1. They have made many false prophecies
· Penton, a watchtower historian and critic, regarding Russell says “no major Christian sectarian movement has been so insistent on prophesying the end of the present world in such definite ways or on such specific dates as have JW, at least since the Millerites and Second Adventists of the 19th century who were the Witnesses’ direct millenarian forbears. During the early years of their history, they consistently looked to specific dates-1874, 1878, 1881, 1910, 1914, 1918, 1920, 1925, and others-as having definite eschatological significance…When these prophecies failed, they had to be reinterpreted, spiritualized, or, in some cases, ultimately abandoned. This did not deter Russell or his followers from setting new dates however, or from simply proclaiming that the end of this world or system of things was no more than a few years or perhaps even months away.”
·
2. 1914
· How they arrive there Facts about 607 B.C.E., 587 B.C. and whether Jesus started ruling in 1914 (jwfacts.com)
Ø Dan 4 ‘seven times’ prophecy. Starting the date at 607BC. 2520 years later 1914. Their whole doctrine here is built upon the idea Dan 4 has a second fulfillment despite none of the other ones having this (Dan 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11). The dream was fulfilled on nebby. They put themselves in place to give themselves authority. So you can see why its so important and why they are forced to ignore solid reliable history. And you can see the gymnastics and many steps and jumps they must make.
Ø Several authors refer to a 70 year timeframe. Can be seen with a Babylonian or Jewish timeframe. Jer 25 and 29 apply it to Babylon dominating for that time. Dan 9:2 applies it to the period of devastation of Jerusalem. Neither of these point to 607 bc and do not contradict secular history. Watchtower says the 70 year period of destruction for tyre was figurative but had to be literal for Jerusalem.
Ø The watchtower is forced to say that Jerusalem was destroyed in 607BC. But it is universally accepted that it happened in 587BC.
Ø They claim the inspiration for 1914 was holy spirit but it came from a bunch of others promoting it.
ü In 1929, Raymond Dougherty’s wrote that the knowledge of the reign of these kings “is based upon more than 2000 dated cuneiform documents. It must therefore be accepted as the ultimate criterion in the determination of Neo-Babylonian chronological questions.”
ü There are numerous ways to verify this including Ptolemy’s canon, Nabonidus Chronicle, Harran, Hillah stele and synchronization with Egyptian chronology.
ü The Dictionary of Biblical Archaeology page 274 states “Archaeological evidence for the destruction of the kingdom in 586BC comes from Jerusalem, Lachish, Tell Beit Mirsim and other sites.”
ü We know from prosopography (study of careers), that the Watchtower has to extend the lifespan of discovered Babylonians. To the point where some would have to have been working past 100 (Egibi Business house, Adad-guppi stele would require the mother of Nabonidus to have died at 121).
ü The predictable nature of the stars and planets also make astronomical observations invaluable in dating prior events. And Babylonians loved some astrology. Thousands of records prove precisely the dates of kings. VAT 4956 has 5 observations that place Nebuchadnezzar’s 37th year at 567-8BC. Which corresponds to 2 Kings 25:2,8 placing the 11th year of Zedekiah in the 19th year of Nebuchadnezzar.
ü Josephus agrees with the 587 date as well. “Nebuchadnezzar, in his 18th year reign, laid our temple desolate” (Against Apion Book I Ch 21).
ü They pit bible chronology against secular history unnecessarily. Their interpretation could just be wrong but because they think too highly of their own discernment they wouldn’t just change their interpretation. They call them ‘pagan historians’ when it suits them but inconsistenyl have to rely on them just to get to the 539BC figure they use to get to the 607BC figure. The evidence used to show destruction in 587Bc is the same used as destruction of babylon in 539BC. Archaeologists that prove when Babylon fell are the same people that have proven Jerusalem fell in 587bc. To undermine that, is to undermine 587bc, is to undermine 607bc. Insight on the scriptures p453 relies on an astronomical tablet and the work of scholars Strassmaier, Kugler, Oppolzer, and Gingerich to determine that King Cambyses 7th regnal reign was 523BC. They also then rely on Ptolemy’s canon to get to 539BC. “can be arrived at not only by ptolemy’s canon” page 454. Then claims they cant be trusted because they disagree with the 607 date (Watchtower 2011 Oct 1 p31). The line of Babylonian kings is for 50 years. There is a 20 year gap they need to address. Which they do by lengthening Nabonidus’ reign, or they theorize that there was a period of no king at all, a theory with no evidence. They admit the date is quite possible with evidence from the business tablets (Watchtower 2011 Nov 1 p24). With a note in this very article that “none of the secular experts quoted in this article hold that Jerusalem was destroyed in 607BC. “ Page 23. Watchtower differs with history on how long Nebby ruled. They say until 581 whereas history says 562. For watchtower timeline to be correct, Nabonidus needs to have ruled for 36 years rather than the actual 17. Their theory is so obviously wrong they have to posit 2 Nabonidus’. They say nebby started ruling in 624bc, making nabo too young to rule, but not if nebby started in 605bc.
ü 2 kings 24 jehoiakim paid tribute to Babylon for 3 years. Babylonian record shows this to be 604-602bc. Then in the next year, Egypt and Judah rebelled. The Babylonian record shows that nebby fought a great war with Egypt. Then Jehoiakim rebelled against nebby.
· Specific Claims
ü “In view of this strong Bible evidence concerning the Times of the Gentiles, 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 the end of AD 1914.” Russell (The Time is at Hand, Vol 2 of Studies in the Scriptures, 1889, page 99). He wasn’t referring to a heavenly kingdom because on page 101 he says the Kingdom had been set up in Heaven in 1878 and “The year AD 1878 clearly marks the time for the actual assuming of power as King of kings by our present spiritual invisible Lord.” (The Time is at hand 1911 p239)
ü And on pages 76-77 “we present Bible evidence proving that the full end of the times of the gentiles, the full end of their lease of dominion, will be reached in AD 1914 and that date will be the farthest limit of the rule of imperfect men.” And “That at that date the Kingdom of God…will have obtained full, universal control, and that it will then be ‘set up’ or firmly established, in the earth…” and “It will prove that some time before the end of AD 1914 the last member of divinely recognized Church of Christ, the royal priesthood, the body of Christ, will be glorified with the Head.”
ü “But bear in mind that the end of 1914 is not the date for the beginning, but for the end of the time of trouble.” (Zion’s Watchtower 1894, Jul 15, p226).
ü “the deliverance of the saints must take place some time before 1914 is manifest” (Thy Kingdom Come 1911 p228).
ü “the day of vengeance …will end in Oct, 1914” (The Day of Vengeance, p547)
ü “October 1914 will witness the full end of Babylon” (Watchtower 1911 Jun 15 p190)
ü “Christendom will have passed away as already shown in prophecy” (Thy Kingdom Come 1891 p153).
ü “…until 1914 at the end of which Babylon the great will have fallen and the dragon be bound…” (Three Worlds and The Harvest of this Worlds 1877 p143)
ü “…the battle of the great day of God almighty which will end in 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth’s present rulership is already commenced” (Studies in the scriptures-The Time is at hand 1889 p101).
· They acknowledged they didn’t come to pass.
ü “The Watchtower and its companion publications of the Society, for 40 years emphasized the fact that 1914 would witness the establishment of God’s Kingdom and the complete glorification of the Church…All of the Lord’s people looked forward to 1914 with joyful expectation. When that time came and passed there was much disappointment, chagrin and mourning, and the Lord’s people were greatly in reproach; They were ridiculed by the clergy and their allies in particular, and pointed to with scorn, because they had said so much about 1914, and what would come to pass, and their prophecies and not been fulfilled.” (Light, Vol 1, page 194, 1930)
ü “The author acknowledges that in this book he presents the thought that the Lord’s saints might expect to be with him in glory at the ending of the Gentile times. This was a natural mistake to fall into, but the Lord overruled it for the blessing of His people.” (Studies in the Scriptures-The Time is at Hand 1916 foreword)
· They shift blame (not very humble)
ü “It seems to be a weakness of many bible students that if they locate a future date in the bible, immediately they center as many prophecies upon that date as possible. This has been the cause of many siftings in the past. As far as we recall, all the dates foreseen were correct. Some anticipated that the work would end in 1925, but the Lord did not state so. The difficulty was that the friends inflated their imaginations beyond reason; and that when their imaginations burst asunder, they were inclined to throw everything away…Many can remember how ‘absolutely sure’ some were about 1914. No doubt the Lord was pleased with the zeal manifested by his servants; but did they have a scriptural basis for all they expected to come to pass that year? Let us be cautious, therefore about predicting particulars.” (Watchtower 1926 p232) (Watchtower 1925 Feb 15 p57).
ü With regard to followers that left “Had some been attracted by the thought of their own early salvation rather than love for God and a strong desire to do his will?” (Jehovah’s Witnesses-Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom p62)
ü “Their thoughts and desires had been fixed primarily on the prospect of being changed to heavenly life. When this did not occur at the anticipated time, they closed their minds to the significance of the amazing things that did take place in 1914. They lost sight of all the precious truths that they had learned from God’s word, and they began to ridicule the people who had helped them to learn these.” (Jehovah’s Witnesses-Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom p636).
ü They blame bible students for being overzealous and reading into Watchtower comments despite the fact that they said things like “established truth” and “proofs” and “evidences” and these things “will” occur. The bible students DID NOT read into comments what was not intended. The ones that left were the ones that humble themselves and admitted they were deceived and left.
ü “There is no doubt that many throughout this period were overzealous in their statements as to what could be expected. Some read into the Watch Tower statements that were never intended.” (Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Divine Purpose p52).
ü “If anyone has been disappointed through not following this line of thought, he should now concentrate on adjusting his viewpoint, seeing that it was not the word of God that failed or deceived him and brought disappointment, but that his own understanding was based on wrong premises.” (Watchtower 1976 Jul 15 p441)
· Pretend it was fulfilled (not very humble)
ü After having acknowledged it was a failed prophecy shown above, later they actually do a complete 180 and act as though they were right all along! But in doing that they must conclude “the Lord’s people looked forward” to WW1! It doesn’t work regardless, because that was not the claims made originally. “But, oh, how they were silenced when on Jul 28, 1914, peace was shattered by the outbreak of WW1” (Watchtower 1985 Sep 1 p24).
ü They would still say 1914 is when the gentile times ended, Jesus started ruling in Heaven and the Last days began. But prior to 1914, they taught the last days began in 1799 and Jesus Parousia started in 1874 and started ruling in heaven in 1878 and that the gentile times would end in 1914 resulting in the end of Armageddon, fall of false religion, end all earthly governments, heavenly and earthly resurrections, paradise on earth.
ü “How did JW’s know more than 30 years in advance that 1914 would be an important date for divine rulership…” (Watchtower 1984 Apr 1 p6). Is that rhetorical? Because the answer lies somewhere in the fact that Russell used pyramidology!
ü You could say he ‘correctly’ predicted the end of the gentile times. But this phrase has shifted in meaning to account for the failure of prophecy. It used to mean the end of earthly govts and false religion now it simply means something unfalsifiable-that Jesus is ruling in Heaven.
ü They had around 20 dates that they all abandoned significance for, but they could hold on to 1914 because WW1 started (luckily for them).
ü “Very noteworthy was the striking accuracy with which that book pointed to the end of the gentile times, the appointed times of the nations” (Yearbook 1975 p37)
ü “by linking the seven times of Dan 4:25 with the times of the gentiles, they anticipated that Christ would receive Kingdom power in 1914” (Watchtower 1998 Sep 15 p15) But remember how they already said Jesus received the Kingdom in 1878?
ü Why prophesy and speak on things that cannot be verified? Oh because then you can’t be proven wrong! “Our Lord the appointed King, is now present since October 1874, according to the testimony of the prophets, to those who have eats to hear it, and the formal inauguration of his kingly office dates from April 1878.” (Studies in the scriptures Series-The Day of Vengeance 1897 p621).
· Rewrite history.
ü “The Watchtower has consistently presented evidence to honest hearted students of Bible prophecy that Jesus’ presence in Heavenly Kingdom power began in 1914.” (Watchtower 1993 Jan 15 p5).
ü And “JW’s pointed to the year 1914, decades in advance, as marking the start of ‘the start of the conclusion of the system of things.” (Awake 1973 Jan 22 p8).
ü And “…in 1914, the bible students were not exactly sure what was going to happen, but they knew it would be a pivotal year.” (GB member Samuel Herd, 2016 documentary Thy Kingdom 100 years and Counting).
ü And in 1915 reissued the 1914 journals with amendments to hide their mistakes (very humble). For example, a 1914 copy says “deliverance of the saints must take place sometime before 1914.” But was changed to “deliverance of the saints must take place very soon after 1914”. Which again, is still wrong! They do admit to the changes but not so humbly lie about it “These are all trivial and do not alter the real sense and lesson.”
· They did NOT humbly accept responsibility.
ü Even if they did humbly repent, that doesn’t change what the bible says about false prophets! You can never ever trust them after that. And unless they did something significant you never should have trusted them in the first place. These two articles are in contradiction. Did their critics scorn their failed prophecy or were they shut up by vindication?
ü “The Lord did not say that the church would all be glorified by 1914. We merely inferred it and evidently erred.” (Watchtower 1916 Apr 15 reprints p5888). So he pretends he wasn’t CONFIDENTLY claiming and asserting but rather ‘inferring’.
ü And “We did not say positively that this would be the year. We merely left every one to look at the facts of history and reckon for himself…” (Watchtower 1914 Nov 1 p325-326)
ü Then when people left as they realized he was a liar and not of God, he said it was a time of testing and anyone who stopped following him had stopped following God. (Watchtower 1914 Nov 1 p5570)
ü Never learning his lesson, he went on to make MORE predictions to be unfulfilled. For 1915, then 1918.
2 Thes 2:1-2
By their own standard, they are finished. “a religion that teaches lies cannot be true.” (Watchtower 1991 Dec 1 p7) and “Knowing these things what will you do? It is obvious that the true God who is himself ‘the God of truth’ and who hates lies, will not look with favor on persons who cling to organizations that teach falsehood. And really, would you want to be even associated with a religion that had not been honest with you?” (IS this life all there is p46).
3. 1925
· Specific Claims
ü Rutherford took over prophecy from Russell. Claiming in (Millions now living will never die 1920 and The Way to Paradise 1925) that the end would occur in 1925. With a lot of overlap of expectations from 1914.
ü “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”
ü Hilariously, they doubled down hard! “The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the scriptures than 1914.” (Watchtower 1924 Jul 15 p211).
ü “Our thought is that 1925 is definitely settled by the scriptures. As to Noah, the Christian now has more upon which to base his faith than Noah had upon which to base his faith in a coming deluge.” (Watchtower 1923 Apr 1 p106).
ü Same arrogant language “When you take up a more advanced study of the bible” you will agree with them. “…this chronology is not of man, but of God…the addition of more proofs removes it entirely from the realm of chance into that of proven certainty…the present truth is not of human origin.” (Watchtower 1922 Jul 15 p217). “The date is even more distinctly indicated by the scriptures…” (Watchtower 1922 Sep 1 p262). Remember, he said this was of God!
ü This time with gloating and more arrogance even while referencing previous failures. “We cannot be blamed for presenting from the scriptures such evidence as they afford which leads us to believe that a certain event will take place at a given time. Some times the Lord has let his people looking for the right thing at the wrong time, and more frequently they have looked for the wrong things at the right time. But all the enemies of the cause of present truth in the earth are fervently hoping that the bible students will ont be so successful in 1925 in looking for the right thing at the right time as they were in 1914. If they are, however, it will be the other fellow that will have to do the explaining, and not we.” (Golden Age 1924, Feb 13, p314).
· Once again, pretend it was fulfilled and Rewrites History
Ø “The ‘millions now living will never die’ slogan applied only to the ‘great crowd’ of ‘other sheep’…whose destiny is an earthly paradise.” (Watchtower 1963 May 15 p294). This is the opposite of what was taught. JW’s at that time were thought to die and go to Heaven, the ‘great crowd’ was supposed to go to heaven and the ‘millions’ referred to were to be the rest of humanity that get to keep living on the earth.
Ø Watchtower 2010 Feb 15 p15-16 deceptively misquotes the title of the 1918 lectures. They call it “Millions now living MAY never die” despite the fact that it was entitled ‘Millions now living WILL never die’.
· Once Again, Blaming Followers
Ø “It was stated in the ‘millions’ book that we might reasonably expect them to return shortly after 1925, but this was merely an expressed opinion; besides it is still shortly after 1925” (Watchtower 1926 Jul 1 p196).
Ø “Some anticipated that the work would end in 1925, but the lord did not state so.” Watchtower 1926 Aug 1 p232).
Ø “Instead of its being considered a ‘probability’, they read into it that it was a ‘certainty’. (Yearbook 1975 p146)
Ø “Ever since the 1870’s, bible students had been serving with a date in mind-first 1914, then 1925. Now they realized that they must serve for as long as Jehovah wishes.” (Watchtower 1993 Nov 1 p12).
Ø “On the basis of what was said there, many hoped that perhaps the remaining ones of the little flock would receive their heavenly reward by 1925…Though mistaken, they eagerly shared it with others.” (JWs-Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom p632).
Ø And the ones who humble themselves and leave, get attacked. “Although these tests resulted in a sifting and some blew away like chaff when wheat is winnowed, others remained firm.” (JWs-Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom p633)
· He admitted he was wrong
Ø Meaning he never should have blamed anyone for leaving or expecting big things. Or pretended it was fulfilled. “Regarding his misguided statements as to what we could expect in 1925, he once confessed to us at bethel, “I made an ass of myself” (Watchtower 1984 Oct 1 p24).
Ø “The year 1925 came and went. Some abandoned their hope. But the vast majority of the bible students remained faithful.” (JWs-Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom p78). This is a lie since stats show over half left after this failure.
· Does the Light really get brighter?
Ø When Russel heard about the 1925 date he said “they are not giving much head to its teachings. Otherwise, they would know from its columns that we are not looking forward to 1925 nor to any other date.” (Watchtower 1916 Apr 15 p5888). Yet they went ahead with this false prophecy anyway.
4. 1975
· Predictions
Ø They got slightly smarter about their predictions. Rather than directly state things, they just heavily implied it. And left little to the imagination.
Ø “According to this trustworthy bible chronology 6000 years from man’s creation will end in 1975, and the 7th period of a thousand years of human history will begin in the fall of 1975. So 6000 years of man’s existence will soon be up, yes within this generation…” (Life Everlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God 1966 p26-30).
Ø “It means that within a few years we will witness the fulfillment of the remaining prophecies that have to do with the ‘time of the end’. (Awake 1966 Oct 8 p19-20).
Ø “The danger of sudden death is staring you in the face…That is exactly the case with the warning that we speak of here, and there are reasons why it can be truly said to be the most urgent warning ever given…It is to come with the generation that has already seen two world wars and it is only a few short years ahead of us.” (Watchtower 1967 Apr 15 p243-244).
Ø At the 1967 District convention, Wisconsin, brother Charles Sinutko said “[Jehovah] has held up for us a new goal. A new year. Something to reach out for and it just seems it has given us all so much more energy and power in this final burst of speed to the finish line. And that’s the year 1975. Well, we don’t have to guess what the year 1975 means if we read the watchtower. And don’t wait till 1975. The door is going to be shut before then. As one brother put it “Stay alive to 75”.
Ø “Just think brothers, there are only about 90 months left…The majority of people living today will probably be alive when Armageddon breaks out, and there are no resurrection hopes for those that are destroyed then.” (Kingdom Ministry 1968 Mar p4).
Ø “The immediate future is certain to be filled with climactic events, for this old system is nearing its complete end. Within a few years at most the final parts of bible prophecy relative to these ‘last days’ will undergo fulfillment.” (Watchtower 1968 May 1 p272).
Ø “This is not the time to be toying with the words of Jesus that “concerning that day and hour nobody knows”. To the contrary, it is a time when one should be keenly aware that the end of this system of things is rapidly coming to its violent end.” (Watchtower 1968 Aug 15 p494 Why Are You Looking Forward to 1975?)
Ø “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 7th 1000-year period of man’s existence coincides with the sabbath like 1000-year reign of Christ…” (Watchtower 1968 Aug 15 p499)
Ø “The fact that 54 years of the period called the ‘last days’ have already gone by is highly significant. It means that only a few years, at most, remain before the corrupt system of things dominating the earth is destroyed by God. (Awake 1968 Oct 8 p13).
Ø “If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things. Why not? Because all the evidence in fulfillment of bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system of things is due to end in a few years.” And what did they mean by ‘a few years’? “If you are thinking about a college education, it means at least 4 perhaps even 6 or 8 more years to graduate…but this system of things may well be toward its finish if not actually gone!” (Awake 1969 May 22 p15).
Ø “Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world’s end.” (Kingdom Ministry may 1974 p3) “This has been a major influencing factor in many couples deciding not have children” (Awake 1974 Nov 8 p11). Some also cashed in their super, and cancelled health insurances.
Ø The respect that these extremists are given is hilarious after the condemnation that comes in (Watchtower 1976 Jul 15 p440-441). “It may have been that some who have been serving Gof have planned their lives according to a mistaken view of just what was to happen on a certain date or in a certain year. They may have, for this reason, put off or neglected things that they otherwise would have cared for. But they have missed the point of the bible’s warnings concerning the end of this system of things…” “Did Jesus mean that we should adjust our financial and secular affairs so that our resources would just carry us to a certain date that we might think marks the end...This is not the kind of thinking that Jesus advised…”
· Classic Rewrite of History
Ø The 1968 edition of (The Truth that Leads to Eternal Life p9) quotes Dean Acherson and his quote about 15 years from today. But in the revised 1981 edition the cut off that part and replace the idea of imminent end with ‘soon’.
Ø The 1968 edition of the same book also quotes a secular book Famine-1975! and in the 1981 edition replaced the quote.
· A bit of Admittance
Ø And the first suggestion of admission of guilt comes 5 years after in (Yearbook 1980 p30-31) “the brothers also appreciated the candor of this same talk, which acknowledged the Society’s responsibility for some of the disappointment a number felt regarding 1975.”
Ø The other admission, still 5 years late and concludes by blaming others. “considerable expectation was aroused regarding the year 1975” and referring to the same book (Life Everlasting-in Freedom of the Sons of God) they say “unfortunately however there were other statements published that implied hopes by that year were more of a probability rather than possibility.” (Watchtower 1980 Mar 15 p17).
Ø And “This later led to the idea-sometimes stated as a possibility, sometimes more firmly, that since the 7th millennium of human history would begin in 1975…” (JW’s Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom p633).
· The whole prediction made no sense. In 1955 Watchtower, they said no one could determine when 6000 years of God’s rest day would come to an end.
· Jesus chose the WT and GB to represent him. “Since 1919, the slave has been put in charge…” (In Whom Do You Trust? Mar 2018 Gerrit Losch). “The FADS was appointed in 1919…” (jw.org 2012 Annual Meeting Report). “Some may feel that they can interpret the bible on their own. However, Jesus has appointed the FS to be the only channel for dispensing spiritual food. Since 1919, the glorified Jesus Christ has been using that slave to help his followers understand God’s own Book and heed its directives. By obeying the instructions found in the bible, we promote cleanness, peace, and unity in the congregation. Each one of us does well to ask himself, ‘am I loyal to the channel that Jesus is using today?” (Watchtower 2016 Nov p16).
· “On arriving to inspect the slave in 1918, Christ found a spirit-anointed remnant of faithful disciples who since 1879 had been using this journal (the watchtower) and other bible-based publications to provide spiritual food at the proper time. He acknowledged them as his collective instrument, or slave and in 1919 entrusted them with the management of all his earthly belongings.” (Watchtower 2007 Apr 1 p22).
Ø Wow just look at all the things Jesus didn’t condemn them for!
Ø The "Last Days" started in 1799 and the 1800s were the worst time period of all history
Ø Jesus presence commenced in 1874
Ø Jesus had begun ruling in 1878
Ø Armageddon had occurred in 1914
Ø Blood was acceptable as food for Christians
Ø Jesus should be prayed to and worshipped, as well as Jehovah
Ø The Great Crowd were a heavenly class
Ø Birthdays and Christmas were acceptable celebrations
Ø The cross was on the cover of the Watchtower
Ø Teachings adapted from 1800's religious preachers and the Adventist movement, such as that pyramids and astrology supported 1914
Ø Strong Zionist support for a new nation of Israel in fulfilment of Bible prophecy
Ø The Faithful and Discreet Slave was not the anointed, but rather Pastor Russell
And they call others out for this! “Religious leaders sometimes predict tragic worldwide events to warn mankind and gather followers. Doomsday prophet Harold Camping and his disciples widely advertised that the earth would be destroyed in 2011. Needless to say, the world is still here.” (Watchtower 2014 May 1 p3) Not very humble ignoring the fact that they did this for the first century they existed. And (Watchtower 2012 Feb 1 p25)
Deut 18:20-22 Luke 21:8.
Maybe they don’t consider themselves prophets? Nope. They definitely do. “This was the test-the coming down of fire and the fulfillment on time has proved that Pastor Russell was one of God’s great reformers and prophets” (Watchtower 1919 Oct 1 p297)
“For an answer, people should listen to the plain preaching by the remnant prefigured by Jeremiah, for these preach to men the present day fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecies. Who made them to speak with the authority they claim? Well, who made Jeremiah a prophet?” (Watchtower 1959 Jan 15 p39-41).
Those who do not read can hear, for God has on earth today a prophetlike organization, just as he did in the days of the early Christian congregation.” (Watchtower 1964 Oct 1 p601).
They have paragraphs dedicated to calling themselves prophets in (Watchtower 1972 Apr 1 p197-199)
· In (Revelation, Its Grand Climax p164) They think they are the 2 witnesses. that prophesy accurately.
· In (Awake 1993 Mar 22 p4), they hilariously hypocritically mock religious groups for falsely predicted dates calling them doomsday groups then in a footnote separate themselves from these doomsday groups because previous failed JW predictions weren’t ‘in the name of Jehovah’. But…(1971 The Nations Shall Know that I am Jehovah p59, 61) “commissioned to serve as the mouthpiece and active agent of Jehovah…Whom could the real chariot of Jehovah’s organization roll up to and confront that he might bestow upon this qualified one the commission to speak as a prophet in the name of Jehovah?”
· “the truths I present, as God’s mouthpiece…” (Zion’s watchtower 1906 Jul 15 p230)
· “more accurately, was there any group on whom Jehovah would be willing to bestow the commission to speak as a prophet in his name, as was done toward Ezekiel back there in 613BC (Watchtower 1972 Mar 15 p189).
· “The watchtower is a magazine without equal in the earth…this is not giving credit to the magazine’s publishers but is due to the great author of the bible with it truths and prophecies and who now interprets its prophecies.” (Watchtower 1943 Apr 15 p127).
· Its interesting to note that in the watchtower index from 1935 to 1985 Deut 18:20 appears 3 times in total and from 1986 to 2006, no reference at all. This clearly touches a nerve with them.
· They call themselves in prophets in the sense that “all true Christians are prophets” (Awake 1986 Jun 8 p9) but this would make them irrelevant and moot as leaders then wouldn’t it?
· “There was a measure of disappointment on the part of Jehovah’s faithful ones on earth concerning the years 1917, 1918, 1925 which disappointment lasted for a time. And they also learned to quit fixing dates.”
· (Awake! Oct 8, pg 23) “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” so Russell and GB never had God’s truth or evidence of guiding capacity? In that same year there was an article published called ‘why are you looking forward to 1975?’ whispering and predicting another date…. Awake! Pg 15.