WATCHTOWER HISTORY OF
FALSE PROPHECIES



1914

     "We present Bible evidence that the full end of the times of the Gentiles, i.e., the full end of their lease of dominion, will be reached in A.D. 1914; and that that date will be the farthest limit of the rule of imperfect men. And be it observed, that if this is shown to be a fact firmly established by the Scriptures, it will prove:-
     Firstly, that at that date the Kingdom of God will obtain full universal control, and that it will be then "set up," or firmly established, IN THE EARTH, on the ruins of present institutions." [emphasis mine]
- The Time is at Hand (1888) pp. 76,77

     "The "battle of the great day of God Almighty" which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth's present rulership, is already commenced."
- The Time is at Hand (1888) 1911 Ed. p.101

     "We see no reason for changing the figures - nor could we change them if we would. They are, we believe, God's dates, not ours. 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." - WT 7-15-1894 p.226

     Here are some comparisons of how the Watchtower Society covered up its failed predictions regarding the events of 1914:

BEFORE 1914:
The Time is at Hand - 1906. pp. 76,77
     "...the full end of their lease of dominion will be reached in A.D. 1914; and that date will be the farthest limit of the rule of imperfect men." ...it will prove that sometime before the end of 1914, the last member of the divinely recognized church of Christwill be glorified."

AFTER 1914:
The Time is at Hand - 1920, pp. 76,77
     "...the full end of their lease of dominion will be reached in A.D. 1914; and that date will be the disintegration of the rule of imperfect men." ...it will prove that sometime before the end of the overthrow, the last member of the divinely recognized church of Christwill be glorified."

BEFORE 1914:
Thy Kingdom Come - 1906, p. 228
     "That the deliverance of the saints must take place some time before 1914...Just how long before 1914 the last living members of the body of Christ will be glorified, we are not directly informed."

AFTER 1914:
Thy Kingdom Come - 1916, p. 228
     "That the deliverance of the saints must take place very soon after 1914...Just how long after 1914 the last living members of the body of Christ will be glorified, we are not directly informed."



1918

     There were also word changes to cover up the Society's failed prophecy for the year 1918:

BEFORE 1918:
"The Finished Mystery" 1917 edition, p. 485
     "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."

AFTER 1918
"The Finished Mystery," 1926 edition, p. 485
     "Also, in the year 1918, when God begins to destroy the churches 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."



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."
- Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920, pp. 89,90

     "1925 is definitely settled by the Scriptures, marking the end of the typical jubilee. - WT 9-1-23 p.106

     "The year 1925 is a date definitely and clearly marked in the Scriptures, MORE CLEARLY than that of 1914." [emphasis mine] - WT 7-15-24 p.211

     "The purpose of acquiring that property and building the house was that there might be some tangible proof that there are those on earth today who fully believe God and Christ Jesus and in His kingdom, and who believe that the faithful men of old will soon be resurrected by the Lord, be back on earth, and take charge of the visible affairs of earth." - Salvation, 1939, pp. 311,312

The Society held the title in trust for the Old Testament prophets:
     "The condition herein is that the said WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY shall hold said title perpetually in trust for the use of any or all of the men above named as representatives of God's kingdom on earth and that such men shall have possession and use of said property hereinabove described as they may deem for the best interest for the work in which they are engaged."
- Deed, p.2 to Beth Sarim (1929)

     "The hundred-acre estate at San Diego, California, , held in trust for the New Earth's Princes. the house he built theron he named "Beth-Sarim"; it was deeded to those princes." - Consolation, May 27, 1942 p.3

As of 1942, Beth-Sarim was still being held in trust for the princes:
     "Those faithful men of old may be expected back from the dead any day now. The house in San Diego, California named "Beth-Sarim" is now held in trust for the occupancy of those princes on their return." - The New World, 1942, pp. 104,105

But now there is a re-explanation for the purpose of Beth Sarim:
     "In time, a direct contribution was made for the purpose of constructing a house in San Diego for Brother Rutherford's use. It was not built at the expense of the Watch Tower Society. Concerning this property, the 1939 book Salvation stated: "At San Diego, California, there is a small piece of land, on which, in the year 1929, there was built a house, which is called and known as Beth Sarim."
- 1975 Yearbook pp. 194,195



1975

The First 1975 Prophecy:
     "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." - Life Everlasting in Freedom... (1966) pp. 29,30

     "Just think, brothers, there are only about ninety months left before 6,000 years of man's existence on earth is completed." - Kingdom Ministry, June, 1968, p,4

     "Why Are You Looking Forward to 1975?" - WT 8-15-68 p.494

     "How can it be determined when 6,000 years of human history will end? According to reliable Bible chronology, Adam and Eve were created in 4026 B.C.E. This would leave only seven more years from the autumn of 1968 to complete 6,000 full years of human history. That seven-year period will evidently finish in the autumn of the year 1975." - AWAKE! 10-8-68 p.14

     "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 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.
     But what about today? Today, we have the evidence required, ALL of it. And it is overwhelming! All the many, many parts of the great sign of the "last days" are here, together with verifying Bible chronology." - AWAKE! 10-8-68 p.23

     "More recently earnest researchers of the Holy Bible have made a recheck of its chronology. According to their calculations, the six millenniums of mankind's life on earth would end in the mid-seventies. Thus the seventh millennium from man's creation by Jehovah God would begin within less than ten years."
- WT 10-15-69 pp. 622, 623

Higher education discouraged - Pioneer ministry emphasized:
     "The influence and spirit of this world is to get ahead, to make a name for oneself. Schools encourage students to pursue higher education after high school, to pursue a career with a future in this system of things. Do not let them "brainwash" you with the Devil's propaganda to get ahead, to make something of yourself in this world. This world has very little time left!" - WT 3-15-69 p.171

     "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, p.3

     "It is logical that Jehovah would create Eve soon after Adam, perhaps just a few weeks or months later in the same year, 4026 B.C.E.
     Eight years from the autumn of 1967 would bring us to the autumn of 1975, fully 6,000 years into God's seventh day, his rest day." - WT 5-1-68 p.271

     Adam and Eve were created in the same year. According to this Society Encyclopedia, both were 130 years old when Seth was born.
- Aid to Bible Understanding, 1971, pp. 333 & 538

It is now the year 1975. The Society's leadership is suddenly proceeding with utmost caution in its statements:
     "Does this mean that we know exactly when God will destroy this old system and establish a new one? Franz (Society vice-president) showed that we do not, for we do not know how short was the time interval between Adam's creation and the creation of Eve, at which point God's rest day of seven thousand years began."
- WT 5-1-75 p.285

     There is similar wording of a possible time lapse between Adam and Eve's creation.
- WT 10-1-75 p.579

     There is now a change in the wording in the Society's new Encyclopedia about Eve's creation. The older "Aid to Bible Understanding" stated that Eve ALSO was 130 years old when Seth was born.
     "When Adam was 130 years old, Eve gave birth to a son whom she called Seth."
- Insight on the Scriptures, Vol. I, 1988, pp. 459, 772

     It wasn't until 1980 that the Society made any mention regarding the expectations surrounding the year 1975. In a Watchtower magazine article, they give a partial confession of having the responsibility of building up the hopes of its members. The rest of the blame was referenced to the "over zealous" members themselves. The article writer(s) claim that any statements published about the year 1975 were to have been regarded as mere "possibilities." - WT 3-15-80 pp. 17,18

Religious hypocrisy will be exposed.
     "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 false 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 to Mankind, 1972, pp. 353,354

False prophets are false teachers.
     "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." - WT 5-15-30 p.153



CONCLUSION:
THE SCRIPTURES SAY IT BEST

Jeremiah 23:16
     "Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD."

Ezekiel 13: 3,5,8
     "Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD."

Zephaniah 3:13
     " The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid."



HOW THE WATCHTOWER
SOCIETY DEFENDS ITSELF

     The Watchtower Society has made the following defensive statements to those who accuse them of being false prophets.

"We are not 'inspired' prophets."
     As seen in Part 1, the Society has used the same vocabulary doled out to those ancient Biblical prophets who were inspired and has placed themselves in the same category of such inspired prophets as Ezekiel and Jeremiah.

"We make mistakes"
     Could a prophet in ancient Israel make this defense if his prediction proved false? Obviously every false prophet could point to his own human fallibility for the failure. Every false prophet has misinterpreted matters. Deut. 18:20-22 prescribed the death penalty if the prediction failed, regardless of the reason.
     The WT 12-15-92 p.32 speaks of a prophecy God gave through Ezekiel noting that:
     "God gives Himself absolutely no "scope for getting it wrong." He is the God "who cannot lie."

     The issue here is that the anointed Witnesses claim to be commissioned to speak as God's sole "channel of communication" - His actual "prophet on earth." Therefore, has this prophet made false prophecies "in Jehovah's name? Has this prophet ever claimed that God "said something through them?" The answer to both of these questions is a resounding "Yes!"

     The Society's leaders liken themselves to the Apostles who had some wrong expectations. That is not the issue. Did the Apostles ever make false prophecies? NO! They never said Jehovah told them through His angels to say something that was not true. They were inspired in their prophesying - the Jehovah's Witnesses are not.

"We were too eager"
     Read I Samuel 13:8-14. Did eagerness excuse Saul for doing what was incorrect? The Society's predicted dates were not merely "suggested" dates.



"THE WORDS OF JEHOVAH"

     Read any AWAKE! magazine on page 4. It says in part:
     "Most importantly, this magazine builds confidence in the Creator's promise of a peaceful and secure new world that is about to replace the present wicked, lawless system of things."

     Is this Jehovah's promise or the AWAKE!'s promise? Do the Witnesses believe that:
     "Today God speaks to his servants directly as he did to Job? Instead, he reproves them by means of his Word and his spirit-directed organization." WT 6-1-93 p.21

     So "who" speaks today by means of his organization?

     Also, the WT 1-1-42 p.5 says:
     "God uses the Watchtower magazine to communicate to his people and calling attention to his prophecies."

     The Watchtower's "prophet" claims to speak as God's "channel of communication." If this is true, we would expect that their message which they claim to be communicated from Jehovah, would always be the exact truth. Would a perfect God who doesn't change (Malachi 3:6) choose a channel which constantly has to change and update predictions - all in Jehovah's name? How could we rely on such a God whose message was always changing? How would we know when the message was finally in its true form?



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