Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Did the Watchtower claim that 1975 would be the end?

There is no doubt that the Watchtower was a bit confused as to whether or not 1975 would be the end. Nevertheless, they said what they said:

*** Awake! October 8 1968 pp. 14-15 ***
6,000 Years Nearing Completion […] The fact that fifty-four years of the period called the ‘last days’ have already gone by is highly significant. It means that only a few years, at most, remain before the corrupt system of things dominating the earth is destroyed by God. Today, many years later, we may ask, What does the phrase ‘the immediate future’ mean? How many years are ‘a few years at most’?...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


But here they seem to be a little bit confused:

*** Watchtower 1968 May 1 pp.271-3 Making Wise Use of the Remaining Time ***

THE SEVENTH DAY

7 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 fulfillment, resulting in the liberation of surviving mankind into Christ’s glorious 1,000-year reign. What difficult days, but, at the same time, what grand days are just ahead!

8 Does this mean that the year 1975 will bring the battle of Armageddon? No one can say with certainty what any particular year will bring. Jesus said: "Concerning that day or the hour nobody knows." (Mark 13:32) Sufficient is it for God’s servants to know for a certainty that, for this system under Satan, time is running out rapidly. How foolish a person would be not to be awake and alert to the limited time remaining, to the earthshaking events soon to take place, and to the need to work out one’s salvation!


What do you think? False prophet? Or a really confused false prophet?

7 comments:

Unknown said...

As I remember, the Watchtower has been predicting the End Times since Jehovah's Witnesses have had it published. There have been over a dozen failed attempts.

Anonymous said...

Yes, as far as I know.. God isn't much into false prophets really. Not their biggest fan...

Eze 13:1-9;
Deu 18:22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.

And I'm sure Jesus, and even John had some issues with false prophets as well..

Mat 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

1Jo 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Hmmm...

jimfisher007 said...

They never claimed to be Divine Prophets. People just like to find fault with those who are in expectation of Jehovah's Day. "Does this mean that the year 1975 will bring the battle of Armageddon? No one can say with certainty what any particular year will bring. Jesus said: "Concerning that day or the hour nobody knows." (Mark 13:32)"

Come on. People who look for a date to serve God are just sifted out as serving God for a date. Not out of love.

Mike Felker said...

Whether or not they claimed to be "divine" prophets isn't really the issue. The point is, they have made false prophecies. And they were false prophets long before 1975 was ever mentioned. 1914 and 1925 are good examples of this.

jimfisher007 said...

Mike:
Calvin did always tell the truth, does that make him a false prophet?

1914 something did happen....World War one....they we not sure what would happen but read the papers of those times and they will tell you the Bible Students were warning people about to look out for 1914.

1925, they never claimed to be divinely inspired prophets.

Have you ever thought something was going to happen and told someone and it did not happen? Does that make you a false prophet?

1975 you even showed "No one can say with certainty what any particular year will bring. Jesus said: "Concerning that day or the hour nobody knows." (Mark 13:32)"

What in the world has made you so mad to attack the Watchtower as your number one reason to blog? What did they do to you? Wake you up on Saturday? ..... I just don't get it.

At least they are preaching the Good News of the Kingdom. And they are doing it the same way first century Christians were doing it, from house to house and from city to city. I sure wasn't when I was a Baptist or Presbyterian.

Jim

Unknown said...

Interesting concept. They claim that they aren't divinely inspired prophets, HOWEVER, if you deign to disagree with their teaching, you are an apostate. Things that make you go "Hmmmm."

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your blog.