For many years The Watchtower Society of Jehovah's Witnesses has proclaimed itself God's modern-day prophet. They tell us:-

"He had a "prophet" to warn them. 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 that time as International Bible Students. Today they are known as Jehovah's Christian witnesses. They are still proclaiming a warning, and have been joined and assisted in their commissioned work by hundreds of thousands of persons who have listened to their message with belief."  [THE WATCHTOWER APRIL 1 1972, page 197.]

The Watchtower article mentioned above went on to state:

"Of course, it is easy to say that this group acts as a "prophet" of God. It is another thing to prove it. The only way that this can be done is to review the record. What does it show?" [THE WATCHTOWER APRIL 1 1972, page 197.]

SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLE.

"But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him." Deuteronomy 18:20-22 (KJV)

"RELIGIOUS HYPOCRISY EXPOSED
Jehovah, the God of the true prophets, will put all false prophets to shame either by not fulfilling the false prediction of such self-assuming prophets or by having His own prophecies fulfilled in a way opposite to that predicted by the false prophets. False prophets will try to hide their reason for feeling shame by denying who they really are. They will try to avoid being killed or being pronounced spiritually dead by Jehovah's loyal worshipers. He foretold this by having his true prophet Zechariah continue on to say:" [PARADISE RESTORED TO MANKIND - BY THEOCRACY! 1972, pp.353/4, par. 22.]

"And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive: But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth. And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends." Zechariah 13:4-6 (KJV)

"The Difference True, there have been those in times past who predicted an "end to the world," even announcing a specific date. Some have gathered groups of people with them and fled to the hills or withdrawn into their houses waiting for the end. Yet, nothing happened. The "end" did not come. They were guilty of false prophesying. Why? What was missing? Missing was the full measure of evidence required in fulfilment of Bible prophecy. Missing from such people were God's truths and the evidence that he was guiding and using them." [Awake! OCTOBER 8, 1968, p.23.]

"Similarly the "false prophet" is not a person, but a system or an organisation. A "prophet" claims to have inspired information for the direction of others. A "false prophet" would mislead others, to turn them away from God and toward false worship. [THE WATCHTOWER - JUNE 15, 1974, p.381.]

• 1. Scripture explains just who qualifies as a false prophet, and not under God's guidance.
• 2. The Watchtower agrees and adds:
• 3. False prophets would try to hide the truth about their false prophecies.
• 4. False prophets do not have God's truths or guidance.
• 5. False prophets mislead people away from true worship.

1891 - THE PYRAMID POINTS TO 1914.

"STUDY X.

The Testimony of God's Stone Witness and Prophet, The Great Pyramid in Egypt.

General description of the Great Pyramid.

Why of special interest to Christians.

The Great Pyramid a storehouse of truth.

Scientific, Historic and Prophetic. Bible allusions to it."

[Thy Kingdom Come, 1891, p.17.]

"A. D. equals 3457 years. Thus the Pyramid witnesses that the close of 1914 will be the beginning of the time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation - no, nor ever shall be afterward. And thus it will be noted that this "Witness" fully corroborates the Bible testimony on the subject, as shown by the "Parallel Dispensations" in MILLENNIAL DAWN, Vol. II., Chap.vii." [THY KINGDOM COME, 1891, p.342.]

CANNOT CHANGE FIGURES.

1914 had become an established, and a very important date in the prophetic reckoning of The Watchtower Society, so it was unchangeable.

"We see no reason for changing the figures - nor could we change them if we would. They are, we believe, God's dates, not ours. 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, July 15th, 1894, p.226.]

"If the pyramid is not mentioned in the Bible, then following its teachings is being led by vain philosophy and false science and not following after Christ." [The Watchtower magazine of November 15, 1928, p.341.]

"CALCULATING THE "SEVEN TIMES"
"Seven times" = 7 X 360 = 2,520 years
A Biblical "time" or year = 12 X 360. (Rev. 11:2, 3; 12:6, 14.)
In the fulfilment of the "seven times" each day equals one year. (Ezek. 4:6; Num. 14:34.)
Early October, 607 B.C.E., to December 31, 607 B.C.E. = ¼ year
January 1, 606 B.C.E., to December 31, 1 B.C.E. = 606 years
January 1, 1 C.E., to December 31, 1913 = 1913 years
January 1, 1914, to early October, 1914 = ¾ year
Total = 2,520 years"

The Watchtower Society felt it had to find a way of arriving at the date 1914 because it had been established as one of 'God's dates, not ours.'

THIS GENERATION

"This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur." Matt. 24:34 NWT.

"We can be equally sure that, of the generation alive in 1914, some will see the major fulfilment of Christ Jesus' prophecy and the destruction with which it culminates. This means that mankind is now in the most crucial time of its history, when the rule of this earth and of all human affairs will pass from the hands of imperfect political rulers and come to rest with a righteous government of God's own making."

[AWAKE! - OCTOBER 8, 1973, p.19.]

"If the 1970's should see intervention by Jehovah God to bring an end to a corrupt world drifting toward ultimate disintegration, that should surely not surprise us."

[AWAKE! - OCTOBER 8, 1968, p.14.]

"We see no reason for changing the figures - nor could we change them if we would. They are, we believe, God's dates, not ours. 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, July 15th, 1894, p.226.]

"Be not surprised, then, when in subsequent chapters we present proofs that the setting up of the Kingdom of God is already begun, that it is pointed out in prophecy as due to begin the exercise of power in A. D. 1878, and that the "battle of the great day of God Almighty" (Rev. 16:14.), which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth's present rulership, is already commenced. The gathering of the armies is plainly visible from the standpoint of God's Word."

[THE TIME IS AT HAND, 1908 EDIT., p.101.]

"In this chapter we present the Bible evidence proving that the full end of the times of the Gentiles, i. e. the full end of their lease of dominion, will be reached in A. D. 1914; and that that date will be the farthest limit of the rule of imperfect men. And be it observed, that if this is shown to be a fact firmly established by the Scriptures, it will prove:-
Firstly, That at that date the Kingdom of God, for which our Lord taught us to pray, saying, "Thy Kingdom come," will obtain full, universal control, and that it will then be "set up," or firmly established, in the earth, on the ruins of present institutions."

[THE TIME IS AT HAND, 1889 EDIT. pp.76/7.]

USE OF OLD MATERIAL. If Jehovah has been using The Watchtower Society since its beginning, then the prophetic record must be taken into account from the beginning. Otherwise we must ask, "When did Jehovah start using the 'organisation'?" if not from the beginning. We need to find out if Jehovah really has been using The Watchtower Society from its beginning.

Remember, we are instructed to check the record.....     [back to current text]

"Of course, it is easy to say that this group acts as a "prophet" of God. It is another thing to prove it. The only way that this can be done is to review the record. What does it show?"

[THE WATCHTOWER APRIL 1 1972, page 197.]

"Who has proved to be "on the watch" for all these things? As early as 1876,
Charles T. Russell of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, had been attentively watching for the end of "the appointed times of the nations," or "times of the Gentiles." (King James Version) That year he published an article entitled "Gentile Times: When Do They End?" In it he stated that "the seven times will end in A.D. 1914." From 1880 on, that same information was published in the columns of Zion's Watch Tower. The March 1880 issue stated: "'The Times of the Gentiles' extend to 1914, and the heavenly kingdom will not have full sway till then." True, the Bible students who wrote those articles did not, at that time, enjoy the precise Biblical and historical understanding of what the end of those "appointed times of the nations" would actually mean, as we understand these things today. * But the important point is that they were "on the watch" and helped to keep fellow Christians spiritually alert."

[THE WATCHTOWER DECEMBER 1, 1984, pp. 16/7.]

The Watchtower even quote the 1880 article in such a way that it gives a misleading understanding of what they actually prophesied.

THIS IS THE ORIGINAL QUOTE:

"The Times of the Gentiles" extend to 1914, and the heavenly kingdom will not have full sway till then, but as a "Stone" the kingdom of God is set up "in the days of these (ten gentile) kings," and by consuming them it becomes a universal kingdom - a "great mountain and fills the whole earth."

[ZION'S WATCH TOWER, MARCH 1880, p.82 reprints.]

"Different from all other religions was the reading matter that the witnesses put out. Why? Because the witnesses said that the year 1914 would be of world-wide importance. In the "Watchtower" magazine of March, 1880, they said: "The Times of the Gentiles extend to 1914, and the heavenly kingdom will not have full sway till then." Of all people, only the witnesses pointed to 1914 as the year for God's kingdom to be fully set up in heaven.

[FROM PARADISE LOST TO PARADISE REGAINED, 1958, p. 170, par.10.]

In modern times they still under-quote.....

"Direction by God's Spirit enables Jehovah's servants to have divine light in a world of spiritual darkness. (2 Cor. 4:4) For instance, long ago they understood that 1914 C.E. would mark the end of the Gentile Times or "appointed times of the nations," during which the Gentile nations were allowed uninterrupted rulership of the earth. (Luke 21:24) This 2,520 year period began with the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple by the Babylonians in the late seventh century B.C.E. For example, Zion's Watch Tower of March 1880 had declared: "'The Times of the Gentiles' extend to 1914, and the heavenly kingdom will not have full sway till then." Only God by his holy spirit could have revealed this to those early Bible students so far in advance."

[THE WATCHTOWER JULY 1, 1973 p.402, par.5.]

Did they really believe 1914 would see big changes on earth?

"And, with the end of A. D. 1914, what God calls Babylon, and what men call Christendom, will have passed away, as already shown from prophecy."

[THY KINGDOM COME, 1891 EDITION, p.153.]

"Also in the year 1918, when God destroys the churches wholesale and the church members by millions, it shall be that any that escape shall come to the works of Pastor Russell to learn the meaning of the downfall of "Christianity.""

[THE FINISHED MYSTERY, 1917 EDITION, p.485.]

"Our Lord, the appointed King, is now present, since October 1874, A. D., according to the testimony of the prophets, ....................."

[STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES Vol. IV 1897 edition p.621.]

"Surely there is not the slightest room for doubt in the mind of a truly consecrated child of God that the Lord Jesus is present and has been since 1874; ......."

[THE WATCHTOWER JANUARY 1, 1924, p.5, par.16.]

" They felt that they were already living in the invisible presence of the bridegroom. Due to this fact, when Charles T. Russell began publishing his own religious magazine in July of 1879, he published it under the title "Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence." He had already become familiar with Wilson's The Emphatic Diaglott, which translated the Greek word pa•rou•si'a as "presence," not "coming," in Matthew 24:3 and elsewhere. The new magazine was heralding Christ's invisible presence as having begun in 1874. This presence was to continue until the end of the Gentile Times in 1914, when the Gentile nations would be destroyed and the remnant of the "chaste virgin" class would be glorified with their bridegroom in heaven by death and resurrection to life in the spirit."

[GOD'S KINGDOM OF A THOUSAND YEARS HAS APPROACHED, 1973, pp.187/8, par.7.]

"RELIGIOUS HYPOCRISY EXPOSED
Jehovah, the God of the true prophets, will put all false prophets to shame either by not fulfilling the false prediction of such self-assuming prophets or by having His own prophecies fulfilled in a way opposite to that predicted by the false prophets. False prophets will try to hide their reason for feeling shame by denying who they really are. They will try to avoid being killed or being pronounced spiritually dead by Jehovah's loyal worshipers. He foretold this by having his true prophet Zechariah continue on to say:"    [PARADISE RESTORED TO MANKIND-BY THEOCRACY! 1972, pp.353/4, par. 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 I know the word that Jehovah has not 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. You must not get frightened at him."        Deuteronomy 18:20-22 NWT
"When that time came and passed there was much disappointment, chagrin and mourning, and the Lord's people were greatly in reproach. They were ridiculed by the clergy and their allies in particular, and pointed to with scorn, because they had said so much about 1914, and what would come to pass, and their 'prophecies' had not been fulfilled."     [LIGHT, 1931, p.194.]

"Their reputation as important ones in the truth might be destroyed, and that greatly confused them and caused them to become huffy. They had preached that in an early time God would overthrow "Christendom." Many had emphasised the year 1925 as the date, and then when that date did not materialise the date was moved up to 1932. Again, 1932 came and "Christendom" was not destroyed, and now it was discovered that Christendom" would be spared for a while longer for the sake of the Jonadab class, and this made the proud "elective elder" crowd very mad."

[THE WATCHTOWER, FEBRUARY 15, 1938, pp.54/5, par.19.]

"Are we assigned as individuals to bring forth the food for the spiritual table? No? Then let us not try to take over the slave's duties. We should eat and digest and assimilate what is set before us, without shying away from parts of the food because it may not suit the fancy of our mental taste. The truths we are to publish are the ones provided through the discreet-slave organisation, not some personal opinions contrary to what the slave has provided as timely food. Jehovah and Christ direct and correct the slave as needed, not we as individuals. If we do not see a point at first we should keep trying to grasp it, rather than opposing and rejecting it and presumptuously taking the position that we are more likely to be right than the discreet slave. We should meekly go along with the Lord's theocratic organisation and wait for further clarification, rather than balk at the first mention of a thought unpalatable to us and proceed to quibble and mouth our criticisms and opinions as though they were worth more than the slave's provision of spiritual food. Theocratic ones will appreciate the Lord's visible organisation and not be so foolish as to pit against Jehovah's channel their own human reasoning and sentiment and personal feelings."

[THE WATCHTOWER FEBRUARY 1, 1952, pp. 79/80, par. 11.]

Another admission came after the 1975 debacle. The Watchtower promoted the mid seventies as the time when God's 'New World' was most likely to occur. The Society even discouraged childbirth.

"The evidence is that Jesus' prophecy will shortly have a major fulfilment, upon this entire system of things. This has been a major factor in influencing many couples to decide not to have children at this time. They have chosen to remain childless so that they would be less encumbered to carry out the instructions of Jesus Christ to preach the good news of God's kingdom earth wide before the end of this system comes.- Matt. 24:14."  [AWAKE! NOVEMBER 8, 1974, p.11.]

"Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world's end. - 1 John 2:17."

[KINGDOM MINISTRY (USA) MAY 1974, p.3.]

As early as June 1969, The Watchtower was giving the following advice to young Jehovah's Witnesses.

"Which will you decide to take up? 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. On the other hand, a decision to take advantage of what God offers through his organisation opens up excellent opportunities for advancement as well as a rich, meaningful life that will never end. .................. Many young brothers and sisters were offered scholarships or employment that promised fine pay. However, they turned them down and put spiritual interests first." [KINGDOM SERVICE (USA) June 1969, p.3.]

"Many schools have student counsellors who encourage one to pursue higher education after high school, to pursue a career with a future in this system of things. Do not be influenced by them. Do not let them "brainwash" you with the Devil's propaganda to get ahead, to make something of yourself in this world. This world has very little time left! Any "future" this world offers is no future! Wisely, then, let God's Word influence you in selecting a course that will result in your protection and blessing. Make pioneer service, the full-time ministry, with the possibility of Bethel or missionary service your goal."

[THE WATCHTOWER MARCH 15 1969, p.171, par.12.]

"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, for this reason, put off or neglected things that they otherwise would have cared for. But they have missed the point of the Bible's warnings concerning the end of this system of things, thinking that Bible chronology reveals the specific date. ............. If anyone has been disappointed through not following this line of thought, 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."

[THE WATCHTOWER JULY 15, 1976, pp. 440/1, pars.11/14.]

The admission of guilt for false prophecy finally came in March 1980.

"With the appearance of the book Life Everlasting-in Freedom of the Sons of God, and its comments as to how appropriate it would be for the millennial reign of Christ to parallel the seventh millennium of man's existence, considerable expectation was aroused regarding the year 1975. There were statements made then, and thereafter, stressing that this was only a possibility. Unfortunately, however, along with such cautionary information, there were other statements published that implied that such realisation of hopes by that year was more of a probability than a mere possibility. It is to be regretted that these latter statements apparently overshadowed the cautionary ones and contributed to a build-up of the expectation already initiated. ............... In its issue of July 15, 1976, The Watchtower, commenting on the inadvisability of setting our sights on a certain date, stated: "If anyone has been disappointed through not following this line of thought, 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." In saying "anyone," The Watchtower included all disappointed ones of Jehovah's Witnesses, hence including persons having to do with the publication of the information that contributed to the build-up of hopes centred on that date."

[THE WATCHTOWER, MARCH 15, 1980, pp. 17/18, pars.5/6.]

But the important question for anyone to ask, is, "As The Watchtower got the date wrong yet again, what's the point of believing any of their false prophecies? And Jehovah certainly couldn't have been guiding them."

"Of course, it is easy to say that this group acts as a "prophet" of God. It is another thing to prove it. The only way that this can be done is to review the record. What does it show?"     [THE WATCHTOWER APRIL 1 1972, page 197.]

Luke 21:32 NWT. "Truly I say to YOU, This generation will by no means pass away until all things occur."

In its eagerness to promote the 'soon coming' of Armageddon, and the end of this wicked system on earth, The Watchtower promoted 1914 as the pivotal date, around which all other dates must turn. However, please do not forget that C.T. Russell promoted 1914 as the date of the end of the battle of Armageddon, and the arrival of God's established kingdom in the earth. He hadn't specifically foretold the first World War, but when it started in 1914, that was a bonus for him. The Watchtower had first proclaimed that Armageddon had begun in October 1874.

1914 will end the "battle."

"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 JANUARY 1892, p.22.]

"Battle" still going on in 1916.

"In the meantime, our eyes of understanding should discern clearly the Battle of the Great Day of God Almighty now in progress; and our faith, guiding our eyes of understanding through the Word, should enable us to see the glorious outcome - Messiah's Kingdom." [THE WATCHTOWER SEPTEMBER 1, 1916, p.265.]

Now 1914 becomes the start of the "battle."

"The present great war in Europe is the beginning of the Armageddon of the Scriptures. (Rev. 16:16-20.) It will eventuate in the complete overthrow of all the systems of error which have so long oppressed the people of God and deluded the world." [Pastor Russell's Sermons, 1917, p.676.]

1st. "This generation" means people who were living in 1914.

"After drawing attention to the many things that have marked the period from 1914 onward, Jesus said: "This generation will by no means pass away until all these things [including the end of this system] occur." (Matthew 24:34, 14) Which generation did Jesus mean? He meant the generation of people who were living in 1914. Those persons yet remaining of that generation are now very old. However, some of them will still be alive to see the end of this wicked system. So of this we can be certain: Shortly now there will be a sudden end to all wickedness and wicked people at Armageddon." [YOU CAN LIVE FOREVER IN PARADISE ON EARTH 1982 p.154, par.8.]

"Jesus was obviously speaking about those who were old enough to witness with understanding what took place when the "last days" began. Jesus was saying that some of those persons who were alive at the appearance of the 'sign of the last days' would still be alive when God brought this system to its end.
Even if we presume that youngsters 15 years of age would be perceptive enough to realise the import of what happened in 1914, it would still make the youngest of "this generation" nearly 70 years old today. So the great majority of the generation to which Jesus was referring has already passed away in death."

[AWAKE! OCTOBER 8, 1968, p.13/4.]

"Thus, when it comes to the application in our time, the "generation" logically would not apply to babies born during World War I. It applies to Christ's followers and others who were able to observe that war and the other things that have occurred in fulfilment of Jesus' composite "sign." Some of such persons "will by no means pass away until" all of what Christ prophesied occurs, including the end of the present wicked system." [THE WATCHTOWER OCTOBER 1, 1978, p.31.]

4th. Now the prophecy is stretched to include babies born to the 1914 generation.

"If Jesus used "generation" in that sense and we apply it to 1914, then the babies of that generation are now 70 years old or older. And others alive in 1914 are in their 80's or 90's, a few even having reached a hundred. There are still many millions of that generation alive. Some of them "will by no means pass away until all things occur." -- Luke 21:32." [THE WATCHTOWER MAY 15, 1984, p.5.]

"We have long felt that the parable depicted Jesus' sitting down as King in 1914, and since then making judgements - everlasting life for people proving to be like sheep, permanent death for the goats. But a reconsideration of the parable points to an adjusted understanding of its timing and what it illustrates. This refinement reinforces the importance of our preaching work and the significance of people's response. To see the basis for this deeper understanding of the parable, let us consider what the Bible shows about Jehovah and Jesus, both as Kings and as Judges."

[THE WATCHTOWER OCTOBER 15, 1995, p.19, par.4.]

Having set the foundation for change in the October 15, 1995 Watchtower, they now enlarge on it in the November 1, 1995 Watchtower......

1. They bring us a 'heart of wisdom' by not speculating about the years or days that make up a generation.

"However, we "bring a heart of wisdom in," not by speculating about how many years or days make up a generation, but by thinking about how we "count our days" in bringing joyful praise to Jehovah. (Psalm 90:12) Rather than provide a rule for measuring time, the term "generation" as used by Jesus refers principally to contemporary people of a certain historical period, with their identifying characteristics."

[THE WATCHTOWER NOVEMBER 1ST, 1995, p.17, par.6.]

"In Jesus' day the apostate Jewish people that were rejecting Jesus was "this generation." - Genesis 6;11, 12: 7:1. Therefore, in the final fulfilment of Jesus' prophecy today, "this generation" apparently refers to the peoples of earth who see the sign of Christ's presence but fail to mend their ways."

[THE WATCHTOWER NOVEMBER 1, 1995, p.19, par. 11/12.]

"Of course, it is easy to say that this group acts as a "prophet" of God. It is another thing to prove it. The only way that this can be done is to review the record. What does it show?"

[THE WATCHTOWER APRIL 1 1972, page 197.]

WILL YOU FOLLOW THE FURTHER ADVICE OF THE WATCHTOWER?

"Knowing these things, what will you do? It is obvious that the true God, who is himself "the God of truth" and who hates lies, will not look with favor on persons who cling to organizations that teach falsehood. (Psalm 31:5; Proverbs 6:16-19; Revelation 21:8) And, really, would you want to be even associated with a religion that had not been honest with you?" [IS THIS LIFE ALL THERE IS? 1974, p.46.]

Obviously, there has to be real, truthful life, OUTSIDE OF THE WATCHTOWER ORGANISATION.