Quote: Talkactive wrote:
. . . Hephzibah. Let me give you an example. The watchtower Society have announced the end several times,, but let me start with the latest ones 1914, 25 and 1975 and the 1914 generation, but have "the end" come. No, I am sure that you agree with me!
Quote: Neo wrote:
I can only speak from experience about the 1975 date, as I was a member at that time. It was referred to only as the year representing 6000 years since the creation of Adam, which it is. True, many believed this would herald the 1000 years spoken of in the book of Revelation, but the society warned members not to assume anything. No one could know how long Adam lived before the end of the 6th day. And Jesus said he would "come as a thief." (Revelation 16:15) Consequently, I expected nothing, as did the majority of my associates. My ex wife left the organization over it, though.
Neo. If you still is alive I would like to refresh your memory about 1975!
1975 - Did the Watchtower learn from the 1925 fiasco?
Frederick William Franz was just as eager as his teacher, Rutherford. And he didn't learn a thing from Rutherford's and Russll's many mistakes
Anyway, were the lessons of 1925 learnt by the leader(s) of the Society, the publishers of all these books and magazines?
VINDICATION, vol 1 (1931), p 338-339 :
'There was a measure of disappointment on the part of Jehovah's faithful ones on earth concerning the years 1914, 1918 and 1925....they also learned to quit fixing dates for the future and predicting what would come to pass on a certain date....'
[ had they? ]
Skipping past predictions for 1941 (the war would develop into Armageddon...... or ' the remaining months before Armageddon' - (see ' Consolation' 29/10/41) and moving on to the year 1975 , and the WBTS prophecies and predictions about that time. What do we find? The end of Rutherford's presidency had seen the moving of the interpretation of the beginning of the 'last days' from 1799 up to 1914 .
In 1943 the book 'The Truth Shall Make You Free' was published. This book moved the date for the second advent, or coming / presence, of Christ from 1874 up to 1914. Originally 1914 had been the date for the END of the wicked system and all the churches etc. Also, effectively, the end of 6000 years of mankind's existence was moved up from 1874 to the mid 1970s (1975) as later highlighted in the book 'Life Everlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God' published in 1966. Bold claims then started to be made, although not quite so dogmatic, if in print.
AWAKE 8/10/1966, p 19:
'In what year, then, would the first 6,000 years of man's existence and also the first 6,000 years of God's rest day come to an end? The year 1975.'
WATCHTOWER 15/10/1966, p 629:
'Discussion of 1975 overshadowed about everything else. 'The new book compels us to realize that Armageddon is, in fact, very close indeed,' said a conventioneer.'
LIFE EVERLASTING - IN FREEDOM OF THE SONS OF GOD, 1966, p 29 - 30:
How appropriate it would be for Jehovah God to make this coming seventh period of 1000 years a Sabbath period of rest and release..... It would also be most fitting on God's part, for, remember, for mankind has ahead of it what the last book of the Bible speaks of as the reign of Jesus Christ over earth for a thousand years, the millennial reign of Christ...
'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 on 1975 C.E..' 'It would not be by mere chance or accident but would be according to the loving purpose of Jehovah God if the reign of Jesus Christ, the 'Lord of the Sabbath,' was to run parallel with the seventh millennium of man's existence.'
Surely, it is a foolish man who decides what is 'fitting' or 'appropriate'
for God, especially in view of Jesus' cautions.
WATCHTOWER, 1/5/1967, p 262:
'Just think, 1975 marks the end of 6,000 years of human experience.....Will it be the time when God executes the wicked?....It very well could be, but we will have to wait to see.'
WATCHTOWER 1/5/68
The immediate future is certain to be filled with climatic events, for this old system is nearing its complete end. Within a few years at most the final parts of Bible prophecy relative to
these last days will undergo fulfillment resulting in the liberation of surviving mankind into Christ's glorious 1000 year reign!
WATCHTOWER, 15/8/1968, P 494: Article heading - 'WHY ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO 1975?'
'ADAM CREATED AT CLOSE OF 'SIXTH DAY' 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.'
(P 499)
KINGDOM MINISTRY, 03/1968, P 4:
'...there are only about ninety months left before 6,000 years of man's existence on earth is completed....The majority of people living today will probably be alive when Armageddon breaks out...'
WATCHTOWER 1/5/68 Page 271
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.
[compare with WT 1/10/75 below]
KINGDOM MINISTRY, 06/1969, p 3:
'In view of the short time left, a decision to pursue a career in this system of things is not only unwise but extremely dangerous.....Many young brother and sisters were offered scholarships or employment that promised fine pay. However, they turned them down and put spiritual interests first.'
[This advice remains current]
KINGDOM MINISTRY, 05/1974, p 3:
'Yes, the end of this system is so very near! Is that no 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 of things in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world's end.'
WATCHTOWER, 1/7/1974, p 397:
'It also tells us that this millennium must be preceded immediately by the most destructive war in all human history. We can now see the political rulers...being gathered...for that War of all wars....'
Even stronger statements were made about 1975 at various conventions. Witnesses around at that time will remember, even though the episode is only given a passing reference these days, and many seem to have developed 'selective amnesia'. The Society found all kinds of external secular 'support' for 1975 and the view was advanced that the world couldn't possibly continue for much longer. See for instance 'The Truth that Leads to Eternal Life' (1968 edition) On page
88 it quotes a book called 'Famine 1975' which was also quoted extensively in much other Society literature. Interestingly, the references to this book were quietly dropped from later editions of the 'Truth book'. A 'six month maximum' Bible study program was started after the 'Truth book' was published, because of the 'nearness of the end'
Autumn 1975 arrives - WATCHTOWER 1/10/75 Page 579 [compare with WT 1/5/68 above]
Does this mean, then, that mankind has now reached 6,000 years into the 7,000 year period that God blessed and made sacred as his rest day? ... No, It does not mean that.
[it did in 1968]
Too late - Advise had been heeded - mortgages were closed, insurance policies cashed, medical insurance lapsed, treatment put off, and educational opportunities turned down.
1975 is now 20 years ago. The WBTS (claiming to be a prophet) had stated that 'it may involve only a difference of weeks or months, NOT YEARS'. Whilst claiming to be GOD's Prophet they had stated that after the 6,000 years and before the Millennium, the earth will experience Armageddon. Well the 6,000 years ended and The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania had yet another failed prophecy on it's hands.
So what did they say in 1976:
Watchtower 15/7/76 Pages 440 - 441. A humble apology from the leaders ? Not a bit.
It may be that some who have been serving God have planned their lives according to a mistaken view of just what was to happen on a certain date or in a certain year. They may have put off or neglected things that they would otherwise have cared for.. . But they have missed the point of the Bible's warning.....But it is not advisable for us to set our sights on a certain date, neglecting everyday things we would ordinarily care for as Christians, such things that we and
our family really need... If anyone has been disappointed through not following this line of though, he should now concentrate on adjusting his viewpoint, seeing that it was not the word of God that failed or deceived him and brought disappointment, but that his own understanding was based on wrong premises.
So there we have it! It was the individual followers fault again - just
like in 1925!
The society's latest 1993] 'History' book - Jehovah's Witnesses, Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, mentioned earlier, despite designating pages and pages to building and printing expansions, virtually ignores the 1975 saga. At the end of the book there is a chronological section called 'Notable Dates'. The predictions for 1925 and 1975 don't even get a mention!
Now let's remind ourselves of the Bible. Deuteronomy 18:20-22.
'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 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...'
So what has The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society ITSELF said about False Prophets in the past
PROPHECY (1929), p 22 :
'If these prophesies have not been fulfilled, and if all possibility of fulfillment is past, then these prophets are proven false.'
VINDICATION, vol 1 (1931), p 146 :
'God's faithful people on earth emphasized the importance of the dates 1914 and 1918 and 1925. They had much to say about these dates and what would come to pass, but all they predicted did not come to pass.'
PARADISE RESTORED TO MANKIND -- BY THEOCRACY (1972), p 353 - 354 :
'Jehovah... will put all false prophets to shame either by not fulfilling the false prediction of such self-assuming prophets or by having His own prophesies fulfilled in a way opposite to that predicted by false prophets.'
AWAKE! 10/08/1968, p 23 :
'True, there have been those in times past who predicted an 'end to the world', even announcing a specific date....The 'end' did not come. They were guilty of false prophesying....
Missing from such people were God's truths and the evidence that he was guiding them and using them.'
WATCHTOWER 06/15/1974, p 381 :
'Similarly, the 'false prophet' is not a person, but is a system or an organization.'
WATCHTOWER 01/15/1959, p 40, 41:
'Whom has God actually used as his prophet ? By the historical facts of the case Christendom is beaten back in defeat. Jehovah's witnesses are deeply grateful today that the plain facts show that God has been pleased to use them.'
Also, during the late 1970s and throughout 1980, each issue of the
Watchtower cover featured this statement :
'A WATCHTOWER enables a person to look far into the distance and announce to others what is seen. Likewise, this magazine, published by Jehovah's Witnesses, aids the reader to see what the future holds'.
Now, as we know, by definition one who tells what the future holds is, of
course, a prophet.
WATCHTOWER forward 1/4/1972: 'The Watchtower is it God's Prophet?'
'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 the 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 the time as International Bible Students. Today they are know as Jehovah's Christian Witnesses'.
1939 YEARBOOK OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES, P 85:
'It should be expected that the Lord would have a means of communicating to his people on the earth, and he has clearly shown that the magazine called The Watchtower is used for that purpose.'
AWAKE 8/6/1986 page. 9:
'You will be interested to learn that God has on earth a people, all of whom are prophets, or witnesses for God. In fact they are known throughout the world as Jehovah's Witnesses.'
So the Watchtower society has constantly claimed ' prophet' status in their relatively short history, yet using the Biblical test for False Prophets and even using the Watchtower's own material about False Prophets, it is clear that the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society leaders have made prophecies which have failed. They have actually called themselves 'God's Prophet', yet their prophesies have turned out to be FALSE. Why does the 1995 Awake fail to mention any of this. Why does it not conclude that since the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has had so many failed prophecies, they can't be prophesying by GOD's direction, nor through GOD's
Holy Spirit, nor by GOD's Angels. Why do they instead attempt to shift the blame onto the eagerness of the followers? Is it so that they can retain their mystical 'God's Prophet' status for future predictions or changes? It must also be remembered that the WBTS is HIGHLY CRITICAL of any and all other religion, and teaches that ALL other religion is false and is from Satan.
So what about the past Presidents of the society? They held ultimate responsibility for what was published and taught.
NEW YORK KING'S COUNTY CLERKS'S COURT RECORD, 1940, vol. II, p 795:
Fred W. Franz on the witness stand:
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.
COURT: He asked you who became the editor.
WITNESS: And it said --
COURT: Who became the editor ?
Q. Who became the editor when this was discontinued ?
A. Jehovah God.'
Olin R. Moyle, v F.W.Franz, et al. Libel suit testimony, May 10th to May
27th, 1943, New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division:
Fred W. Franz on the witness stand, sections 2596 & 2597 -
Q. At any rate, Jehovah God is now the editor of the paper, is that
right ?
A He is today the editor of the paper.
Q. How long has he been editor of the paper ?
A. Since its inception he has been guiding it.
Q. Even before 1931 ?
A. Yes, sir.'
Nathan Homer Knorr (then President) on the witness stand, at the same Olin
Myle trial, sections 4420 & 4421 :
Q. But you don't make any mention in the fore part of your Watch
Tower that 'We are not infallible and subject to correction and
may make mistakes' ?
A. We have never claimed infallibility.
Q. But you don't make any such statement, that you are subject to
correction, in your Watch Tower papers do you ?
A. Not that I recall.
Q. In fact, it is set forth directly as God's Word, isn't it ?
A. Yes, as His Word.
Q. Without any qualification whatsoever ?
A. That is right.'.
Fred W. Franz later became the President of the Watchtower Bible and Tract
Society. So, according to two Presidents, we see the claim that Jehovah
God is the editor of the Watch Tower.
IN CONCLUSION
The only conclusion can be that the leaders of the Watchtower Society are seeking to deceive it's followers.
The Watchtower of July 1st, 1973, page 402, claims,
'Consider too, the fact that Jehovah's organization alone in all the earth is directed by God's holy spirit or active force.'
But obviously GOD does not prompt these false prophecies! So exactly how, or when, does he do this 'directing' of His only organization? Is the Holy Spirit being turned on and off? Questions for the leaders!
The Bible give us a simple test for prophets, which we considered at the beginning of this study, namely that their predictions will fail. The definition of prophecy is quite clear. It is foretelling something that will happen in the future. False prophecy, according to God's word, is when that which is foretold, fails to come to pass, rendering that false prophet liable to death.
It is a very serious matter, especially if such 'prophecy' is claimed to be based on God's Word - the Bible.
Words such as 'prophecy, prediction, eagerness, caution and erroneous view' can be played around with as much as the leaders like. But it does not alter Gods Word. The 1995 Awake rightly says that 'God's promises will not fail - it is often men's promises and prophecies that fail'. But the Awake fails to extend the argument through to it's logical and undeniable conclusion - that the men calling themselves the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, who, according to their own heady claim, are the sole ones 'entrusted with feeding Gods people with food in due season, ' fully meet the criteria (as set forth in the Bible) for false prophets. What would be the Watchtower's view if the 1925 or 1975 prophecies has been made by another
religion? I am sure that they would be 'ridiculing' and 'raking it all over' on a regular basis (..more evidence proving they are from Babylon the Great etc...) and absolutely no reluctance
to make the obvious connection to Deut 18:20-22 etc.
Any individual, or organization that tells people not to listen to, or read, anything critical of him or the organization, must be viewed with great suspicion. There can be no justification
whatsoever for such a 'rule'. Why is information being restricted in this way? The only possible reason is that something needs covering up or
cannot be satisfactorily explained. Ridicule the questioner by all means, if that's what you want
to do, - but not before you've dealt with (and proved wrong) his allegations.
Real TRUTH does not change and can take any amount of probing - that is what makes it the truth!
On the other hand, false allegations, lies or even maybe just opinions] can be proved to be
just that. Acceptance or rejection can then be based on the evidence, and persons can make up their own mind, surely that is why God has given them the power of reason. (1 Thes 5:21)
Ezekiel, chapter 13, verses 8 & 9. The New Jerusalem Bible:
'Very well, the Lord Yahweh says this: Because of your futile words and false predictions, I am now against you - declares Lord Yahweh. My hand will be against the prophets who have futile visions and give false predictions; '
The evidence is plain and in abundance for anyone who wants to look. So why and how is it all accepted? The blame rests not with the individual Witness. He or she is being misled. The true state of affairs is hidden from him.
The member witnesses' supply of information is strictly (and unreasonably) controlled. The means to make any critical analysis is effectively denied him or her. But 'how it's done' is a subject on it's own. The effect is:
He (or she) must simply follow the organization.
The organization tells him to. If he wants to please God and live forever.
Alternatively he will die.
The organization tells him that God has a single organization and this is it.
The organization tells him how God want's him to act, think, and what to do
The organization tells him that this is the only way he can be happy
The organization tells him that they alone are prophetic, chosen, able to
understand the Bible
The organization tells him about their glorious history and the proof of God's blessing.
The organization picks the selective bits of 'proof' it wants to give him in support of these claims.
The organization tells him not to make friends outside the organization
The organization tells him not to read or consider anything contrary to the organizations views and interpretations
The organization tells him that would be from Satan. And Satan is out to get him
The organization can change those views though. And back again if they want to.
The organization tells him that if he holds contrary views he must keep quiet, leave or be disfellowshipped
The organization then tells everyone else, including his family, not to even talk to him - to hate him
The thought of that scares him. Friends - his entire social circle - are all conditional
The organization controls him
The organization has a lot to answer for. And in time it will have to.
WBTS said,[ of others] If after making an honest investigation, you are less than pleased with what you see, do more than just complain. A journalist, commenting on Karl Barth's statement that a church IS it's members, logically concluded:
"Church members are responsible for what the church says and does."
So ask yourself: Am I willing to share responsibility for everything my church says and does? You may sincerely believe that your church is no part of false religion that God says he will soon destroy. But your life depends on being 100 percent sure. Are you?
(Awake September 8th, 1987)
But, in response to any sincere questioning of their prophecies etc, the WBTS will just resort to attacking the source of the questioning - rather than simply using the Bible and disproving the
allegations. Shoot the messenger!] Any organization (or individual) that tells followers not to listen to, or read, anything critical of that organization, must be viewed with great suspicion. Why? There can be no justification whatsoever for such rules. Real TRUTH can take any amount of probing - that is what makes it the truth! False allegations, lies or even
opinions, can be proved to be just that. Persons can then make up their own mind. As God intended!
Finally, a few last quotes
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?
(The Watchtower, Jan 15th, 1974)
William Brown, an English M.P. 1887 - 1960 had some interesting things to say about 'organizations' of any sorts.
Whether the organization be political, religious or social is immaterial to my present argument. The point is that, the idea having embodied itself in organization, the organization then proceeds gradually to slay the idea which gave it birth... In the case of a religious organization, it's message will crystallize into a creed.
Before long, the principal concern of the church will be to sustain itself as an organization. To this end, any departure from the creed must be controverted and, if necessary suppressed as heresy. In a few score or few hundred years what was conceived as a vehicle of a new and higher truth has become a prison for the souls of men.
...
The organization develops a self interest which has no connection with, and becomes inimical to the idea with which it began. Now the thing which permits this process of diversion to take place, so that the organization comes to stand for the opposite of the idea which originally inspired it, is the tendency of men and women to become Prisoners of the Organization, instead of being Servants of the Spirit... the organization becomes ..a channel through which particular
interests must be served.
And Ironically
Beware of "organization" It is wholly unnecessary. The Bible rules will be the only rules you will need. Do not seek to bind others' consciences, and do not permit others to bind yours. Believe and obey so far as you can understand God's Word to-day..
(Charles Taze Russell - Watchtower 1895 p 216 )
Unfortunately Russell was to change. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Test everything. Hold on to the good. 1 Thess 5:21 (New International Version)