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Dialogue: False Prophecies of the Watchtower Society
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A Jehovah’s Witness stands or falls based on his view
of the Watchtower Society. If the Society’s authority is jaded before him,
he will, most likely, begin to question what he is being taught. This is why
I feel that undermining the Watchtower’s clout is imperative to getting a
Witness out of the Organization. One of the best ways to do this is by using
the Watchtower’s own writings against them. The following dialogue exposing
the Society’s false prophecies is one of the methods that I have used very
effectively to put a chink in the armor of a Witness. There are many false
prophecies promulgated by the Watchtower over the years. You don’t need to
use them all. A bullet fired in the right spot will do the trick. Keep in mind
that this is powerful information. Most likely, if you go this route, you
will only have one opportunity with a Witness because they will view you as
dangerous or apostate and will not return. For this reason, this may not be
the best way to go with someone close to you. Losing contact with strangers
at your door is one thing, yet losing a relationship with a loved one can be
devastating. Keep in mind that it is very important to use this method with
as much love as possible, yet firm. If you want to view or print out the
scans of some of the Watchtower’s false prophecies, see
False Prophecies or, if you live in the USA, we can mail you out
a small packet of them if you
contact us John & Joanne: Hi. We’re in the neighborhood today telling people like yourself about God’s Kingdom. The world is so unpredictable today with war, violence and broken promises from our political leaders that many people are frightened about the future. These are certainly critical times that we are living in. Do you think that there will ever be a time of peace on the earth? Chris: Well, yes, I do. I believe that Jesus Christ will rule and reign for 1000 years and it will be a time of peace, safety and happiness on the earth. John & Joanne: That’s wonderful! We believe that also. Do you know that many religions are not teaching that? In fact, many of them are teaching pagan beliefs like the Trinity, hellfire and that all good people will go to heaven. We believe that Jehovah has selected a Faithful & Discreet Slave that will give us spiritual food at the proper time. Chris: I also believe that there is only one true religion. Since so many different religions teach radically different things, such as Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism, they can’t all be right. Are you Jehovah’s Witnesses? John & Joanne: Yes, we are! Chris: I have actually read some of your material before. John & Joanne: You have? What did you think about it? Chris: It was very interesting. In fact, I have some of your literature in the house. I am wondering if you would have a few minutes to look at it for me and help me figure some things out. John & Joanne: Sure! Chris: These are photocopies of Watchtower publications. The first one is from April 1st, 1972, p. 197. It talks about how we come to know Jehovah. It says, “A third way of coming to know Jehovah is through His representative. In ancient times he sent prophets…So, does Jehovah have a prophet to help them, to warn them of dangers and to declare things to come? These things 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 a 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?” I think that claiming to be God’s prophet is a very serious claim and shouldn’t be taken lightly. But I like the fact that the Watchtower doesn’t just claim to be a prophet but that it encourages people to “review the record” to see what it shows. John & Joanne: Yes, that’s why it is such a great Organization. They are honest and up front with everything. Chris: Fantastic! I like an organization that isn’t afraid to be tested. After all, the bible says to “test all things” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). I think that’s so important, don’t you? John & Joanne: Yes, we do. Everything the Watchtower teaches comes straight out of the bible! We need to test all the religions to see which one is being led by Jehovah and his son, Jesus Christ. Chris: Good, we seem to agree. Well, I have taken the Watchtower up on its word, did some homework and reviewed the record on my own to test whether or not the Watchtower is Jehovah’s prophet, because, if they are, I want to be a part of it. Take a look at this next page. It’s from a book called The Time is at Hand, 1911, p.101, by Charles Russell. It is part of a series of books called, Studies in the Scriptures. Have you heard of them? John & Joanne: Yes, we have. Chris: Look at what it says here: "....the setting up of the Kingdom of God is already begun, that it is pointed out in prophecy as due to begin the exercise of power in A.D. 1878, and that the "battle of the great day of God Almighty" (Rev. 16:14), which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth's present rulership, is already commenced”. John & Joanne: Hmm…I have never seen that before…You know, 1914 was a very important year. In fact, there were some great expectations among Jehovah’s Witnesses back then and some things weren’t all that clear. Chris: Sure, I can understand that. Can you help me with something else? This is a Watchtower photocopy of a book called, Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920, pp.89-90, by Judge Rutherford, the second president of the Watchtower Society. Look what it says here: "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." John & Joanne: I never heard of that date…uh…Where did you get these? Chris: They’re photocopies right from Watchtower publications. Some guy I talked with once gave them to me but I’m so glad you’re here today willing to help because these quotes have troubled me for quite a while now. After all, if an Organization claims to be God’s prophet, like the Watchtower does, don’t you think its predictions should come true? John & Joanne: Not necessarily. There were mistakes made in the past that have been corrected by the Organization… Chris: Have you ever read Deuteronomy 18:20-22? Maybe you can read that for me. John & Joanne: Sure, it says: “However, 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 speak. With presumptuousness the prophet spoke it. You must not get frightened at him.” Chris: According to what you just read, how are we to test if someone who claims to be a prophet is a true prophet or a false one? John & Joanne: Well…it’s according to if the word comes true or not…but, you know, the Watchtower, like I already said, has admitted to making mistakes in the past. In fact, they have always corrected them. That’s one of the reasons why it’s such a good Organization. Chris: I can understand that men make mistakes. I certainly make mistakes too. However, can you show me in Deuteronomy 18, or anywhere in the bible, where it says that someone who claims to be God’s prophet can predict something that doesn’t come to pass and still be God’s true prophet if he admits his mistake? John & Joanne: I don’t think it says it here, but even in Acts chapter 1 the apostles were mistaken about the coming of the Kingdom. They thought it was coming then but they were wrong, weren’t they? Chris: Were the apostles, at that time, making a statement or asking a question? Do you think there is a difference between asking, ‘Lord, will you at this time restore your Kingdom?’ and stating, ‘Lord, you will at this time restore your Kingdom’! When the apostles were writing prophetically under the direction of God (inspired scripture), did they write anything that failed to come to pass? John & Joanne: No, they didn’t but I would like to read you a verse. It’s Proverbs 4:18. It says: “But the path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established”. You see, those photocopies are of old publications and as time goes by the Society gets new light that clarifies things that were cloudy in the past. It says it right here in Proverbs 4:18! Chris: So, do you mean that the Watchtower Society continues to get progressive light in order to correct erroneous teachings from the past? John & Joanne: Yes, exactly! Chris: Since the light continues to get brighter, how do you know that the things the Watchtower is teaching you today won’t become error 5 years from now? John & Joanne: Well…look…the Watchtower doesn’t claim to be inspired. Again, we’ve had some mistakes in the past and we’re willing to admit it? Chris: By claiming to be a prophet the Watchtower Society automatically claims inspiration from God. That is what a prophet is-one who speaks for God. Since the Watchtower admittedly was in error many times in the past, are you, as a Jehovah Witnesses, obligated to believe everything they currently teach you is true? Isn’t it possible, since the light gets brighter, that some things you are taught now as truth are actually false? John & Joanne: Uh…you know…we don’t even know if those photocopies are authentic, especially that 1925 date. There are a lot of apostates around who are trying to slander Jehovah’s Organization. They’re evil people with nothing better to do except put down faithful followers of Jehovah who are out there working hard and doing the preaching work! Chris: I would be relieved to find out that the Watchtower didn’t write this. Can you take these photocopies, research them and if you find out that there bogus, bring me back the actual books and magazines that contain the true quote in context? John & Joanne: Well…okay. |