False

The Watchtower Society makes this bold claim:

       "For many decades, Jehovah's Witnesses alone have been active on the international scene in sounding the warning about this coming time of trouble that would climax at Armageddon." .

      The publishers of The Watchtower claim to be God's
      representative, God's "prophet." The question before us is
      what kind of prophet? True or false? We should care. Jesus
      warned us, "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you
      in sheeps clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves."
      (Mt.7:15)

IF the J.W's are true prophets we should join them, but if they are false
prophets we should expose them. (Eph. 5:11) Our position is that Jehovah's
Witnesses are false prophets, having predicted the End for several dates, and
therefore we see it as our duty to "refute those who contradict" the truth of
Christ.
(Titus 1:9-11).



The Watchtower Society declares this warning work is done with supreme authority--as God's prophet:

       "Who will be Jehovah's prophet to the nations, to speak to
       them everything that He should command? Who will be the
       modern Jeremiah?. . . Whom has God actually used as his
       prophet? . . . Jehovah's Witnesses are deeply grateful today
       that the plain facts show that God has been pleased to use
       them."



      Q. Does the Watchtower Society claim it's prophetic
      "expressions" originate with God?

      A.They do. They deny their prophetic statements are
      from any human source, but rather from God Himself.
      Remember, we are discussing statements in the
      Watchtower magazine, NOT the Bible itself) Regarding
      the Watchtower magazine, they claim:

      "This is not giving any credit to the magazine's publishers,
      but it is due to the great Author of the Bible with it's truths
      and prophecies, and who now interprets it's prophecies. He
      it is that makes possible the material that is published in the
      columns of this magazine and who gives promise that it shall
      continue to publish advancing truths as long as it continues to
      exist for the service of the interests of his Theocratic
      Government."

      The Watchtower:

      "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?"

                          REVIEWING THE RECORD



      "So does Jehovah have a prophet to help them, to warn them
      of dangers and to declare things to come?. . . This "prophet"
      was not one man, but was the small groupof 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. . ."


      The Year 1914.
      Peace on Earth by 1925
      Armageddon, Coming Soon!
      1975 and The End!

                                       The Fateful Year of 1914!



    The Watchtower Society claims it's prophetic expressions originate with God!

    Is this true? Do the prophetic interpretations (prophecies) in the Watchtower really originate with God? To answer this let's look at the year 1914. When the Society claimed God had predicted the End of the world's trouble by 1914.

          "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."

    In their book, The Time is at Hand, they declared that God's Word
    taught that the rule of man would end, God's kingdom would be set
    up "in the earth" and the last member of Christ's Church would go
    to heaven--all by 1914:

          "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."

    When this didn't happen, the Society was forced to admit to a false
prediction. Two years after the prophecy failed, in 1916, the Society said:

          "Our mistake was evidently not in respect to the ending of the
          Times of the Gentiles; we drew a false conclusion, however,
          not authorized by the Word of the Lord."

    The "interpretation" about 1914 had not been from God.
1914 was not God's date for the end of trouble. 1914 was the Society's guesswork--in the name of God's word.

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                             Peace On Earth By 1925?



    In 1920 second President of the Watchtower, "Judge Rutherford"
that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would be resurrected from the dead in
1925!

           "Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the
          return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old,
          those named by the Apostle in Hebrews chapter eleven, to the
          condition of human perfection."



                                    In 1922 the Watchtower wrote...

          ". . . that this chronology is not of man, but of God. Being of divine
          origin and divinely corroborated, present truth chronology stands in
          a class by itself, absolutely and unqualifiedly correct."



                                                Then in 1925 . . .

          "The year 1925 is here. With great expectation Christians have
          looked forward to this year. Many have confidently expected that
          all members of the body of Christ will be changed to heavenly glory
          during the year. This may be accomplished. It may not be.
          In his own due time God will accomplish his purposes concerning his
          own people. Christians should not be so deeply concerned about
          what may transpire during this year that they would fail to joyfully do
          the Lord would have them to do."

                                            Later that same year . . .

          "It is to be expected that Satan will try to inject into the minds of the
          consecrated the thought that 1925 should see an end of the work,
          and that therefore it would be needless for them to do more ."



                                                Much Later . . .

          "There was a measure of disappointment on the part of Jehovah's
          faithful ones on earth concerning the years 1914, 1918 and 1925,
          which disappointment lasted for a time. Later the faithful learned that
          these dates were definitely fixed in the Scriptures; and they also
          learned to quit fixing dates for the future and predicting what would
          come to pass on a certain date."

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                                    Armageddon is coming soon...



          "The year 1940 is certain to be the most important year yet, because
          armageddon is very near. It behooves all who love righteousness to
          put forth every effort to advertise The Theocracy while the privileges
          are still open."

          "We realize that all people who love righteousness and hate
          lawlessness must quickly take their stand on the Lord's side if
          they are to receive his protection in Armageddon; for us The
          watchtower and the physical facts clearly indicate, the
          "strange work" is rapidly coming to a close. It is only by studying
          the Watchtower magazine and kindred publications that they can
          get the needed life-giving knowledge. There is no other source."

                                             (What about the Bible!)



          "The kingdom is here, the King is enthroned. Armageddon is just
          ahead. The glorious reign of Christ that shall bring blessing to the
          world will immediately follow. Therefore the great climax has been
          reached. Tribulation has fallen upon those who stand by the Lord.



                 Would the Nazis destroy the British Empire?

          "I stated that the Nazis and Fascists were bent upon destroying the
          British Empire, and that that would be accomplished."



     In 1941 it was only a matter of months before Armageddon.

          "Cartons of 'Children' that had been deposited in The Arena were
          opened and Judge Rutherford instructed the children how to come
          and each get a copy thereof . . .not a toy or a plaything for idle
          pleasure, but the Lord's provided instrument for most effective work
          in the remaining months before Armageddon."



          With only those remaining months left, the German people realize
          their predicament and what the near future will bring--Armageddon!

          "Meanwhile the German people are awakening to their horrible
          predicament. They no longer laugh as decent men and women were
          made to laugh, but their faces are white, pinched and filled with
          forebodings of what the near future will bring and is already hastening
          to bring to them--Armageddon, the battle of that great day of God
                                                   Almighty."

                                         We didn't say it! . . .

          "During WWI God's people expected it to lead directly into
          Armageddon, but Jehovah prevented such a climax at that time.
          "We didn't succumb to such an expectation during WWII."

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                               1975. . . The Year Of Doom!



                     Watchtower authority over Jehovah's Witnesses

          "Jehovah poured out his spirit upon them and assigned them the
          of serving as his sole visible channel, through whom alone spiritual
          instruction was to come. Those who recognize Jehovah's visible
          theocratic organization, therefore, must recognize and accept this
          appointment of the "faithful and discreet slave" and be
          submissive to it."



                              Trustworthy Bible Chronology?

          "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."

                          Why were they looking forward to 1975?

          "What about all this talk concerning the year 1975? Lively discussions,
          some based on speculation, have burst onto flame during recent
          months among serious students of the Bible. Their interest has been
          kindled by the belief that 1975 will mark the end of 6,000 years of
          human history since Adam's creation. The nearness of such an
          important date indeed fires the imagination and presents unlimited
          possibilities for discussion."



                              Armageddon; 90 months to go!

          "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
          of people living today will probably be alive when Armageddon breaks
          out, and there are no resurrection hopes for those who are
                                                destroyed then."



                  Are you seeking a career? . . . Dangerous Move!!

          "In view of the short time left, a decision to pursue a career in this
          of things is not only unwise but extremely dangerous."



                  Sell your home so you can sell the Watchtower!

          "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. -I John 2:17."



                               A false prophet admits guilt!

          "Unfortunately, however, along with such cautionary information,
          were other statements published that implied that such realization
          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. . . The Watchtower included all
          disappointed ones of Jehovah's Witnesses, hence including persons
          to do with the publication of the information that contributed to the
          buildup of hopes centered on that date."



              So who is a false prophet according to the Watchtower?

          "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 fulfillment of
          Bible prophecy. Missing from such people were God's truths and the
          evidence that he was guiding and using them."



                Jesus tells us that the fruits of a prophet are his prophecies.
                                                He warns us:

    "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but
inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are
not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? Even so, every
good tree bears good fruit. But the rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree
cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree produce good fruit. Every tree
that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you
will know them by their fruits. Matthew 7: 15-20."



    For more information see the book, Eyes of Understanding Magnani 1980

Is the Watchtower a