The Watchtower Society really holds religious organizations to high standards and isn’t afraid to call them out when they fall short. The Catholic Church has faced its fair share of criticism, and back on August 22, 1984, the Awake! magazine addressed a reader who felt the Society was taking “cheap shots” at the Church. On page 28, they had this to say:
The Catholic Church occupies a very significant position in the world and claims to be the way of salvation for hundreds of millions of people. Any organization that assumes that position should be willing to submit to scrutiny and criticism. All who criticize have the obligation to be truthful in presenting the facts and fair and objective in assessing such.
In a January 15, 1974 Watchtower article titled “Can You Be True to God, Yet Hide the Facts?”, the Society really laid down their stance on religious errors more strongly on page 35:
What results when a lie is let go unchallenged? Does not silence help the lie to pass as truth, to have freer sway to influence many, perhaps to their serious harm?….
When persons are in great danger from a source that they do not suspect or are being misled by those they consider their friends, is it an unkindness to warn them? They may prefer not to believe the warning. They may even resent it. But does that free one from the moral responsibility to give that warning?
Jehovah’s Witnesses, led by the Watchtower Society, aka the Governing Body, have made a lot of predictions about the “end of the world,” and since we’re still here, my guess is that none have come true. Many argue that these predictions, supposedly made in God’s name, prove the Watchtower Society is a false prophet and should be avoided, as Deuteronomy 18:20-22 suggests. So, we’re going to look into that question, reflecting the spirit of the earlier quotes.
The March 22, 1993 Awake! features three articles titled “The World’s End — How Near?”, seemingly aimed at addressing the Society’s critics. The series tries hard to argue that, despite their failed predictions, Jehovah’s Witnesses aren’t false prophets.
However, it seems like the articles were penned by someone who doesn’t really grasp the history of Jehovah’s Witnesses. We’ll break down the articles point by point to explain why.
The first article is entitled “Why So Many False Alarms?” Beginning on page 3 it says:
The story is told of a boy who watched the sheep of the villagers. To stir up a bit of excitement, one day he cried out, “Wolf! Wolf!” when there was no wolf. The villagers rushed out with clubs to drive off the wolf, only to find that there was none. It was such great fun that later on the boy repeated his cry. Again the villagers rushed out with their clubs, only to discover that it was another false alarm. After that a wolf did come, and the boy sounded the warning, “Wolf! Wolf!” but the villagers dismissed his cry as another false alarm. They had been fooled too often.
So it has become with those who proclaim the end of the world. Down through the centuries since Jesus’ day, so many unfulfilled predictions have been made that many no longer take them seriously.
You know, it’s really interesting to think about this. Jehovah’s Witnesses actually fit this illustration way better than the people the article talks about. Just like that shepherd boy, they’ve cried “Wolf” so many times that it’s hard to take them seriously. Back in 1876, Charles Taze Russell predicted that true Christians would be “brought home” to Christ by 1878. He also said that the “Gentile times” would wrap up in 1914, and that year would mark the start of God’s Kingdom on earth.
It should be noted, that, Russell did not originate these predictions, but adopted them from the Second Adventist Nelson H. Barbour when he accepted all of Barbour’s chronological theories early in 1876. This was before the Watchtower Society was formed. Ironically, Barbour would later abandoned these chronological speculations, while Russell retained them, with a slight reinterpretation.
Eventually, the Watchtower Society, led by J. F. Rutherford in the 1920s, started to tweak some of those predictions so that nobody could really argue against them, and just dropped the rest. Then in 1914, they predicted World War I would morph into Armageddon by 1918. When that didn’t pan out, they said 1925 would be the big year. Rutherford later suggested that World War II would turn into Armageddon too, telling Jehovah’s Witnesses to hold off on getting married and having kids. In 1966, Fred Franz wrote a book claiming that six thousand years of human history would wrap up in 1975, which he said would be a huge deal. They learned not to make bold predictions in print anymore, but the message got out, and almost all Jehovah’s Witnesses were expecting the “end of the system of things” by 1975.
It’s pretty fascinating to see how newer Jehovah’s Witnesses react when they find out about all those false predictions. When they first get into the unique beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses, they’re really excited, but they don’t get the whole backstory, you know? A lot of folks who joined after 1975, for instance, have no clue about the mindset Jehovah’s Witnesses had leading up to that year. Most of the older members don’t talk about it much, and you hardly ever see it mentioned in Watchtower publications. Newer members usually only hear about the 1975 issue when someone outside challenges them. Their first instinct is to deny that “the end of the world” was ever pushed, but those who are honest eventually realize that the Society really did everything but outright say 1975 was the end.
In the 1980 Yearbook, pp. 30-1; and the March 15, 1980, Watchtower, p. 17, the Society even issued a printed apology, actually , it wasn’t really an apology, it was more of an admission, but that’s not something most Jehovah’s Witnesses know about today.
In the Society’s Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom, puts it this way: “Other statements were published on this subject, and some were likely more definite than advisable.” (p. 104)
The same Awake! article talks about a bunch of failed predictions regarding the end of the world. Pope Gregory I back in the day (590-604 C.E.) thought the end was just around the corner. Then there’s Martin Luther in the 16th century, who was sure judgment day was coming soon. The Watchtower Society has been saying since 1914 that “Armageddon is just around the corner,” and before that, C. T. Russell had his own predictions, saying it would all wrap up by 1914, then pushed it to 1915, 1918, 1920, 1925, the 1940s, and even 1975. The article also brings up early Baptist groups like the Anabaptists, who were expecting the Millennium in 1533, and Edwin Sandys, who thought the Lord was on his way. William Miller, who started the Adventist Church, predicted Christ would return between March 21, 1843, and March 21, 1844. After the “Great Disappointment,” Miller stopped making predictions, but his followers, like George Storrs and N. H. Barbour, kept it going, which influenced C. T. Russell. Groups that came from Miller, like the Seventh Day Adventists and Jehovah’s Witnesses, have kept making predictions that didn’t pan out.
Awake! continues on page 3:
Does the failure of such predictions to come true convict as false prophets those who made them, within the meaning of Deuteronomy 18:20-22? That text reads: “The prophet who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded him to speak or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die. And in case you should say in your heart: ‘How shall we know the word that Jehovah has not spoken?’ when the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that Jehovah did not
The Deuteronomy quote highlights the importance for prophets to ensure their messages come from Jehovah. As this Awake! Article notes, not everyone making predictions should be labeled a prophet.
So, what is prophecy and who is a prophet? The Watchtower Society provides clear definitions. According to Volume 2 of Insight on the Scriptures, pages 690-1, a “prophecy” is:
An inspired message; a revelation of divine will and purpose or the proclamation thereof. Prophecy may be an inspired moral teaching, an expression of a divine command or judgment, or a declaration of something to come. As shown under PROPHET, prediction, or foretelling, is not the basic thought conveyed by the root verbs in the original languages…. yet it forms an outstanding feature of Bible prophecy…. The Source of all true prophecy is Jehovah God.
A prophecy can come from men or be inspired by demons, as per the Bible. A true prophet is defined in Vol 2 of Insight on the Scriptures, page 694, as:
One through whom divine will and purpose are made known.
You know, these definitions don’t really need a prophet to say they’re inspired. Even a false prophet can still be called a prophet, but they’re definitely not inspired and are actually condemned in Deuteronomy 18. So, here are the main takeaways: (1) if someone says they’re speaking for God, they’re a prophet, and (2) prophets can be either true or false. If you deny that a false prophet is a prophet, you’re going against what Jehovah teaches. Insight helps us figure out how to tell the difference between true prophets and the false ones.
The three essentials for establishing the credentials of a true prophet, as given through Moses, were: The true prophet would speak in Jehovah’s name; the things foretold would come to pass (De 18:20-22); and his prophesying must promote true worship, being in harmony with God’s revealed word and commandments (De 13:1-4).
There are actually three tests that a true prophet needs to pass. If they fail even one of those tests, they’re considered a false prophet. Basically, if someone says they’re a prophet—like, claiming to speak for God—but what they say doesn’t line up with the Bible, or if they make predictions in God’s name and those predictions don’t come true, then yeah, they’re a false prophet. It’s pretty straightforward, right?
One of the best explanations of these ideas can be found in the May 15, 1930 Watch Tower, pages 153-5, where it talks about the true prophet versus the false prophet.
A prophet is a person who professes to proclaim a message from Jehovah God. The Bible reveals the fact that there are both true and false prophets. The true prophet is one who always speaks as God’s mouthpiece. His message is the truth, and is designed to be a blessing to his hearers. He is never boastful, and always gives God the credit for the message which he proclaims, and therefore always has the divine approval. A false prophet is a person who claims to be a representative of Jehovah and to speak in his name and to proclaim his message but is in fact the mouthpiece of Satan. A false prophet never has Jehovah’s approval, and his message is always intended to deceive the people and to draw them away from God and a study of his Word.
A false prophet speaks that which is contrary to God’s will; he sneers at, contradicts and denies the message of God’s true prophets. It matters not whether he proclaims his message with deliberate, willful and malicious intent to deceive, or whether he is the blinded and deluded dupe of Satan and hence unwittingly used of him. In either case he is a false prophet….
Since the Bible was completed, and “inspiration” is no longer necessary, a true prophet is one who is faithfully proclaiming what is written in the Bible…. But it may be asked, How are we to know whether one is a true or a false prophet? There are at least three ways by which we can positively decide: (1) If he is a true prophet, his message will come to pass exactly as prophesied. If he is a false prophet, his prophecy will fail to come to pass…. The difference between a true and a false prophet is that the one is speaking the word of the Lord and the other is speaking his own dreams and guesses…. The true prophet of God today will be telling forth what the Bible teaches, and those things that the Bible tells us are soon to come to pass. He will not be sounding forth man-made theories or guesses, either his own or those of others…. In the New Testament, and in our day, the word “prophet” has a thought similar to that of our word “teacher,” in the sense of a public expounder. Hence when the term “false prophet” is used, we shall get the correct thought if we think of a false teacher.
The Watch Tower states that anyone claiming to represent God and whose prophecies fail is a false prophet, merely sharing human theories. It also asserts that inspiration is no longer necessary to determine a true prophet, meaning anyone who claims to speak in God’s name is considered a prophet.
The Awake!, October 8, 1968, highlighted that those who falsely predicted the end of the world were false prophets.
Still some persons may say: “How can you be sure? Maybe it is later than many people think. But maybe it is not as late as some persons claim. People have been mistaken about these prophecies before.”…. 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?
Compare these statements with those from the May 15, 1930 Watch Tower and consider the Society’s claims from 1914 and 1925.
Notably, the 1968 Awake! stated that anyone predicting the end of the world with specific dates, whose predictions failed, were deemed false prophets. The 1968 Awake! Continued:
Missing was the full measure of evidence required in fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Missing from such people were God’s truths and the evidence that he was guiding and using them.
The failure of those predictions indicates that God was not involved. The March 22, 1993 issue of Awake! notes that false predictions do not necessarily make someone a false prophet, suggesting that Jehovah’s Witnesses’ false predictions don’t label them as such either. This aligns with statements from the 1930 Watch Tower and Paradise Restored to Mankind — By Theocracy. The Awake! continues this discussion on page 3.
There are some who make spectacular predictions of the world’s end to grab attention and a following, but others are sincerely convinced that their proclamations are true. They are voicing expectations based on their own interpretation of some scripture text or physical event. They do not claim that their predictions are direct revelations from Jehovah and that in this sense they are prophesying in Jehovah’s name. Hence, in such cases, when their words do not come true, they should not be viewed as false prophets such as those warned against at Deuteronomy 18:20-22. In their human fallibility, they misinterpreted matters. [g93 3/22 3, 4]
The true prophet of God today will be telling forth what the Bible teaches, and those things that the Bible tells us are soon to come to pass. He will not be sounding forth man- made theories or guesses, either his own or those of others. [w30 5/15 153-5]
Jehovah, the God of the true prophets, will put all false prophets to shame either by not fulfilling the false prediction of such self-assuming prophets or by having His own prophecies fulfilled in a way opposite to that predicted by the false prophets. False prophets will try to hide their reason for feeling shame by denying who they really are. [Paradise Restored, 1972, pp. 353-4]
This description asserts that Jehovah’s Witnesses leaders are not false prophets. While some who predict the end of the world don’t claim direct inspiration from Jehovah, many still assert divine guidance. The Watch Tower has indicated that “inspiration” is no longer relevant, making Awake!’s argument a distraction.
Awake! suggests that only true prophets can prophesy in Jehovah’s name, implying that only those who explicitly claim divine inspiration could be false prophets, which undermines the concept of false prophets. This contradicts the Watch Tower’s stance from 1930.
This raises two questions: Has the Watchtower Society claimed to be a prophet, and have they claimed inspiration? The answer is yes. Deuteronomy states that a false prophet speaks in God’s name if their predictions fail, without needing to claim “inspiration.” The Society has repeatedly claimed to speak for God and be a prophet, emphasizing their role as a “channel of communication” in the late 19th 20th and 21st centuries. For instance, in the 1943 Olin Moyle court case, Fred Franz stated that no man edits The Watchtower. So, who is the editor?
Q. Who subsequently became the Editor of the magazine, the main editor of the “Watch Tower” magazine?
A. In 1931, October 15th, as I recall, the “Watch Tower” discontinued publishing the names of any editorial committee on the second page.
The Court: He asked you who became the editor.
The Witness: And it said —
The Court: Who became the editor?
Q. Who became the editor when this was discontinued?
A. Jehovah God.
If someone thinks that this was just Franz’s personal take and doesn’t really matter, it’s worth mentioning that back in 1943, Franz was pretty much the editor of The Watchtower. He was the main theologian for the Watchtower Society, and Nathan Knorr usually just approved whatever he wrote. Plus, Governing Body member Karl Klein often referred to him as the “oracle of the organization.”
Now, let’s look at a few instances where the Society clearly refers to itself as a prophet:
Whom has God actually used as his prophet?…. Jehovah’s witnesses. — The Watchtower, January 15, 1959, pp. 40-1.
As Jehovah revealed his truths by means of the first-century Christian congregation so he does today by means of the present-day Christian congregation. Through this agency he is having carried out prophesying on an intensified and unparalleled scale. — The Watchtower, June 15, 1964, p. 365.
There is a real need today for someone to speak as a true representative of God…. 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…? It is of importance to every individual on earth to identify the group that Jehovah has commissioned as his “servant” or messenger. — The Watchtower, March 15, 1972, pp. 186, 189, 190.
The next article was titled “They shall know that A Prophet Was Among Them,” and stated:
A third way of coming to know Jehovah God is through his representatives. In ancient times he sent prophets as his special messengers…. 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 only way that this can be done is to review the record. What does it show?…. Thus this group of anointed followers of Jesus Christ, doing a work in Christendom paralleling Ezekiel’s work among the Jews, were manifestly the modern-day Ezekiel, the “prophet” commissioned by Jehovah to declare the good news of God’s Messianic kingdom and to give warning to Christendom…. Jehovah’s witnesses today make their declaration of the good news of the Kingdom under angelic direction and support…. And since no word or work of Jehovah can fail, for he is God Almighty, the nations will see the fulfillment of what these witnesses say as directed from heaven. — The Watchtower, April 1, 1972, pp. 197, 198, 200.
Who, then, are the group of persons who, toward the beginning of this “time of the end,” were 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?…. Jehovah has found and commissioned his modern-day “Ezekiel.” It is a composite Ezekiel. It is composed of those dedicated, baptized proclaimers of God’s kingdom, who have been anointed with His spirit for their work…. Jehovah commissioned this dedicated, baptized, anointed class of servants to speak to all the nations in His name…. So it was with the anointed, dedicated witnesses of Jehovah back there in the year 1919 C.E. The facts from then on down to this date prove that they received their ordination and appointment and commission for their work in this “time of the end” from Jehovah himself. — The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah, 1971, pp. 58, 59, 61, 66, 67.
These faithful anointed Christians…. had to prophesy…. announcing Jehovah’s judgments…. proclaiming his day of vengeance…. [they] had to preach…. — Revelation — Its Grand Climax At Hand!, p. 164.
Consider, too, the fact that Jehovah’s organization alone, in all the earth, is directed by God’s holy spirit or active force. Only this organization functions for Jehovah’s purpose and to his praise. To it alone God’s Sacred Word, the Bible, is not a sealed book…. How very much true Christians appreciate associating with the only organization on earth that understands the ‘deep things of God.’…. How much we should appreciate God’s earthly organization…. — The Watchtower, July 1, 1973, p. 402.
The August 1, 1971 Watchtower applied Amos 3:7 to Jehovah’s Witnesses. On pages 466-8 it said:
There is an additional way, among others, to determine whom Jehovah is using today. Bible prophecy, history written in advance, comes from God…. He can foresee future conditions with total accuracy and keep his servants abreast of them…. These things Jehovah has made known to those who obey him as ruler: “The Sovereign Lord Jehovah will not do a thing unless he has revealed his confidential matter to his servants the prophets.” In this century who has been correctly informed about the future? the clergy? the political leaders? the economic heads? Or has it been the witnesses of Jehovah?….
Previously we examined some of the main identifying marks, or the fruitage, that those who know the truth about God must bear. We have seen that Jehovah’s witnesses do bear those identifying marks. Then we should expect them to have God’s prophetic truths. Does the evidence show this? Let us examine what Jehovah’s witnesses have been saying down through the years…. Who has told the truth? Who today deserve our confidence as they tell of events to come in the very near future?….
How could Jehovah’s witnesses have known so far in advance what world leaders themselves did not know? Only by God’s holy spirit making such prophetic truths known to them.
The Watchtower Society takes Amos 3:7 to heart, claiming it applies to them, with leaders stating that Jehovah’s Witnesses are prophets. The next issue featured an article titled “They shall know that A Prophet Was Among Them.”
The book Holy Spirit — The Force Behind the Coming New Order!, 1976, said on pages 148, 150:
The holy spirit, which Jehovah prophesied that he would pour out in the last days, has not ceased to operate, for the remnant are still baptizing disciples of Christ in the name of that spirit…. The announced purpose behind God’s pouring out of his spirit upon all sorts of flesh was that the recipients thereof might prophesy. The facts substantiate that the remnant of Christ’s anointed disciples have been doing that prophesying to all the nations for a witness in favor of God’s kingdom. Logically, then, they must be the ones upon whom God’s spirit has actually been poured out. That spirit is behind their worldwide preaching. Why argue about it?…. After twelve years of such prophesying about God’s kingdom, the anointed remnant had become better informed upon Jehovah God, the heavenly Source of the outpoured spirit….
They have not been ashamed of bearing the divine name, the name most holy. Their preaching and prophesying from house to house and from city to city on the basis of that name has resulted in magnifying that name all around the earth.
Slightly less explicit but still to the point are these statements:
…. Jehovah’s organization must henceforth be guided and directed by Jehovah’s spirit through the visible governing body made up of those servants whom Jehovah himself would appoint…. Jehovah’s theocratically controlled organization under the immediate direction of Jehovah himself. — The Watchtower, June 1, 1965, p. 352.
Let us now unmistakably identify Jehovah’s channel of communication for our day…. Yes, particularly since 1919 has it been true that he has appointed the collective body of the anointed remnant over all the visible interests of the Kingdom…. It is vital that we appreciate this fact and respond to the directions of the “slave” as we would to the voice of God, because it is His provision. — The Watchtower, June 15, 1957, p. 370.
Despite denying claims of being “inspired,” the Watchtower Society effectively does so using different terminology. Webster defines “inspire” as influencing or guiding by divine means. 2 Timothy 3:16 states, “All Scripture is inspired of God.” According to the Insight book, Vol. 1, pages 1202-3,
the phrase “inspired of God” translates the compound Greek word theopneustos, meaning, literally, “God-breathed” or “breathed by God.”
Also, according to Insight, pages 1202-4, “inspiration” is:
The quality or state of being moved by or produced under the direction of a spirit from a superhuman source. When that source is Jehovah, the result is a pronouncement or writings that are truly the word of God…. The men used to write the Scriptures therefore cooperated with the operation of Jehovah’s holy spirit. They were willing and submissive to God’s guidance…., eager to know God’s will and leading…. God directed them so that what they wrote coincided with and fulfilled his purpose. As spiritual men, their hearts and minds were attuned to God’s will, they ‘had the mind of Christ’ and so were not setting down mere human wisdom nor a “vision of their own heart,” as false prophets did.
The quotations from Watchtower publications indicate that the Society believes its activities align with the definition of inspiration, though it reserves “inspiration” for the Bible and uses “guidance” and “direction” for itself. The difference between guidance and inspiration is negligible. Consider these definitions when reading the following quotes, which reflect both our language and the Bible’s perspective on inspiration. The November 1, 1956 Watchtower stated that the Society is, for all practical purposes, inspired.
Who controls the organization, who directs it? Who is at the head? A man? A group of men? A clergy class? A pope? A hierarchy? A council? No, none of these. How is that possible? In any organization is it not necessary that there be a directing head or policy- making part that controls or guides the organization? Yes. Is the living God, Jehovah, the Director of the theocratic Christian organization? Yes!
Though the writer avoids the term “inspired,” being directed by God is, by definition, inspiration.
The April 1, 1972 Watchtower said on page 200:
…. Jehovah’s witnesses today make their declaration of the good news of the Kingdom under angelic direction and support.
The book Holy Spirit — The Force Behind the Coming New Order! said on pages 175-6:
Here is what he [Jehovah] says in Isaiah 51:15, 16:
“I, Jehovah, am your God, the One stirring up the sea that its waves may be boisterous. Jehovah of armies is his name. And I shall put my words in your mouth, and with the shadow of my hand I shall certainly cover you, in order to plant the heavens and lay the foundation of the earth and say to Zion, ‘You are my people.’”
No obstacle put in His way by the enemies will prove to be insurmountable for Jehovah. Just as at Mount Sinai He put his word in the mouth of his chosen people through the mediator Moses and thereafter he led them under the protective shadow of his hand into the Promised Land, so he has done for the remnant of spiritual Israel. He has put his word, his message of the hour, into the mouth of the spiritual remnant for them to confess openly before all the world, for their own salvation and for that of responsive hearers. A “great crowd” of “other sheep” have acted favorably upon what they have heard and have taken God’s word into their mouth.
The question at the bottom of the page asked:
In whose mouth has Jehovah put his word, and why has he covered these with the shadow of his hand?
If someone has “put his word” in their mouth, they are inspired by Jehovah, as stated in the Insight book. The Society believes its words are equal to what Moses received at Mount Sinai. While Moses was inspired and everything Jehovah said through him came true (Joshua 21:45), the Society’s teachings require updates with “new light.” Similarly, the book Survival Into a New Earth mentions “God-breathed” on page 109.
The members of spiritual Israel were looking forward to an inheritance “reserved in the heavens” for them. (1 Peter 1:3-5) But before they actually received that reward, Jehovah had a work for them to do. Concerning this, he prophetically said: “I shall put my words in your mouth, and with the shadow of my hand I shall certainly cover you, in order to plant the heavens and lay the foundation of the earth and say to Zion, ‘You are my people.’” (Isaiah 51:16) He put his “words,” his message, into the mouth of his servants for them to proclaim earth wide. With confidence they began to make known that God has planted the “new heavens” that neither men nor demons can uproot them. The way in which Jehovah has dealt with the representatives of heavenly Zion has clearly identified them as his people. In contrast with the spiritually and morally desolate condition of the world, the “land” occupied by spiritual Israel, their field of activity, has become a place where spiritual values and activities thrive. It is a spiritual paradise!
These quotations indicate that God inspires the “anointed remnant” to speak His words.
The book Light I, 1930, said on page 12:
The remnant now “see visions”; that is to say, are given an understanding of things not heretofore understood…. The time for the fulfilment of the prophecy of Revelation seems to be from about 1879 forward until the kingdom is in full sway. It was about that date that the second presence of the Lord began to be observed, and that and other truths began to appear in The Watch Tower, which since then until now has been the means of communicating truth to those who love the Lord. All those who love God supremely believe that The Watch Towerwas started and has been maintained by his power and grace.
So, the remnant is said to receive understanding directly from Jehovah. On page 106 of Light I, added:
Visible human creatures had to do with that message, [a resolution adopted at the 1922 Cedar Point, Ohio, convention] yet, in fact, it was a message of the Lord sent through his invisible angels, because without a doubt these are clothed with authority to direct the course of earthly members of God’s organization.
So, the Society says that their statements were actually handed down by angels, and not just pulled from the Bible. Isn’t that a pretty bold claim of inspiration? By the way, on page 113 of Light I, I mentioned:
…. it seems clear that the spirit of the Lord, operating by his invisible angels, directed his people on earth to take this action [of distributing a resolution adopted at a convention in Los Angeles in 1923].
The Watchtower, February 15, 1976, said on page 124:
We must take seriously what his Word says and what his organization reveals to us…. Would not a failure to respond to direction from God through his organization really indicate a rejection of divine rulership?
The Society shared some cool stories showing how God has guided a few of its members. If you check out the 1975 Yearbook, you’ll find an explanation of how Jehovah’s Witnesses got their name on pages 150-1.
When he was eighty-eight years old A. H. Macmillan attended the “Fruitage of the Spirit” Assembly of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the same city [Columbus, Ohio]. There, on August 1, 1964, Brother Macmillan made these interesting comments on how the adopting of that name came about:
“It was my privilege to be here in Columbus in 1931 when we received … the new title or name … I was amongst the five that were to make a comment on what we thought about the idea of accepting that name, and I told them this briefly: I thought that it was a splendid idea because that title there told the world what we were doing and what our business was. Prior to this we were called Bible Students. Why? Because that’s what we were. And then when other nations began to study with us, we were called International Bible Students. But now we are witnesses for Jehovah God, and that title there tells the public just what we are and what we’re doing….
“In fact, it was God Almighty, I believe, that led to that, for Brother Rutherford told me himself that he woke up one night when he was preparing for that convention and he said, ‘What in the world did I suggest an international convention for when I have no special speech or message for them? Why bring them all here?’ And then he began to think about it, and Isaiah 43 came to his mind. He got up at two o’clock in the morning and wrote in shorthand, at his own desk, an outline of the discourse he was going to give about the Kingdom, the hope of the world, and about the new name. And all that was uttered by him at that time was prepared that night, or that morning at two o’clock. And [there is] no doubt in my mind — not then nor now — that the Lord guided him in that, and that is the name Jehovah wants us to bear and we’re very happy and very glad to have it.”
You know, a lot of folks have those lightbulb moments when they’re just going about their day, even late at night. It’s kind of interesting how some people don’t really get what that’s all about if they don’t think too deeply. The Watchtower Society puts out disclaimers saying they’re not inspired or infallible, but they kind of want members to act like they are. You can see this in phrases like “the anointed remnant are God’s mouthpiece,” and they often kick out members who dare to say it’s not perfect. You can really see where the Society stands in the conversation around this.
So in closing. I’d like to point your attention to a few other predictions;
2000 was not stated to be the end, but there was strong indication that it would be impossible for Armageddon not to come before 2000.
“Shortly, within our twentieth century, the “battle in the day of Jehovah” will begin against the modern antitype of Jerusalem, Christendom.” The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah p. 216
“Some of that “generation” could survive until the end of the century. But there are many indications that “the end” is much closer than that!” Watchtower 1984 Mar 1 pp.18-19
“He was laying a foundation for a work that would be completed in our 20th century“. Watchtower 1989 Jan 1 p.12.
The 1989 Watchtower used the term “in our 20th century” in the magazine, but this was changed to “in our day” for the bound volume and digital versions online.
I recall as a Witness in the 1980s, where there were those who were taking Psalm 90:10 and applying it to 1914, which reads”
“The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years.”
So added 70 or 80 to the generation of 1914, and we arrive at 1984 or 1994.
Remember, we were told “that generation” would not pass away.
“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.” Watchtower 1980 Oct 15 p.31
“Some of that “generation” could survive until the end of the century. But there are many indications that “the end” is much closer than that!” Watchtower 1984 Mar 1 pp.18-19
2033 reflects the Organization’s mindset, indicating they’re holding onto something. In 2003, the idea emerged that Noah’s last days lasted 120 years.
In Noah’s day, Jehovah declared: “My spirit shall not act toward man indefinitely in that he is also flesh. Accordingly his days shall amount to a hundred and twenty years.” (Genesis 6:3) The issuance of this divine decree in 2490 B.C.E. marked the beginning of the end for that ungodly world. Just think what that meant for those then living! Only 120 years more and Jehovah would bring “the deluge of waters upon the earth to bring to ruin all flesh in which the force of life is active from under the heavens.”-Genesis 6:17. Noah received the warning of the upcoming catastrophe decades in advance, and he wisely used the time to prepare for survival. “After being given divine warning of things not yet beheld,” says the apostle Paul, “[Noah] showed godly fear and constructed an ark for the saving of his household.” (Hebrews 11:7) What about us? Some 90 years have passed since the last days of this system of things began in 1914. We are certainly in “the time of the end.” (Daniel 12:4) How should we respond to warnings we have been given? “He that does the will of God remains forever,” states the Bible. (1 John 2:17) Now is therefore the time to do Jehovah’s will with a keen sense of urgency.” Watchtower 2003 Dec 15 p.15 “Warned of “Things Not Yet Beheld”
Now, granted, it does not specifically say, “2033 is the end”, but as is the way of the Society, they plant these thoughts in your mind, to motivate you to do more in their service.
Some have toyed with 2034, adding 120 from the time the Lord, supposedly returned in 1914.
In fact, former Jehovah’s Witness, Larry S. Gray, wrote a parody, entitled “WITNESS THE END 2034
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Then, there’s this book, published in 1994, ARMAGEDDON AD 2033, authored by John Denton, now, there is no evidence that he was affiliated with or ever was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. But there is strong evidence that was influenced by the, he certainly did borrow from Watchtower chronology. He even quotes from the New World Translation.
Now, just to be fair, there have been a few predictions by rogue Bible Students. I say “rogue” because Bible Students don’t have a Governing Body, or Board of Elders.” There is no central headquarters, where “new light” comes down from.
C.T. Russell, always had the intention of writing 7 volumes, the 7th was to be a commentary on Daniel and Revelation. Now, his last volume. The New Creation was first published in 1904. And He didn’t have a whole lot to say about Daniel and Revelation. He admitted, that there were things that the Lord hadn’t revealed to him. And when he was dying, he was asked, “what about the seventh volume?” And his response was “Someone else can write it.”
I probably have in my personal library, over 150 treatises by individual Bible Students on the book of Revelation. Most of them are in agreement, but there are some areas where they have differences of opinion. Many of them have set dates
There are course Rogue Jehovah’s Witnesses, who have taken the Jehovah’s Witness moniker as their own in one form or another.
Timothy Tauver, Christian Prophets of Jehovah
Robert King, of e-Watchman, author of JEHOVAH HIMSELF HAS BECOME KING, who has made some predictions that never occurred. Eventually disfellowshipped, he is a self-described prophet of Jehovah. His blogs and books all read like a Watchtower article.
Then there’s the guy by the name of L. A. Pressnall, who believed Jehovah abandoned the Governing Body and chose him to lead Jehovah’s Witnesses.
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You know, it’s really interesting to see how the Governing Body views its followers. They seem to think that people won’t stick around to serve Jehovah unless they’re convinced that paradise is just around the corner, waiting for them. It’s like they believe that without a set deadline or a clear promise of the future, folks will just drift away from their faith. Honestly, that kind of thinking really downplays what motivates people, don’t you think?
I mean, look at all the churches that are doing great without any specific date to get their congregations excited. People have been devoted to God for ages, believing they’ll eventually meet Him in heaven after this life is over.
Plus, there are plenty of groups out there that talk about living in the last days, and they’ve managed to bring together a lot of people who share the same values—not just because they’re focused on a certain date, but because they get that time is short. They realize that what really counts is the love and service they give to God, which goes beyond any countdown or deadline.
