From: Carl McCaskey To: Herb Sutter Subj: WTBTS and Prophecy -=> Quoting Herb Sutter to Steven Headley <=- HS> I take it that the origin of this thread was to prove Jehovah's HS> Witnesses are "false prophets" by some measure, such as failed HS> predictions? I appreciate why people might think so, yet I've had this HS> discussion many times and I guess I still maintain that we aren't. Herb, the Watchtower has made the distinct claim that they are a prophet in the "Watchtower" of April 1, 1972, page 197: "So, does Jehovah have a prophet to help them, to warn them of dangers and to declare things to come?...These questions can be answered in the affirmative. Who is this prophet?...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...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?" Now we are being invited to look at their past predictions. Since the Witnesses claim to be God's prophet, we are free to put them to the Biblical test for a prophet as stated in Deuteronomy 18:18-20. Also verse 22 of this chapter says: "When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor has come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken,..." The Watchtower clearly invites me to check out their past predictions and dare me to find fault with it. Even if ONE prediction proves wrong then the Watchtower is, by Biblical standards, a false prophet. Why did the Watchtower and the governing body believe that in or around 1925 there would be an awakening of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and others mentioned in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, and that there would be an end to death at that time? And if the Watchtower is getting their info from God as they claim then why does their position change so drastically on basic Biblical issues? Let's go back to direct quotes from Watchtower publications: "Sodom and Gomorrah will receive a second opportunity" ("Plan of the Ages", page 110) "Sodom and Gomorrah will receive no second opportunity" ("Watchtower, Feb. 1954, page 85) "Sodom and Gomorrah will receive a second opportunity" ("Watchtower", Mar. 1965, page 139) Only two logical explanations can be considered; either 1) they are making extremely large mistakes in their interpretations or 2) they are making guesses. Either way, they are NOT getting their info from God as they have been claiming. Therefore the Watchtower is also dishonest. According to reliable sources who researched this very closely, Society literature has said "yes" four times and "no" four times over the last 125 years. This rebounding from one to the other also clearly shows that the Watchtower cannot even stay consistent on their prophecies. So what does the Bible tell us to do when we find those who espouse false prophecies? Let's look back at Deuteronomy 18:20-22. 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 it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him. Now you may try to argue that the Watchtower never claimed to be the inspired prophet of God. Well, even though they did and is documented in the Watchtower's publications themselves, the Bible clearly shows that the actions will show them to be either true or false prophets. The Watchtower's actions clearly show them to have entered into the field of prophecy. And as we have read in the Bible, ANYONE who predicts falsely, is by Biblical standards a false prophet and is NOT to be followed. Which leads me to my question to you: Why are you following an organization that the Bible clearly says not to since they are a false prophet? ... In times of trouble and anxiety, look for God's love. -------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/apl/jw: jw-046.txt .