For the past 150 years the Watchtower has boldly interpreted Bible prophecy in an attempt to reveal the things to come and place itself as the city of light. Consequently, the flock has been convinced that Christ has already returned and we are living deep in the time of the end, which is believed to have begun in 1914. 

In reality, because the seers have determined that nearly all things have already been fulfilled, or that some vital prophecies no longer have any relevance, such as the prophecy of Joel, Jehovah’s Witnesses have no basis to anticipate the unfolding of future events associated with the unveiling of the judgments of Jehovah. 

Other than Armageddon, there is one thing that the Governing Body has led Jehovah’s Witnesses to expect in the future—the destruction of Babylon the Great. Although the Watchtower claims that modern Babylon fell back in 1918-19 and supposedly no longer has the power to suppress God’s people, this in spite of the fact that the Russian Orthodox Church has used its influence on Moscow to have the Watchtower completely liquidated, the ultimate end for false religion is expected to occur during the great tribulation. In fact, it is repeated ad nauseam that the great tribulation will begin when the ten horns of the beast turn upon the harlot. 

If Jehovah’s Witnesses were to actually follow the apostolic admonition and make sure of all things and test the “inspired” expressions to determine whether they truly originate with God, what would they find? Any competent researcher would discover that there is no scriptural support for the Watchtower’s assertion. Yes, the 17th chapter of Revelation vividly depicts the beast devouring the harlot, and we may be confident of its fulfillment, but what basis is there to claim that this event begins the great tribulation? There is none. Like many other interpretations, it is simply Watchtower dogma that gets passed off as the truth. 

There is some underlying rationale though. The Governing Body believes that the “holy place” and “Jerusalem” that are destined to become desolated by a disgusting thing during the great tribulation represent Christendom and by extension all of Babylon the Great, the so-called world empire of false religion. 

If that were true, though, why would Christians who observe the disgusting thing standing where it ought not, be required to flee for their lives without delay? Furthermore, why would it be necessary for God to cut short the tribulation to save mankind from extinction?

Jesus advised his disciples to use discernment and consult the prophecy of Daniel specifically. Daniel speaks of the holy place and the holy ones being trampled on by various entities, which the “prophet class” of Bethel has claimed took place on two different occasions during the past two world wars. Could the Governing Body be any less discerning?

Up until about 50 years ago, the Watchtower taught that the great tribulation had begun in 1914 and that God had intervened to cut it short. 

That idea sprang from the notion that the seals of the symbolic scroll had been sequentially unsealed some time during the Great War. The seers were/are right about one thing, however. The opening of the sixth seal betokens earth-shaking events and terrifying celestial phenomena associated with the great tribulation. Every mountain and island being shaken from its place can only symbolize the sudden, catastrophic collapse of the present civilization. The crash of the present system will seem like the end of the world—as if the sun went black and the stars fell from the sky. 

Jesus also spoke of the sun becoming darkened and the moon not giving its light and the stars falling from heaven—events connected with the opening of the sixth seal. Jesus said these things will occur “immediately after the tribulation.” Or, it could be understood that the world will be darkened because of the tribulation in those days. Not coincidently, the prophecy of Joel uses the very same apocalyptic symbolism, saying: “And I will give wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the coming of the great and awe-inspiring day of Jehovah.” — Joel 2:30-31

In any case, the Grand Climax commentary on Revelation points out that the seals of the scroll are unsealed in rapid sequence. That is surely reasonable. But since no such earthshaking crash of nations has occurred it is apparent that the seals have not been unsealed—none of them. 

Laughably, to paper over this glaring void the seers claim that the sixth seal was unsealed more than a century ago and has resulted in preliminary temblors that have been rocking the world for the past 100 years! The Watchtower claims that since 1914 the nations of the world have been destabilized when arguably the post World War Two generations have enjoyed an extended period of relative peace and stability. The Governing Body has been compelled to come up with such gimmickry in order to keep the 1914 fraud going. 

After all, if the sixth seal has not been unsealed, then neither have the others—including the first seal picturing the messianic rider of the white horse going forth to conquer his enemies. Is it such a trivial thing to proclaim that the Kingdom has been established and that the Second Coming of Christ is over and done? 

The predicament of the Governing Body is as stated in the 13th chapter of Ezekiel: “they have waited for their word to come true.” It has been a long and vain, excruciating wait. 

Ezekiel’s denunciation is directed at those whom Jehovah refers to as the stupid prophets— “those who fabricate their own prophecies.” That is exactly what the Watchtower has done. They have fabricated their own fulfillments of the prophetic visions.

Consider the Society’s latest revision of Joel. As far back as the late 90’s I had contacted numerous leading men at Bethel pointing out the obvious absurdities of the Watchtower’s long-held interpretation of the prophecy. In 2005-06 then-Governing Body members were also presented with personal copies of Jehovah Himself Has Become King—an entire chapter being devoted to an examination of the book of Joel. 

Suddenly, in 2020 new light flashed forth! It was revealed that the locust swarm does not symbolize Jehovah’s Witnesses after all. What does the unstoppable locust swarm portend for the future? Nothing—at least according to the “new light.” Even though the invasion of the northerner is a precursor to the day of Jehovah the Watchtower now claims that there is no modern fulfillment. Even though the locusts bring devastation to the entire earth and invade Jehovah’s own land including Jerusalem, which also happens to be the central feature of Jesus’ extensive prophecy concerning the conclusion and the great tribulation, the prophets see no connection. No wonder Jehovah calls them the “stupid prophets.” 

It is as Jehovah said to his watchman, Ezekiel: “Son of man, you are living in a rebellious house. They have eyes to see, but they do not see, and ears to hear, but they do not hear, for they are a rebellious house.” — Ezekiel 12:2

It is true. The leadership of Jehovah’s Witnesses possesses the spiritual capacity to discern Jehovah’s judgments. In other words, they have eyes to see and ears to hear. But they refuse to see and hear God’s judgments. Instead, they devise flattering interpretations that exalt themselves and the organization—claiming that pure worship has been restored, that Jehovah’s Witnesses are flourishing in spiritual paradise and that all is well between them and Jehovah. 

Meanwhile, the Governing Body has countermanded Christ and repudiated everything the Watchtower once resolutely advocated. Under the guise of saving lives, for the past year every kingdom hall in the world has been shuttered and Jehovah’s Witnesses have been ordered not to show themselves on the street, all because of a pandemic that is survivable by 99.9% of the population! A rebellious house indeed! 

How much longer shall Jehovah put up with those who prophesy falsely in His name? Not much longer. Hence, Jehovah commands his watchman to tell them: “‘The days are near, and every vision will take place.’ For there will no longer be any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I, Jehovah, will speak. Whatever word I speak will be done without any more delay. In your days, O rebellious house, I will say the word and carry it out,” declares the Sovereign Lord Jehovah.

Up until the present moment God has allowed the stupid prophets to expound upon their flattering divination. They have plastered coat after coat of whitewash on their shabbily built wall. The coming windstorm and symbolic torrential downpour will come in the form of war, famine and pestilence, and the great tribulation. The days are near!

Among the visions destined to take place in the near future include the many visions of Revelation as well as the visions of Ezekiel and Daniel, Zephaniah, Habakkuk and Joel, and Isaiah. And one commonality of all the prophets, without exception, including the foremost prophet—Jesus Christ—is the destruction of Jerusalem. 

Concerning that end here is what Jehovah will say: “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: ‘I will cause powerful windstorms to burst forth in my wrath, and a torrential downpour in my anger, and hailstones in destructive fury. I will tear down the wall that you plastered with whitewash and bring it down to the earth, and its foundation will be exposed. When the city falls, you will perish within her; and you will have to know that I am Jehovah.’” — Ezekiel 13:13-14

This message is being electronically distributed among Bethel’s residents and elders.