False Prophecies of the Watchtower Society (2)

In yesterday's article, I emphasized the fact that the Watchtower Society (the governing body of the Jehovah's Witnesses) claims to be a God-ordained prophet and the ONLY source of truth and salvation. But we're told in the scriptures how to determine whether or not the Watchtower Society is indeed ordained by God, or if they are a false prophet. Deuteronomy 18:21-22 indicates that if someone makes claims and prophecies that do not come to pass, they are a false prophet. 

In today's article, let's put the Watchtower Society to the test; let's begin by examining their famous 1914 prophecy:

"Be not surprised, then, when in subsequent chapters we present proofs that 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." (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 2, The Time is at Hand, 1889 edition, page 101)

"True, it is expecting great things to claim, as we do, that within the coming twenty-six years all preset governments will be overthrown and dissolved...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 at the end of A.D. 1914." (The Time is at Hand, 1908 edition, page 98)

Then, in December of 1914 (two months after the governments of the earth were supposed to be overthrown), the Watchtower backpedaled, writing, "Even if the time of our change should not come within ten years, what more should we ask? Are we not a blessed, happy people?" (Watchtower, Dec. 15, 1914, page 325).

Just a few years later, more prophecies were made, and these were even more detailed. Concerning events that would allegedly come to pass in the year 1918, the Watchtower wrote the following:

"It was as a picture or parable of what is to happen to Christendom. Until 1878 the nominal church had been in a sense God's sanctuary or Temple; but He was from then on, culminating in 1918, to remove it with a stroke or plague of erroneous doctrines and deeds divinely permitted...Nevertheless, God was to make manifest the profanation which ecclesiasticism had made of the Christian Church, and to cause the church organizations to become to Him as one dead, an unclean thing, not to be touched, or mourned. And the "children of the church" shall perish by the sword of war, revolution and anarchy, and by the Sword of the Spirit be made to see that they have lost their hope of life on the spirit plane--that 'the door is shut...Also, in the year 1918, when God destroys the churches wholesale and the church members by millions, it shall be that any that escape shall come to the works of Pastor Russell to learn the meaning of the downfall of Christianity." (The Finished Mystery, 1917 edition, page 484-485)

 Concerning the year 1925:

"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...1925 shall mark the resurrection of the faithful worthies of old and the beginning of reconstruction." (Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920, page 89-90, 97)

 Concerning 1975:

"According to this trustworthy Bible chronology, six thousand years from man's creation will end in 1975, and the seventh period of a thousand years of human history will begin in the fall of 1975 C.E...It would not be by mere chance or accident but would be according to the loving purpose of Jehovah God for the reign of Jesus Christ, the 'Lord of the Sabbath,' to run parallel to the seventh millennium of man's existence." (Life Everlasting--in Freedom of the Sons of God, 1966, pages 29-30)

"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 seventh thousand-year period of man's existence coincides with the sabbathlike thousand-year reign of Christ...It may involve only a difference of weeks or months, not years." (The Watchtower, Aug. 15, 1968, page 499)

"Yes, the end of this system is so very near. Is that not reason to increase our activity?...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, page 3)

We have only considered a handful of the prophetic statements that the Watchtower Society has made over the years, and we have only selected some of their more famous failures, but in reality, all it takes is ONE failed prophecy to identify a false prophet -- we have named four. Prophecies were made concerning 1914, 1918, 1925 and 1975. These were very specific prophecies and there was no confusion as to their meaning then. It was only after the prophecies failed that the Watchtower Society would backpedal, change positions, or claim some kind of "symbolic" fulfillment (as with 1914). In some cases, individual Witnesses even sold property in anticipation of the END and were lauded for their commitment.

So...is the Watchtower Society a true prophet or a false prophet?

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