FALSE PROPHETS

B J Kotwall

(Investigator 26, 1992 September)

The Watchtower Society (WTS) has once again argued that "prophecy" mainly means to "tell forth God’s mind". This is indeed one of the correct definitions of the word "prophecy" in the Bible.

The article in The Watchtower 1992 February 1 pp. 3-7, however, ignored Deuteronomy 18:22:

When the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word Jehovah did not speak. With presumptuousness the prophet spoke it. You must not get frightened at him. (New World Translation 1961)

The Watchtower article titled "False Prophets Today" conveyed that a false prophet is one who does not understand and preach the Kingdom of God. To the WTS this means Christ’s invisible return in 1914 and his management of affairs through the WTS New York Headquarters.

No mention was made in the article of the numerous false prophecies of the WTS such as the following:

In one short year, 1917-1918, the vast and complicated system of sectarianism reaches its zenith of power only to be suddenly dashed into oblivion. (The Finished Mystery 1917 p. 285)

…all the evidence in fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years. Of the generation that observed the beginning of the "last days" in 1914, Jesus foretold: "This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur." - Matt. 24:34.

Therefore, as a young person, you will never fulfill any career that this system has to offer. If you are in high school and thinking about a college career, it means at least four, perhaps even six or eight more years to graduate into a specialized career. But where will this system of things be by that time? It will be well on the way toward its finish, if not actually gone! (Awake! 1969 May 22 p.15) 

The incorrect date of 607 BC (instead of 586 BC) for the fall of Jerusalem was also mentioned (in the article) as the WTS's starting date for arriving at 1914. (See Investigator No. 9 pp. 37-45)
Its vast publishing empire churning out literature in 111 languages, and over 4 million distributors of it, makes the WTS the most widely read false prophet in the world.

That, however, did not disconcert the WTS from presenting a large, blazing, cover-title saying "Beware of False Prophets"! (For details on false prophecies see Investigator Nos. 4, 9 10, 17, 20)

The article criticised Martin Luther for saying that "The worldly government…may be called God's Kingdom" although the WTS is itself a man-made government exercising complete control over JWs.

The following quotations show the WTS’s extensive domination of the followers as "God's organization":

Jehovah's organization alone, in all the earth, is directed by God’s spirit… To it alone God's sacred Word, the Bible, is not a sealed book… The only organization on earth that understands the deep
things of God… There is no organization that is doing the divine will… enthusiastically direct others to God’s organization. (The Watchtower 1973 July 1 pp. 402, 403, 406)

We must take seriously what his Word says and what his organization reveals… Would not a failure
to respond to direction from God through his organization really indicate a rejection of divine rulership? (The Watchtower 1976 February 15 p. 124)

The Bible cannot be properly understood without Jehovah's visible organization in mind. (The Watchtower 1967 October 15 p. 587)  

The followers of the WTS should consider whether Jesus’ words "Many false prophets shall arise and deceive many" (Matthew 24:11) have a fulfilment in their own religion.


[Note: In JW theology the "remnant" of the 144,000 is collectively God's prophet.
 The Governing Body heads the "remnant" (but rarely consults them) and also heads the Watchtower Society. 
Mr Kotwall seems to call the WTS "false prophet" rather than the "remnant" as a shortcut to avoid going into doctrine and theology. Ed.]