Still a JW after all the flase prophecies?

Question

Deut. 18:20-22 says “But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die. And if you say in your heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken? When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoke it presumptuously: you shall not be afraid of him.

God says if you make a prophecy ad call yourself a prophet then it had better come true

So why are JW's still JW's after not just one, but numerous prophecies concernig the end of the age that have never come true?

Surely you only get one chance, letsw see what the
WTS has had to say:



1889 “.the 'battle of the great day of God Almighty' (Rev. 16:14), which will end in AD 1914 with the complete overthrow of the earth's present rulership, is already commenced.”
THE TIME IS AT HAND

pg. 101 (1908 edition)

Is this why you cliam Christ secretly visited the Earth in 1914?

Because the world did not end so your predicition has to be altered and amended....just a thought, but lets see what ekse the WTS has had to say?



1897 “Our Lord, the appointed King, is now present, since October 1874 AD, according to the testimony of the prophets to those who have ears to hear it;”
STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES, VOL. 4 p. 621

1916 “The Bible chronology herein presented shows that the six great thousand-year Days beginning with Adam are ended, and that the great Seventh Day, the thousand years of Christ's Reign, began in 1873
THE TIME IS AT HAND p.2 (forward)

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

But quite clearly millions have died, so it's an intentional lie, or a false prophecy

and if it's false why are you still there, in the hope they shall make a correct one?

1922 “The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures because it is fixed by the law God gave to Israel. Viewing the present situation in Europe, one wonders how it will be possible to hold back the explosion much longer; and that even before 1925 the great crises will be reached and probably passed.”
WT 9/1/22 p.262



1923 “Our thought is, that 1925 is definitely settled by the Scriptures, marking the end of the typical jubilee
WT 4/1/23 p. 106

1931 “There was a measure of disappointment on the part of Jehovah's faithful ones on earth concerning the years 1914, 1918 and 1925 which disappointment lasted for a time. Later the faithful learned that these dates were definitely fixed in the Scriptures; and they also learned to quit fixing dates for the future and....

predicting what would come to pass on a certain date.”
VINDICATION VOL. 1 P. 338

They acknowledge themselves that it did not happen..but yet, the good people still want something to hapen, so they keep coming back to hear another date



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 was the full measure of evidence required in fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Missing from such people were God's truths and evidence that he was guiding and using them.
AWAKE 10/8/68 p.23 (See Luke 21:8)

and of course the famous 1975 prediction:



1968 “WHY ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO 1975?”
THE WATCHTOWER 8/15/68 p. 494

The point is, If Jesus said, no one knows when Judgement day is but the father, then why were the WTS trying to predict it all along?

JC: how many prophecies did those churches make?

how many prophecies did the WTS make?

Answer 1

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 2

Atchung,what are you talking about?!
Did you bother to read any of the quotes?
The asker quoted for you Deut:
Deut. 18:20-22 says “But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die. And if you say in your heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken? When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoke it presumptuously: you shall not be afraid of him.
They claimed that they were not man's dates, but God's!
Besides, what about what Mahir said about the gospel?
Jesus told you how to identify false prophets, using his words you can clearly see that your religion fals into that category.
They're more than false propehts, they're liars too!
I'm glad I didn't get sucked into your church.

Answer 3

I for one am grateful Jehovah has not brought Armageddon... If he would have, I would not still have hope, just as many would not have hope..
No one forces you to believe in Him, surely He is not forcing you so why try so hard to disprove Him? What do you think is behind your actions to cause you to post this?
To plant doubt perhaps? But of course the more important issue is, "why did you feel the urgency to do so?"
Jehovah's Day will come when He is ready,not when we feel it should be... That is good enough for me..

EDIT: Many things have come into much clearer light as the years pass.. Not just in the deep things of the Bible but also other areas of life... Why would the Bible be any different? We grow on a daily basis, study of the scriptures over and over, with world conditions brings new insight for all of us....
Even in times passed, do you think any of them had bad intentions in what they were saying or were they trying to pull others in out of their own time as they do not get paid as most religions do for preaching the word of the Bible... They do it soley out of love for their neighbors...

Answer 4

Rather than going some of your misquotes, let me ask you this.

Why are Christians still going to Churches after their false prophecies?

1794
Charles Wesley, one of the founders of Methodism, thought Doomsday would be in this year.

1936
Herbert W Armstrong, founder of the Worldwide Church of God, predicted that the Day of the Lord would happen sometime in 1936. When the prediction failed, he made a new estimate: 1975.

1948
During this year, the state of Israel was founded. Some Christians believed that this event was the final prerequisite for the second coming of Jesus. Various end of the world predictions were made in the range 1888 to 2048.

1953
David Davidson wrote a book titled "The Great Pyramid, Its Divine Message". In it, he predicted that the world would end in 1953-AUG.

1972
According to an article in the Atlantic magazine, "Herbert W. Armstrong's empire suffered a serious blow when the end failed to begin in January of 1972, as Armstrong had predicted, thus bringing hardship to many people who had given most of their assets to the church in the expectation of going to Petra, where such worldly possessions would be useless." 3 According to an article in Wikipedia:

"The failure of this prophetic scenario to take place according to this Co-Worker letter scenario, which was often repeated over the years in print by Armstrong, may have been one of the initial reasons why the church organization began to decline as unfulfilled expectations led to great disappointment. As events unfolded, it became obvious 1972 did not have the biblical significance that the church had anticipated for nearly two decades." 15

1974
Charles Meade, a pastor in Daleville, IN, predicted that the end of the world will happen during his lifetime. He was born circa 1927, so the end will probably come early in the 21st century.

1982
Pat Robertson predicted a few years in advance that the world would end in the fall of 1982



Gregory I, who was Pope from 590-604 C.E., predicted that the end of the world was imminent in a letter he wrote to Ethelbert, a European monarch. He advised **** "Further, we also wish Your Majesty to know, as we have learned from the words of Almighty God in Holy Scriptures, that the end of the present world is already near and that the unending Kingdom of the Saints is approaching. As this same end of the world is drawing nigh, many unusual things will happen - climatic changes, terrors from heaven... All these things are not to come in our own days, but they will all follow upon our times."

Today, on the subject of Christ's millenial rule, one camp of the Baptist Church must be found. to be in error regarding predictions, since there are basically two conflicting prophetic viewpoints held within the Church. Authors O.K. Armstrong and Marjorie Armstrong made this clear in Chapter 17 of their volume The Indomitable Baptists: "One favorite topic of disputation among ultra conservative Baptists is the doctrine of the Millenium, dealing with the Second Coming of Christ. One mention of the Millenium in the book of Revelation, taken literally, gave rise to arguments about the rule of Christ on earth - whether it would be for a thousand years before his final ascension or a thousand years after...". One group came to be called "premillenialists" and the other "amillenialists", certainly raising the question of which group of Baptists made the correct prediction. This will be made absolutely clear in God's due time. The other group will be proven wrong, again making it clear there was some sort of failed prediction originating within a widely respected religious body.

In the early 1900s, the well-known Dr. Isaac M. Haldeman, Pastor of the First Baptist Church in New York City, predicted that before the Jews return to Palestine that the Antichrist would appear. Haldeman explained, **"The Scriptures teach that this man (the Antichrist) will be the prime factor in bringing the Jews back, as a body into their own land; that he will be the power that shall make Zionism a success; that through him the nationalism of the Jews shall be accomplished." When Israel was founded in 1948; the Jews were restored to Palestine without the advent of the Antichrist.

Dr. Isaac M. Haldeman, pastor of the First Baptist Church in New York City, predicted that before the Jews returned to Palestine to establish a Jewish State--an event that happened in 1948--that the Antichrist would appear. Haldeman explained: 'The Scriptures teach that this man (the Antichrist) will be the prime factor in bringing the Jews back, as a body into their own land; that he will be the power that shall make Zionism a success; that through him the nationalism of the Jews shall be accomplished." There is still a group of believers that continue to believe that Haldeman was correct; and that in truth, Adolf Hitler was the Antichrist predicted in the Bible (or perhaps one antichrist of many). They offer as "proof" the fact that the end result of WWII and the holocaust drove many Jews out of Europe to their new Israel. The fact that Hitler's Holocaust killed millions of Jewish believers (called "saints" in many Old Testament prophetic passages) would correlate positively with several Bible predictions that the Antichrist will seek to murder multitudes of "saints." (The Signs of the Times, Isaac Massey Haldeman, pages 452, 453).



---------------------------
Should I go on?

If you label JWs false prophets, then that includes the Churches too.

Duet. is talking about someone who claims to have been commanded by Jehovah God himself.


UPDATE:

Too much to count when it comes to the churches. When it comes to the WT, many have misquoted much information to make it seem like a lot. So the best thing to do is to look them up yourself, and see what they actually say.

So are the churches false prophets too?

Answer 5

Not only did the Society lie, they have from the beginning reprinted books:

Studies in the Scriptures Series III - Thy Kingdom Come 1908 edition


"That the deliverance of the saints must take place some time before 1914 is manifest, since the deliverance of fleshly Israel, as we shall see, is appointed to take place at that time, and the angry nations will then be authoritatively commanded to be still, and will be made to recognize the power of Jehovah's Anointed. Just how long before 1914 the last living members of the body of Christ will be glorified, we are not directly informed; but it certainly will not be until their work in the flesh is done; nor can we reasonably presume that they will long remain after that work is accomplished. With these two thought in mind, we can approximate the time of the deliverance."




Studies in the Scriptures Series III - Thy Kingdom Come 1915 edition

"That the deliverance of the saints must take place very soon after 1914 is manifest, since the deliverance of fleshly Israel, as we shall see, is appointed to take place at that time, and the angry nations will then be authoritatively commanded to be still, and will be made to recognize the power of Jehovah's Anointed. Just how long after 1914 the last living members of the body of Christ will be glorified, we are not directly informed; but it certainly will not be until their work in the flesh is done; nor can we reasonably presume that they will long remain after that work is accomplished."


The 1915 March 1 issue of the Watch Tower admitted to these changes in the following article.
"CHANGES IN "SCRIPTURE STUDIES"
We call attention to a few slight changes which have been made in four pages of Vol. II. and six pages of Vol. III., "STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES." These are all trivial and do not alter the real sense and lesson, but conform to the facts as we have them today. The pages containing these corrections are as follows:

Vol. II., page 77, line 1, "will be the farthest limit," reads "will see the disintegration."

Vol. II., page 77, line 6, "will obtain full universal control," reads "will begin to assume control."

Vol. II., page 77, lines 16,17, "end of A.D. 1914," reads "end of the overthrow."

Vol. II., page 81, line 9, "can date only from A.D. 1914," reads "could not precede A.D. 1915."

Vol. II., page 170, line 16, "at that time they will all be overturned."*
*How long it will require to accomplish this overturning we are not informed, but have reason to believe the period will be short.

Vol. II., page 221, line 25, "full favor until A.D. 1914," reads "full favor until after 1915."

Vol. III., page 94, line 29, "in this end or harvest," reads "at the end of this harvest."

Vol. III., page 126, line 12, "at A.D. 1914," reads "after 1914."

Vol. III., page 133, line 21, "ere the harvest is fully ended."+
+The end of the harvest will probably include the burning of the tares.

Vol. III., page 228, line 11, "some time before 1914," reads "very soon after 1914."

Vol. III., page 228, line 15, "just how long before," reads "just how long after."

Vol. III., page 362, line 11, "some time before," reads "some time near."

Vol. III., page 364, line 14, "must not only witness," reads "may not only witness.""



It's interesting that it says "...these are trivial and do not alter the real sense and lesson."
One day they're saying yes the conclusion of the end will be definitely by 1914...
The next they're saying soon after...
That, imho, alters the real sense and lesson.
It says that they did not actually have Divine guidance.
Further, when Armageddon delayed, they went with 1915...

"The Gentile Times prove that the present governments must all be overturned about the close of A.D. 1915; and Parallelism above shows that this period corresponds exactly with the year A.D. 70, which witnessed the completion of the downfall of the Jewish polity."

C.T.Russell: Studies in the Scriptures II - The Time Is At Hand, ed 242

(another reprint. It went from 1914 to 1915)

"we consider it an established truth, that the final end of the kingdoms of this world, and the full establishment of the kingdom of God will be accomplished by A.D. 1915. At that time the prayer of the church, ever since her Lord took his departure, - 'Thy kingdom come' - will be answered; and under its wise and just administration, the whole earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord"

C.T.Russell: Studies in the Scriptures II - The Time Is At Hand, ed 242

(another reprint. It went from 1914 to 1915)




edit:
Fwiw, JC, you definitely make some great points!
Right now I am really amazed at the number of people who are hanging off the words of some of these popular authors.

The fact is, whether we are discussing the Watchtower Society OR any number of people who have prophesied some pretty crazy things...
For Christians they are doing something that Jesus warned about....
Matt 24:23-25

"23 “Then if anyone says to YOU, ‘Look! Here is the Christ,’ or, ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will give great signs and wonders so as to mislead, if possible, even the chosen ones. 25 Look! I have forewarned YOU. 26 Therefore, if people say to YOU, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; ‘Look! He is in the inner chambers,’ do not believe it."

We can see that throughout the years, many have tried to stake some claim as to knowing when Jesus would appear.
And indeed, the JW's are just as guilty as anyone else.
Looking at their history, they said Jesus came in 1878, then in 1914.
As someone said earlier, that it's just clearer understanding.

Well, the problem is this:

How could Any sincere bible student completely overlook the words of Jesus here?

Matt 24:36
36 “Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father.

It seems clear to many who would read the preceding quote at Matthew, that the entire purpose of Jesus' words there were to warn people that there Would Be Some who be seeking to mislead others by claiming to know "special things".
"Hey! I know where the Lord is..."
Sound familiar?

The very fact that the Society has been much less than forthright about their history should raise red flags to any sincere student of the Bible and Jesus.

While everyone is truly entitled to believe what they want, is it really fair that a family should be completely broken up because one person doesn't want to follow a group of people that they can't trust?
I don't think it is.
I don't believe it is fair that my kids are going to grow up without a family because I chose not to be lied to anymore.
Sure, there are some wonderful things I learned as a JW, but upon leaving I have found that many from different walks of life have learned the same basic concepts of love and morality.
I just looked at the history of the JW's and realized that my conscience would no longer allow me to preach that this was the truth because how could I do that when I know that they have not told the truth?
I wish you luck JC. You sound like a smart guy.

Answer 6

Yes.

If that had been true, where would I be now???
And all the others who have become JWs in recent years?
And yes, there is still hope for YOU!!!

We both have reason to be grateful that didn't come true.

Answer 7

I AM "Still" one of Jehovah's Witnesses:

Despite ALREADY Knowing EVERYTHING "U Said"; and EVERYTHING that U Will EVER SAY ! ! !

Because Despite (SOME) Flaws

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Jehovah's Witnesses

STILL

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> (((HAVE "THE TRUTH")))

Answer 8

Truly amazing and extremely sad isn't it? Continue to pray for them and try not to ridicule as that gets you no where. Maybe you can influence a few to come out. Good Luck

Answer 9

Come on, did you really expect those wackos to just throw their hands up and say, "Well, we were wrong. Bummer."