect their moral stance and concern for others? If everyone had their fundamental morals there would be no crime or violence, far fewer poorly behaved children, no sexually transmitted diseases and better family lives with partners taking their marriage vows seriously and taking a lot of time and effort to create a happy and stable environment for thei children.
Surely this is what we are craving for in todays downward spiralling society?

Answer 7

To "Stuper Boy Verp" YOU COWARD PIECE OF SH*T ! You have the audacity to criticize another and question her faith ? You must know the harm you are doing and how "Christian " is that? Even Jesus got angry and used unpleasant language, Who are you to judge you chicken SH*T little punk you wont even allow E-mails Why? Why not ? Remove the block or send me your email, Oh, ya the ?, .......... One wrong prophesy or 1000, A false profit or any profit is "found to be detestable to me" Said Jesus,,,,

Answer 8

You (REALLY) Haven't "EVER" Told Me (ANYTHING) that I didn't (ALREADY) Know ! ! ! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For Xample "Remember" the Comment that I made about how WMartin made the Comment "One of JW's will run CIRCLES around a Christian"

Now how did I KNOW THAT???

I've BEEN WHERE You Are (RIGHT NOW) ; And I Assure You that I Don't EVER Want 2 Go Through what YOU'RE "Going THROUGH" (RIGHT NOW) "Again" ! ! !

Now if I ALREADY Know "Everything" that you've ALREADY said OR Will EVER Say ; And I continue 2 Be a Faithful "TRUE" Christian then why do YOU "Keep Beating" your DRUM???

p.s COULDn't YOU of AT LEAST COMe up with a MORE Realistic Number "like Maybe" 666 ! ! !

And "in" Case YOU DIDn't KNOW IT; a 604 is a TorqueFlite Transmission that CAME OUT IN the EARLY 60's

Answer 9

Dear Unsilenced Lamb,

Actually one wrong claim is enough.

Counterfeit never becomes real by adding a big more ink here and erasing a bit there.

Thank you for quantifying it however.

For His glory,
JOYfilled

Answer 10

my friend, has it ever occurred to you that you are "preaching to the choir"? jw's will not change their madness because of words they see on the internet. unfortunately, it takes something real, like a loved one dying because of no blood, or their monstrous family units dissolving into pools of psychotic episodes for them to realize that their religion is "not truth"

Answer 11

Good thing you are not God. Jehovah God is a merciful God.

Psalms 130:3 states - If errors were what you watch, O Jah,
O Jehovah, who could stand?

If every sin and error of each religion will be counted, just wondering how many are there in each one. Have you counted the errors of each religion? If you only count the errors of JWs, then you are being biased.

Or should we imitate Jehovah who does not count the errors of humans? I would rather do that.

I think it is good that JWs corrected those errors, that shows that they are humble eventhough they make mistakes.