Jehovah's Witnesses: When will the WT Society accept responsibility for their false 1914 prophecy?

Question

Why is the Watchtower Society continuously attempting to conceal their gargantuan blunder about this doctrine? For example, why do pre-November 1995 issues of Awake! state this as the purpose of their publication:
"...Most important, this magazine builds confidence in the Creator's promise of a peaceful and secure world before the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away."

But after 11/1995, it reads:
"... Most important, this magazine builds confidence in the Creator's promise of a peaceful and secure world that is about to replace the present wicked, lawless system of things."

Why the sudden change?

In the past, the Watchtower Society has diffused criticism of their past prophetic failures by professing never to have claimed to be a prophet - an assertion that is simply false. (See Watchtower, 4/1/1972, "The Nations Shall Know that I am Jehovah")

But the Watchtower cannot use this excuse with their 1914 failure -- They even called this prediction for the 1914 generation "Jehovah's prophetic word":

"From a purely human viewpoint, it could appear that these developments could hardly take place before the generation of 1914 disappears from the scene. But fulfillment of all the foretold events affecting the generation of 1914 does not depend on comparatively slow human action. Jehovah's prophetic word through Christ Jesus is: 'This generation [of 1914] will by no means pass away until all things occur.' (Luke 21:32) And Jehovah, who is the source of inspired and unfailing prophecy, will bring about the fulfillment of his Son's words in a relatively short time."

"Just as Jesus' prophecies regarding Jerusalem were fulfilled within the life span of the generation of the year 33 C.E., so his prophecies regarding 'the time of the end' will be fulfilled within the life span of the generation of 1914... Yes, you may live to see this promised New Order, along with survivors of the generation of 1914 - the generation that will not pass away." (Watchtower, 5/15/1984, pp. 6-7).


JWs: Doesn't it seem clear that the WTS is indeed guilty of false prophecy?

Answer 1

For as long as they continue to maintain that Jesus Christ's 'parousia' took place invisibly in 1914, they will refuse to admit there is anything wrong with what they have declared about 1914. They say he became 'present' in heavenly, kingly power, taking up the throne to reign in October that year, but only those with spiritual eyes of discernment (themselves) 'saw' it happen. This is their get-out-clause. It's The King's New Clothes trick.



But they are not stupid and they know it's essential to get their spot-light off 1914 and re-focussed on the coming Great Tribulation. That's what they've been gradually doing over the past two or three decades. Less and less talk about 1914, more and more talk about the Great Tribulation. Less and less talk about the generation alive at 1914, more and more talk about the generation alive when the Great Tribulation starts. It's an old, well tried out tactic that has got them off the hook for over 100 years. New recruits don't recognise it. Old JWs, who know full well that statements that got them into the religion are now discarded, put up and shut up. Why? Because they've invested so much negative spiritual equity in this belief-system, they feel trapped.

Answer 2

Jehovah's witnesses are not the kind of prophets that receive direct revelations from God like Daniel and others were. We can only repeat prophecies that are already there. There have been expectations that were not prophesies at all, and they said so.



The year 1975 was the 6000th year of human history according to the best calculations from the Bible, and so many expected that this was a good time for Jesus to return to judge humanity as he said he would in Matthew 25:31-33



But Jehovah's witnesses did not have the authority to tell Jesus what to do and when to do it, and he said that no one knows the day or hour. This statement in Matthew 24:36, was stated repeatedly throughout the years before 1975 in the literature, and other similar quotations from God's word the Bible..



Even the expectation that 1914 might bring the end was not a prediction. All the scriptures showed is that 1914 was going to bring to an end the Gentile Times. Luke 21:24 The brothers then did not know what that would mean, but many hoped that it would mean that the end was coming. It did not come then, but the time of troubles prophesied by Jesus Christ in Matthew 24, Mark, 13 and Luke 21 was fulfilled beginning at that time. THESE DID COME TRUE, AND ARE COMING TRUE.



So since the expectation for 1975 was not a prediction, Jehovah;s witnesses would still not have any new or old ones anytime.



However, it is important that we who believe in the words of Jesus Christ will not deny that what he said, that he is coming and will not delay, is the absolute truth. If anyone who believes in Jesus denies that they are putting themselves in the position of the evil slave, which Jesus described in this way:



Matthew 24:48-51

48 “But if ever that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying,’ 49 and he starts to beat his fellow slaves and to eat and drink with the confirmed drunkards, 50 the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and in an hour that he does not know, 51 and he will punish him with the greatest severity and will assign him his place with the hypocrites. There is where his weeping and the gnashing of his teeth will be.



My brothers commented on Peter's God-inspired prediction:



The apostle Peter accurately pointed out: “In the last days ridiculers will come with their ridicule, proceeding according to their own desires and saying: ‘Where is this promised presence of his? Why, from the day our forefathers fell asleep in death, all things are continuing exactly as they were from creation’s beginning.’” (2 Pet. 3:3, 4) What might explain why some people react this way? It seems that the more familiar a situation is, the less people are inclined to pay attention to it. A steady decline in the morality of society in general may seem less shocking than a sudden, unexpected change in the behavior of a close acquaintance. Nevertheless, this gradual decay of morality is dangerous.



Notice two things -- this prediction, inspired of God, is finding its fulfillment in our day, which shows that God will provide accurate predictions to those whom he chooses.



Secondly, expectations are not the same as inspired predictions. The apostles expected things that did not happen, not because God gave them a misunderstanding, but because they wanted the fulfillment to happen when they wanted it. But God still worked with them,, and corrected them, and gave them more inspired prophecies that came true then and are coming true now.



He does the same thing today with his servants, Jehovah's witnesses, who are willing to study his word diligently and proclaim it to all kinds of people all over the world.



Matthew 24:14

And this good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Answer 3

Suzette R. ... How has the generation explaination become more clearer ? Its Now Convoluted Rethoric. Not many can explain it. Very confusing to say the least. Do you think Jesus was talking about the Generation of his time.

Matthew 24:34 (ESV)

" Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. " This was fullfilled when that generation was alive, culminating in Jerusalem’s destruction in 70 A.D.

Answer 4

There isn't any false prophecy. We are not prophets. All prophecy comes from the Scripture. The dates are correct, as was the event spoken of. What we now have is a clearer understanding of is the meaning of the term 'generation' that Christ used in his prophecy.



So you've never adjusted your thinking on anything? That's odd, most people who know they are imperfect have to do it from time to time, The ability to adjust ones understanding comes from being humble. Stiff necked people will never change what they do or say.





MRP and anyone else. I invite you to read your Bible. Many times servents of God were readjusted on their views and understandings. Even Christs apostles had to adjusted from time to time when they didn't clearly understand something. Holy Spirit will be sure to clear up misunderstandings, but you have to be humble enough to accept it. Clearly not something many wish to embrace,

Answer 5

Suzette R - Come on Suzette, can't you see that with you're reasoning you are pretty much saying that the Organization can never be wrong. If you are saying that it can be wrong, and it has been wrong, then how can it be "The Truth". What does the "Truth" mean if you can be worng... A clear contradiction is exactly what the Organization is. It is not a prophet but sets dates for the end of this system. It can make mistakes but it is "The Truth". It claims to be "Spirit Directed" but changes teaching all the time. Circular reasoning is what the Organization is all about so that it can play both sides of the net...

Answer 6

And the 1915 prophecy. And the 1918 one. And, er, the 1920, 1925, 1941, 1975 and 1994 ones...

Answer 7

"...prophecy..."?



Jehovah's Witnesses have never pretended that they are infallible or inspired. Jehovah's Witnesses have never pretended that they experience miraculous messages from God or Christ. For more than a century, Jehovah's Witnesses have always presented their suppositions as the result of sincere Bible research, rather than as "predictions" or "prophesying".



Interestingly, however, even those Christians who did enjoy direct communication from heaven at times came to wrong conclusions; these wrong conclusions were even communicated "out among the brothers"!



For example, the apostle Peter enjoyed remarkable privileges in the early congregation, but it seems that he was the source of an incorrect teaching about the apostle John that was not formally corrected until several DECADES had passed, and John himself finally wrote his gospel about 98 C.E.



(John 21:21-23) Peter said to Jesus: “Lord, what will this man do [that is, the apostle John]?” Jesus said to him: “If it is my will for him to remain until I come, of what concern is that to you? You continue following me.” In consequence, this saying went out among the brothers, that [the apostle John] would not die. However, Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but: “If it is my will for him to remain until I come, of what concern is that to you?”





Jehovah's Witnesses apply the term "prophet" only in a very limited sense to themselves as a religion, not to individuals. The Scriptures indicate that whenever Jehovah purposes to execute judgment upon a people, he always makes arrangement for a 'prophet's work' as a warning. Their self-description as a "prophet" (in this limited sense) does not indicate special inspired knowledge or foreknowledge, but their willingness to perform Christ's assigned warning work in our day leading up to Armageddon.



What group is working harder than Jehovah's Witnesses to preach God's message globally (as Noah did before the Deluge)?

.. ..(Amos 3:7) For the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will not do a thing unless he has revealed his confidential matter to his servants the prophets.

.. ..(2 Peter 2:5) Noah, a preacher of righteousness...

.. ..(Matthew 24:14) And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.

Answer 8

You make an excellent case. I have often wondered the same. I did meet one Jehovah Witness that said it was a false prophecy, but he was a former witness.



The facts are clearly before the Jehovah's Witnesses. They must accept the facts, or continue to deny the facts.

Answer 9

The WTS is NOT guilty of false prophecy. They are guilty of have a wrong understanding of prophecy.



1914 was not and has not been a prophecy. It was, and is, an explanation of Bible prophecy. It is not some divine revelation given to them that no one else was privileged to see. the information is contained in the Bible for anyone searching to see. Their explanation of that information is just that and explanation

Answer 10

"Accept responsibility". Why, are they going to court on a charge. Who charging them the Christians? Jesus died and Jesus never left and Jesus still lives and is still here. Jesus knows what's going on with man and truthfully if I was Jesus I will not be please with man. Man is such a disappoint to God (not all) but man must realize that there is no way to life except to be one with God just like Jesus. Man cannot be separate from God; no not never. I will go to the court and be a witness for God because I am getting to know God pretty good. We are going to be best buddies for life.

Answer 11

OR for their more recent 1975 prophecy, when the end of mankind on Earth was to take place?



WTS still promotes their own false prophecy.

Answer 12

They were wrong. They will not admit it. good homework.

Answer 13

They did , it was done, move on.