Are We There Yet?
October 5th, 2017
[1.9.2018] I want to preface this post with some thoughts on the points I made last week. See, in concluding that the failed predictions and false prophetic interpretations proffered by "the Organization" are, in fact, false prophecies I took into consideration the following exculpatory evidence:
(1) They denied having what one Witness apologist calls "direct inspiration" - that is, hearing God's voice, or having dreams or vision, or having angels appear to them and converse with them, or the kind of inspiration that God employed in writing the Bible.
(2) They often describe their predictions and prophetic interpretations, both specifically and generally, more as the result of their (hopefully / probably) correct conjecture, than as the revealed knowledge of God.
(3) They disclaim infallibility, at least in general.
Perhaps I neglected the full import of these facts, but any objective critic will also consider the following inculpatory evidence:
(1) The present themselves as speaking for God, claim that their publications are not offering the opinions of men, but God's word for his people. That it is he through them that interprets prophecies.
(2) It has been claimed that angels (and later Holy Spirit) in some way reveal God's truths to "the anointed", including specific predictions and prophetic interpretations they proclaim.
(3) They expect people to accept their claims precisely because they are not their own thoughts, but God's. The Organization would not look kindly upon those who voice their dissent, which is not how one would expect mere human conjecture to be viewed.
Thus I'm forced to conclude that they have claimed to speak in God's name, and have attributed their predictions and prophetic interpretations (including those of the recent past) to Him. And these, of course, have so often proved false. (Also, I'm not saying that their claims make sense or are self-consistent.)
Today, I'll cite various Witness publications wherein their leadership predict when the end of the world, beginning of Christ's reign or other significant eschatological events were supposed to take place, where they've obviously failed. (Sometimes they make claims about events or dates that were prior to their writing, but that is beside the point for present purposes, since it's merely that they've erred that is relevant here.) Additionally, one should take note how later publications gloss over these embarrassingly false predication - not exactly a sign of God's spokesman. (But it is hard enough to say that one is guided by God and yet so consistently get things wrong here.)
Now, what follows is not an exhaustive list, nor are all of these dates predictions, though, most are. That is, some were interpretations given to past dates.
Now, what follows is not an exhaustive list, nor are all of these dates predictions, though, most are. That is, some were interpretations given to past dates.
1874-1878
"Our Lord, the appointed King, is now present since October 1874, A.D., according to the testimony of the prophets, to those who have ears to hear it: and the formal inauguration of his kingly office dates from Apr 1878, A.D." - Studies in Scriptures Series IV (1897) p.621
"The Scriptural proof is that the second presence of the Lord Jesus Christ began in 1874 A.D." - Prophecy 1929 pp.65,66
"… from the beginning of the Lord’s presence in 1874 the Devil used the Papal system as the chief opposing instrument of God’s kingdom …" - Watchtower 1930 p.275
"The year A.D. 1878 … clearly marks the time for the actual assuming of power as King of kings, by our present, spiritual, invisible Lord - …" - The Time is At Hand (1911 ed) p.239
1914
"The Watchtower has consistently presented evidence to honesthearted students of Bible prophecy that Jesus’ presence in heavenly Kingdom power began in 1914." - Watchtower 1993 Jan 15 p.5
"Jehovah's witnesses pointed to the year 1914, decades in advance, as marking the start of "the conclusion of the system of things." - Awake! 1973 Jan 22 p.8
"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. - Zion's Watch Tower 1894 Jul 15 p.226
"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 near the end of A.D.1914." - The Time is at Hand (1889 ed) p.99[1]
"… the battle of the great day of God Almighty … The date of the close of that "battle" is definitely marked in Scripture as October 1914. It is already in progress, its beginning dating from October, 1874." - Zion's Watch Tower 1892 Jan 15 p.23
1925
"When you take up a more advanced study of the Bible, you will find that the year 1925 A. D. is particularly marked in prophecy." - The Way to Paradise p.220
"The Bible and "The Bible in Stone" [the Pyramid of Giza] give the date 1914: for the beginning of the great change. History proves that the ouster proceedings began promptly on time. Prophecy indicates that 1925-1926 will see the greater part of the ousting completed. All the world's statesmen are dreading the next few years." - The Way to Paradise p.171
"What, then, should we expect to take place? The chief thing to be restored is the human race to life; and since other Scriptures definitely fix the fact that there will be a resurrection of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and other faithful ones of old, and that these will have the first favour, we may expect 1925 to witness the return of these faithful men of Israel from the condition of death, being resurrected and fully restored to perfect humanity and made the visible, legal representatives of the new order of things on earth." - Millions Now Living Will Never Die! p.88
"The year 1925 is a date definitely and clearly marked in Scriptures, even more clearly than that of 1914;…" - Watchtower 1924 Jul 15 p.211
"The year 1926 would therefore begin about October first, 1925. ... We should, therefore, expect shortly after 1925 to see the awakening of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Melchisedec, Job, Moses, Samuel, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, John the Baptist, and others mentioned in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. - The Way to Paradise (1925) p.224
1975
"The published timetable resulting from this independent study gives the date of man's creation as 4026 B.C.E. 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. So six thousand years of man's existence on earth will soon be up, yes, within this generation. So in not many years within our own generation we are reaching what Jehovah God could view as the seventh day of man's existence. How appropriate it would be for Jehovah God to make of this coming seventh period of a thousand years a sabbath period of rest and release, a great Jubilee sabbath for the proclaiming of liberty throughout the earth to all its inhabitants! This would be most timely for mankind. It would also be most fitting on God's part, for, remember, mankind has yet ahead of it what the last book of the Holy Bible speaks of as the reign of Jesus Christ over earth for a thousand years, the millennial reign of Christ. 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 with the seventh millennium of man's existence." - Life Everlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God 1966 pp.26-30
"Does God's rest day parallel the time man has been on earth since his creation? Apparently so. In what year, then, would the first 6,000 years of man's existence and also the first 6,000 years of Gods rest day come to an end? The year 1975. It means that within a relatively few years we will witness the fulfillment of the remaining prophecies that have to do with the "time of the end"." - Awake! 1966 Oct 8 pp.19-20
"It did not take the brothers very long to find the chart beginning on page 31, showing that 6,000 years of man's existence end in 1975. 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. Surely it was one of the outstanding blessings to be carried home!" .. Brother Franz. 'Does it mean that Armageddon is going to be finished, with Satan bound, by 1975? It could! It could! All things are possible with God. Does it mean that Babylon the Great is going to go down by 1975? It could. Does it mean that the attack of Gog of Magog is going to be made on Jehovah's witnesses to wipe them out, then Gog himself will be put out of action? It could. But we are not saying. All things are possible with God. But we are not saying. And don't any of you be specific in saying anything that is going to happen between now and 1975. But the big point of it all is this, dear friends: Time is short. Time is running out, no question about that." - Watchtower 1966 Oct 15 pp.629,631
"Just think, brothers, there are only about ninety months left before 6,000 years of man's existence on earth is completed. Do you remember what we learned at the assemblies last summer? The majority of people living today will probably be alive when Armageddon breaks out, and there are no resurrection hopes for those that are destroyed then." - Kingdom Ministry 1968 Mar p.4
"The immediate future is certain to be filled with climactic 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 fulfilment." - Watchtower 1968 May 1 p.272
But, he pointed out, “we should not think that this year of 1975 is of no significance to us,” for the Bible proves that Jehovah is “the greatest chronologist” and “we have the anchor date, 1914, marking the end of the Gentile Times.” So, he continued, “we are filled with anticipation for the near future, for our generation.”—Matt. 24:34." - Watchtower 1975 May 1 p.285
Whether you think they're 'merely interpreting' or claiming to propagate divinely guided and transmitted interpretations (which amounts to prophesying as far as I'm concerned) or not, the evidence is clear: they're not that good at making predictions, and will often down play down their responsibility for getting people's expectations up, and whitewash their formed, demonstratively false predictions. Would you trust them when they claim that their Governing Body is the doctrinal authority God, about which the Bible foretold?
Let them be like every other interpreter throughout history if they want. But then let them cease to make such spectacular claims for themselves. If they wish to be accounted with the others as merely sincere, yet incompetent, prophetic interpreters, then they've undercut their credibility when it comes to their insistence that prophecy clears shows that God is using their Governing Body as his channel for proclaiming his Truth, and that is why they have authority when it comes to doctrine and God's people.
And this is important to emphasize. Without a record of successful prophetic interpretation, Witnesses can't maintain that the Governing Body is what they say they are. Replying that 'the light gets brighter' and 'I'm not serving God with a date in mind' doesn't save Witnesses from this dilemma: their Governing Body is a false prophet or they're just laughably bad at interpreting prophecy (as every human who have tried to do so on their own have been); either way they aren't arbiters of doctrine and are have no God given authority. The upshot is that a Witness should - and if you can make these points tactfully, just might - reexamine what they've been taught as a Witness. I have, and that's why I'm no longer a Witness.
[1] My copy (a 1911 edition) says "1914" but later copies say "1915".
[12.30.3017] P.S. Here is a useful chart:
[12.30.3017] P.S. Here is a useful chart:
| From Wikipedia |
