Watch Tower Society headquarters in Brooklyn, New York
The Watch Tower Society is the organization that Jehovah Witnesses claim is God’s prophet for today. Although it’s an organization, the Watch Tower Society refers to itself as a “prophet of God”, stating in the Watch Tower magazine, “the ‘prophet’ whom Jehovah has raised up has been, not an individual as in the case of Jeremiah, but a “class” which acts as God’s “prophet like organization.”[ref]Reasoning from the Scriptures With Jehovah’s Witnesses, R. Rhodes, p.339.[/ref] They also see the Watch Tower magazine that they publish as more than just a magazine. To them it is a necessary tool for proper interpretation of the Bible. Well let’s concede their premise; alright it’s a “prophet”. Now let’s put it to the Biblical tests of a true prophet of God and see if the Watch Tower Society passes the tests.
If they are a prophet of God, they must fit the Biblical qualifications of a prophet. In Deut. 13 and 18, there are three tests that can be applied to anyone claiming to be a Prophet. First, if a “prophet” makes a prediction and it is false; he is a false prophet. Second, if a “prophet” makes a prediction and it truly comes to pass, yet he instructs you to follow a different or foreign god; he is a false prophet. Third, if one claims to literally speak God’s word, and God did not command him to say anything; he is a false prophet. With that in mind, we shall see that the Watch Tower’s history is characterized by false prophecies dating back to its origin. But first, we will look at scientific errors held by the Society.
Regarding science, the Watch Tower Society has taught errors that have had tragic results for some of its members. They teach that blood transfusions are a violation of God’s prohibition of eating blood, but refusing a needed blood transfusion can be life threatening. Although many have died over the years for refusing transfusions, they still ban it as a practice from their members.[ref] Reasoning from the Scriptures with Jehovah’s Witnesses, R. Rhodes, p.379.[/ref] Vaccinations and organ transplants were likewise prohibited for years, but in each case they reversed their stance and have allowed members to participate in these life saving procedures. The Golden Age Magazine in 1931 said, a “vaccination is a direct violation of the everlasting covenant God made with Noah after the flood.”[ref] Golden Age Magazine, Watch Tower Society, Feb. 4, 1931, p.293.[/ref] Former J.W., David Reed remarks “Vaccinations were hence forbidden by the Watch Tower Society for 20 years. However, the Watch Tower Society dropped this prohibition in the 1950’s and since that time children in the sect have been openly vaccinated.” [ref] Reasoning from the Scriptures with Jehovah’s Witnesses, R. Rhodes, p.381.[/ref]
Organ transplants went through a similar process. In 1967, the Watch Tower claimed that transplanting organs amounted to cannibalism, until in 1980 they reversed their position. Again Reed comments, “Given the Watch Tower’s track record of prohibiting vaccinations for over 20 years, then reversing itself, and later banning organ transplants for 13 years before again changing the interpretation, one can only wonder how long it will be until the Society reinterprets the Bible verses it now uses to forbid transfusions.”[ref] Reasoning from the Scriptures with Jehovah’s Witnesses, R. Rhodes, p.381.[/ref] Rhodes poses this penetrating question regarding these reversals for those who have followed this ‘prophet of God’ organization’s doctrine stating,
One must wonder how the parents of children who had died as a result of not being vaccinated felt when the Watch Tower Society suddenly reversed its views? [ref] Reasoning from the Scriptures with Jehovah’s Witnesses, R. Rhodes, p.381.[/ref]
As previously mentioned, their prophetic claims lack credibility as well when held up to the qualifications of Deuteronomy 13 and 18. Ironically, the Watch Tower challenges its critics by inviting investigation of the Society to see if it meets the qualifications of a true or false prophet. [ref] Watch Tower, April 4, 1965, p.151 and April 4, 1972, p.197.[/ref] In another of their publications called the Light, they convict themselves by saying if a false prophecy is given, by definition; it renders the source of the prophecy a false prophet. [ref] Light, Vol.2, p.47.[/ref] So let’s see how they fair given the Biblical and Watch Tower’s own criteria. I will include for our discussion historical errors with false prophecies since all those cited are historical from our vantage point.
Charles Taze Russell (pictured left), the founder of the Jehovah’s Witnesses believed the Great Pyramid of Egypt contained divine wisdom and from it he calculated End Times events. He even called it “the Bible in stone” and taught this doctrine for about 50 years. Until in 1928, Russell’s successor, Joseph Rutherford renounced the ‘bible in stone’ doctrine. The Society in 1928 even went so far to call the Pyramid “Satan’s Bible” stating “it is more reasonable to conclude that the great pyramid of Gizeh…were built by the rulers of Egypt and under the direction of Satan the Devil…Then Satan put his knowledge in dead stone, which may be called Satan’s Bible, and not God’s stone of witness.”[ref] Reasoning from the Scriptures with Jehovah’s Witnesses, R. Rhodes, pp.341-342. [/ref] But when this Pyramid doctrine was in vogue, Russell calculated the return of Christ to the earth to occur in 1874, a date the Watch Tower Society has admitted being false! Yet when confronted with this and the numerous other false prophecies made, they excuse them; violating their own criteria for true prophets!
Founder Charles Taze Russell’s pyramid feet away from his grave marker in Rosemont United Cemeteries, ‘In the exact center of the Bethel lot will be erected diagonally the Pyramid Shaped Monument as designed by Brother Bohnet and accepted by Brother Russell as the most fitting emblem for an enduring monument in the Society’s burial space…’ – from “Souvenir Report of the Bible Student’s Convention” Pittsburgh, PA Jan.2-5, 1919.
In addition, all human government was to be overthrown in 1914. Russell said in 1888 Studies in the Scriptures Vol.2,
within the next 26 years all present government will be overthrown and dissolved…The full establishment of the Kingdom of God will be accomplished by the end of 1914 AD
But when that didn’t occur, the Society blamed their members for having false expectations, even though the Society was responsible for teaching false doctrine and making false predictions! Saying, “All the Lord’s people looked forward to 1914 with joyful expectation. When that time came and passed there was much disappointment…because they had said so much about 1914…and their ‘prophecies’ had not been fulfilled.” [ref] Reasoning from the Scriptures with Jehovah Witnesses, R. Rhodes, p.346.[/ref]
Picture published in Jehovah’s Witnesses’ magazine The Messenger in 1931 (Note the original caption – ‘Do you think David will like it?’)
This same tactic was employed regarding their false prediction that several of the Patriarchs and Prophets would be resurrected and come to San Diego to live in a house, called Beth-Sarim (House of Princes) purchased by the Watch Tower Society. The book Salvation recounts these events stating the express purpose of the property,
the purpose of acquiring that property and building the house was that there might be some tangible proof that there are those on earth today…who believe that faithful men of old will soon be resurrected by the Lord, be back on earth, and take charge of the visible affairs of the earth.
And to remove any doubt as to the specific time these events would take place, the Society repeatedly gave 1925 as the year the Patriarchs and Prophets would return. The 1917 Watch Tower said,
There will be no slip up…Abraham should enter upon the actual possession of his promised inheritance in the year 1925 A.D. [ref] Reasoning from the Scriptures with Jehovah’s Witnesses, R. Rhodes, p.347. [/ref]
And in the 1923 Watch Tower, it said,
1925 is definitely settled by the Scriptures.
Furthermore, the 1924 Watch Tower said,
The year 1925 is a date definitely and clearly marked in the Scriptures, even more clearly than that of 1914. [ref] Reasoning from the Scriptures with Jehovah’s Witnesses, R. Rhodes, p.347. [/ref]
After their prophecy proved false, the Watch Tower Society sold Beth Sarim (above)
So when 1925 came and went; along with the hopes and expectations of many Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Society again blamed the people for interpreting the prophecies incorrectly, even though the Society was responsible for leading them astray! Anna MacDonald speaks for the Society’s stance recalling the event this way, “1925 was a sad year for many brothers. Some of them were stumbled; their hopes were dashed…Instead of it being considered a “probability”, they [the brothers] read into it that it was a “certainty”, and some prepared for their own loved ones with expectancy of their resurrection.”[ref] Reasoning from the Scriptures with Jehovah’s Witnesses, R. Rhodes, p.348. [/ref]
Many more examples like these can be given, but obviously a pattern of deceit and false predictions have been the Watch Towers’ characteristic mode of operation.[ref] Ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses speak of the Society’s false predictions in video clip at bottom of page.[/ref] Former Jehovah Witness, William J. Schnell put it this way, “The Watch Tower magazine changed our doctrines between 1917 and 1928 no less than 148 times.”[ref] Reasoning from the Scriptures with Jehovah’s Witnesses, R. Rhodes, p.350. [/ref]
So given the Biblical test for false prophets, the premise of this papers test for writings not originating from God, and the Watch Towers’ own criteria they issued to challenges their critics, the Watch Tower Society can unquestionably be rejected as God’s communication to man.
Former Jehovah’s Witnesses attest to Societies’ false predictions (Video clip from The John Ankerberg Show)