Friday, December 09, 2011

Are the Watchtower's predictions "hollow?"

Sometimes I wonder if the Governing Body remembers their own history.  But then again, i've come to expect them to be less than honest, which is quite unfortunate.  Though there might be some who would love nothing more than to have a "gotcha" moment in pointing out yet another less-than-honest statement by the Governing Body, I would much rather them demonstrate some humility.

Given the recent false prediction by Harold Camping, I was actually hoping the Governing Body would leave this one alone.  Otherwise, it would not be the first time they have applied a double standard in accusing others of making false predictions that didn't come to pass.

However, in the February 1, 2011 Watchtower on p. 25, the leaders in Brooklyn had this to say,


















First of all, this statement is not completely accurate regarding Camping's prediction.  Like the Watchtower's pre-1914 predictions, Camping's was based upon his faulty interpretation of the Scriptures.  And as far as I know, Camping didn't claim any type of non-biblical divine revelation that God had personally given to him.  In fact, any claims to authority Camping would have made could only pale in comparison to what the Watchtower had and continues to claim for themselves.  The point is, the reader of the Watchtower may have gotten the impression that Camping just made up everything or had some type of inspired revelation from God.

Second, the prediction made by Camping is described as "hollow."  I agree.  The problem is, where did the Watchtower ever describe their own predictions in this manner?  At the very least, did the Watchtower ever apologize for their false predictions which resulted in a severe disappointment for many?  Consider only a few,
“The year 1925 is a date definitely and clearly marked in the Scriptures, even more clearly than that of 1914.” –The Watchtower July 15, 1924 p. 211
“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, p. 90 
If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things. Why not? Because all the evidence in fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years. -Awake! 1969 5/22 p. 15
Shortly, within our twentieth century, the “battle in the day of Jehovah” will begin against the modern antitype of Jerusalem, Christendom. -The Nations Shall Know that I am Jehovah p. 216
The purpose of Awake! is stated clearly on page 4 of each issue: “This magazine builds confidence in the Creator’s promise of a peaceful and secure new world before the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away.” Certainly such a magazine deserves as wide a distribution as possible in our house-to-house ministry! -Kingdom Ministry 10/93 p. 8
Could these false predictions be described as anything short of "hollow?"  If so, then where were they ever appropriately described as such?  If they weren't, then would such neglect be what one would expect from "God's organization?"

This is information that I would encourage some to share with their JW friends and family.  Do so with caution, humility, and love.  But never do so at the expense of the gospel and pointing to Christ as "the way, the truth, and the life." (John 14:6)  Remember, your goal is not to create an ex-JW, but a Christ follower.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

In much the same vein, the December 1 issue of the Watchtower claims:

"As regards the wicked, they will be cut off from the very earth..."

"When will this occur? No human knows...Jehovah's Witnesses do not try to predict when God will destroy the wicked."- Will the Earth Survive 2012?, p.10

Notice here that this statement is in the present tense. What makes me so angry is that there is no acknowledgement of their past culture of escatological cock-ups. It's all very well being wise after the fact, but their past eccentricities have cost a lot of people, in many case, lost dreams and a comfortable future while they constantly awaited the 'imminent' war of Armageddon!

Kyle said...

Sadly the Watchtower Society has been hijacked by "the man of lawlessness" their history indicates this first occurred in 1916 when JF Rutherford usurped authority and became president. Since that time wolves in sheep clothing (the GOVERNING BODY ) and their minions (ELDERS) have controlled the membership , deceiving and being deceived, how long God allows this to continue remains to be seen ...

Anonymous said...

While it's difficult to take anything seriously being toted by the WTBTS nowadays (confusion over the Generation etc, almost no mention of 1914 in latest publications etc) I feel their reputation could be turned around if they gave up their non-Biblical policies - no more chronology, stop shunning those who disassociate themselves from the Organisation and proper respect for Caesar's God-given authority in matters such as child abuse and the tendency to keep it 'in-house.'

Anonymous said...

All of this in its complexity is all very well. What has it got to do with whether the WTBTS is a true prophet of Jehovah?

The fact is, the Bible only has infallible prophets. The continuous and various predictions have had a deleterious effect on those in the congregations, often robbing them of goals in life and this has been passed on to their children.

It's all pointless in the light of the confusion now felt by those still being badgered with an'updated' 'understanding' of the Generation. If the basic 'prophecy' is incorrect, how can any of what you say matter?

Anonymous said...

The fact is that there are many many religions all claiming they personally have the 'truth' shows that, like a patient reading an ink blot, everyone sees something different in the ink blot. If all JWs are obliged to believe one particular interpretation does not make it right.