Prophecies of the Watchtower Society of Jehovah’s Witnesses
| By: Lorri MacGregor; ©July 1999 |
| Prophecy has always played an important part in the history of the Watchtower Organization. What is their “record” as far as fulfilled prophecy is concerned? Do they qualify as true prophets, according to the scriptural definition? |
(Note to reader: Reference numbers refer to a documentation package index (including photocopies of the actual articles quoted). It is available from Macgregor Ministries
JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES CLAIM TO BE PROPHETS
The Watchtower of April 1st, l972, page 197, had this statement:
- 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? (1)
Since the Jehovah’s Witnesses claim to be God’s prophet, we are free to put them to the Bible test for a prophet, found in Deuteronomy 18:18-20. Verse 22 of this same chapter says, “When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD (YHWH), if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken.”
Verse 20 plainly says, “that prophet shall die”. False prophecy cannot be “explained away” and treated lightly. The Watch Tower has invited us to examine their record, and we will! All quotes are from publications of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society and available at headquarters in Brooklyn, New York. Some of these publications may also be found in local Kingdom Hall libraries. Judge this self-proclaimed “prophet” for yourselves!
6,000 YEARS OF HUMAN HISTORY PROPHECIES
6,000 years from Adam ended in A.D. 1872. (Daily Heavenly Manna, inside cover page).(2)
6,000 years of human history ended in 1873. (Thy Kingdom Come, page 305).(3)
6,000 years of human history ended in 1972. (The Truth Shall Make You Free, p. 152, 1943 edition).(4)
6,000 years of human history ended in 1975. (Awake!, October 8th, l968, page 15). (5)
ARMAGEDDON PROPHECIES
Armageddon would end in 1914. (The Time is At Hand, page 101, 1911 Edition).(6) Armageddon would end in 1915. (The Time is At Hand, page 101, 1913 Edition). (7) Today, Jehovah’s Witnesses expect Armageddon any minute!
THE RETURN OF CHRIST PROPHECIES
Since Christ failed to show up for any of the Watchtower dates, Jehovah’s Witnesses altered their teaching to make his coming conveniently “invisible”. Christ returned in 1874. (The Finished Mystery, page 395). (8)
The Watchtower publications taught this 1874 date right up to 1929. The “Prophecy” book, published in 1929, states on page 65, “The Scriptural proof is that the second presence of the Lord Jesus Christ began in 1874 A.D.” (9)
Christ returned in 1914. (The Truth that Leads to Eternal Life, page 87). (10)
THE MILLENNIUM PROPHECIES
The Millennium began in 1873. (Thy Kingdom Come, page 305). (11) The Millennium began in 1874. (Finished Mystery, page 386). (12)
PROPHECIES ON THE RESURRECTION
The resurrection would occur in 1878. (Thy Kingdom Come, page 234). (13) Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old would return in 1925. (Millions Now Living Will Never Die, page 89.) (14)
The Watchtower Society even published a book telling their followers to add a room onto their houses, and get an undertaker to decorate it. Undertakers, of course, would be looking for employment, since there would be no more deaths in 1926. When the room was completed, Watchtower devotees were to call up Jerusalem, where Abraham would have an office, and request that their parents be “awakened” from death. They would soon appear in the new room! (The Way to Paradise, pages 228, 229). (15)
PROPHECIES ON SPACE TRAVEL
“Man cannot by airplane or rockets or other means get above the air envelope which is about our earthly globe….” (The Truth Shall Make You Free, page 285, 1943 edition.) (16)
THE BOOK OF RUTH
The Book of Ruth is “not prophetical”. (Watchtower Reprints IV, page 3110, 12/7/02). (17)
The Book of Ruth “is prophetic”. (“Preservation”, page 169).(18)
PROPHECIES ON SODOM AND GOMORRAH
Will the men of Sodom be resurrected?
- Yes…Watchtower 7/18/79, page 7. (19)
- No….Watchtower 6/1/52, page 338.(20)
- Yes…Watchtower 8/1/65, page 479.(21)
- No….Watchtower 6/1/88, page 31.(22)
- Yes…Live Forever (old Ed.), page 179.(23)
- No….Live Forever (new Ed.), page 179.(24)
- Yes…Insight, vol. 2., page 985. (25)
- No…Revelation book, page 273. (26)
These changes are more like flashing lights, on and off again. How can they be trusted?
THE “HIGHER POWERS” OF ROMANS 13:1
“Higher Powers” refers to earthly governments. (The Time is at Hand (1915) pg. 81). (27)
“Higher Powers” refers to Jehovah God and Jesus. (The Truth Shall Make You Free, page 312). (28)
“Higher Powers” refers to earthly governments. (Man’s Salvation…at Hand (page 326) (29) Notice how the “brighter light” dimmed back again!
THE REVELATION NAME “ABADDON-APOLLYON”
Refers to Satan. (The Finished Mystery, page 159). (30)
Refers to Jesus Christ. (Then is Finished the Mystery of God, page 232).(31) Quite a change!
THE “ALPHA AND OMEGA” OF REVELATION
Refers to Jehovah God. (Awake!, August 22, 1978, page 28). (32)
Refers to Jesus Christ. (Watchtower, October 1, 1978, page 15).(33)
Notice the rapid change of “truth” and “interpretation of scripture” in just two months!
THE FAITHFUL AND DISCREET SLAVE
Refers to their founder, Charles Taze Russell. (The Finished Mystery, page5).(34)
Refers to the “Remnant of Spiritual Israelites” (the supposed remnant of the 144,000 “heavenly class”). (From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained, page 193). (35)
THE 1914 GENERATION FIASCO
Until October 22nd, 1995, each Awake! magazine proclaimed, “…the Creator’s promise of a peaceful and secure new world before the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away.” (36)
Beginning with the November 8th, 1995 Awake!, the reference to 1914 disappeared. Why? Because it is another false prophecy! 1914 plus 80 years (the longest time possible for a “generation” by their own admission) ran out in 1994. This prophecy was attributed to Jehovah as “the Creator’s promise”. Therefore this particular false prophecy was done in the name of the Lord, and is subject to His condemnatory judgment on false prophets. There is no escape! Time is the enemy of a false prophet.
IN CONCLUSION
Although the official publication of the Jehovah’s Witnesses claims, “…Jehovah’s witnesses today make their declaration of the good news of the kingdom under angelic direction and support,” according to the Watchtower of April 1, l972, page 200, they have proved to be an embarrassment to the angels! (37)
Undaunted, the Watchtower of July 1, l973, page 402, goes on to claim, “Consider too, the fact that Jehovah’s organization alone in all the earth is directed by God’s holy spirit or active force.”(38)
Obviously the Holy Spirit did not prompt these false prophecies!
Not only does the Bible give us a simple test for prophets, which we considered at the beginning of this article, namely that their prophecies will fail, but the word of God has more to say about prophecies and prophesying.
The Bible reveals three sources for prophecy. One, it is from God, and inspired by Him. Two, it is from the Devil and inspired by him. Thirdly, prophecies can come out of “the flesh”, or out of our “own spirit”.
Since the Watchtower Society of Jehovah’s witnesses has so many failed prophecies, we know they are not prophesying by God’s direction, and through His Holy Spirit, or by the angels.
This leaves us with two alternatives for the false prophecies of the Watchtower Society. They are from Satan, or they are from “the flesh”.
The Watchtower has chosen the latter, claiming that “we all make mistakes,” etc. “We have new light”. Is this an “out” for them? No, for Jehovah’s witnesses should carefully read Ezekiel chapter 13. This chapter is a judgment of God on prophets who hope for a fulfillment of their words, after prophesying falsely. Verse 8, says, “’Because you have spoken falsehood and seen a lie, therefore, behold, I am against you’, declares the Lord God.”
The Watchtower Society of Jehovah’s Witnesses is a proven false prophet, and the Lord, by His own decree, is against them. Why would you want to remain in this doomed organization and share in its judgment?
I loved watching your show .
I have many JW s in my family .
The Lord had led me to reach out to them in bible study . As a child I’m my moms and dads home , I remember many discussions between my mother and my aunts and uncles about the Jehovah witness society. One of them was 1975 . My aunt bought a new car because she never owned a new car before. Since the end of the age was coming, she wanted a new car. They really didn’t have the money to buy one but since the end was here , she wouldn’t have to pay for it completely.
It didn’t work out as they had planned .
I’ve looked for the the education of that particular watchtower for a long time . Also how the one where they calmed to be gods prophet here on earth.
Thanks so much ! You’ve helped out ! May the Lord bless!