why do jehovah witnesses pretend not to know about the false predictions for destruction on earth?

Greetings,

The accusation that Jehovah's Witnesses have claimed to be inspired prophets or have tried to foretell the future is absolutely false and a misrepresentation.

The Watchtower Society has NEVER claimed to give prophesies or to be inspired. These accusations are deceptive because they blatantly rip the Watchtower's words out of context.

Notice this sentence in the "Purpose" statement that appeared in EVERY issue of the Watchtower up to the mid- 70's: ***"No, The Watchtower is no inspired prophet, but it follows and explains a Book of prophecy..."***

"The Watchtower does not claim to be inspired in its utterances, nor is it dogmatic. It invites careful and critical examination of its contents in the light of the Scriptures. Its purpose is to aid others to know Jehovah and his purposes toward mankind, and to announce Christ's established kingdom as our only hope."---- Watchtower, 15 August 1950

"It is not our intention to enter upon the role of prophet to any degree, but merely to give below what seems to us rather likely to be the trend of events—giving also the reasons for our expectations." Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's, March 1904, reprint, 3327 (emphasis added).

"And we still urge, as in the past, that each reader study the subjects we present in the light of the Scriptures, proving all things by the Scriptures, accepting what they see to be thus approved, and rejecting all else."-- "Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence, 12/15/1896

There are scores of similar Watchtower quotes that go back to the 1800's many qualifying the *interpretations* of Bible prophecy they discuss.

Neither Russell, the Watchtower nor any JW's has EVER claimed to give prophecies nor to be inspired. They never claimed infallibility in their teachings. Quite the contrary, they have always been willing to change as they gained knowledge. What a contrast to any religion which would continue to insist on believing doctrines which even their own scholars admit are not Scriptural!

On the other hand, I can show you several well known Evangelical ministers of Christendom who have claimed direct communication from God (usually when they need more money, or to claim God has forgiven them for moral sins).

The "Father of Protestantism" himself, Martin Luther taught Christ would return by 1564. Does that mean that all Protestants are false prophets? No, of course not. But they are if we equally apply the reasoning of those who accuse JW's.

Irish Bishop James Ussher's prediction was for 1996. Puritans Issac Watts, Joseph Mede and the Mathers in America were date-setters. The most famous one was actually a Baptist....William Miller who predicted 1843.

Pat Robertson announced it for 2007 (in a novel)

Elizabeth Claire Prophet announced it for 1989

Pastor Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California predicted the Rapture in 1981.

Hal Lindsey, author of The Late Great Planet Earth, predicted the Rapture would occur in 1988.

Dr. Jack van Impe has speculated that the end will come between September 1999 and 2000.

Philip B. Brown has stated that the millennial reign of Christ will begin April 6, 2008.

Dr. Harold Camping, president of Family Radio, expected the end of the world in 1994.

All you have to do is pick up a book called "Apocalypses (Eugen Weber)" from your local book store and you will see how busy Christendom has been at picking dates in the past...and they are still SPECULATING! See also various books by Paula Fredriksen.

Now, did early JW's (Bible Students) have incorrect understandings of Bible prophesy? Yes, of course, as did nearly every other religion of that age.

Jesus didn't say you would identify the true religion because they never misunderstood prophesy (indeed that would exclude the apostles). He said that you would discern the true Christian Organization from the false "by their fruits," or the results of their Biblical teaching (Mat.7:16,20). Notice, this Scripture says Christians would identify "false prophets" BY THEIR FRUITAGE not by their infallibility. Now, who has the historical record of bloodthirsty wars, immorality, sectarian violence and factional splits?-- (Mat.7:21-23, 2Tim3:5, Gal.5:19-23)

When you consider the Witnesses "stability" in the essentials of Christian teaching and activity you get very solid evidences of True Christianity. From WW1 to Rwanda, Witnesses have imitated Christ while other religions continue to even kill members of their own church in warfare. JW's have continued to bring their beliefs into agreement with Scripture. When they were wrong about interpretations of prophecy, they were more than eager to admit it and change. This is in contrast to most other religions. For instance it took hundreds of years for Catholicism to admit it was wrong about Galileo! Protestants are just now (barely) admitting error in their support of Hitler.

Yours,

BAR-ANERGES

The end of the world will come when a human being, having evolved in accordance with Darwin's theory, decides to press the Armageddon button - it will having to do with any "divine" intervention.

It is like many other denominations...they are afraid to find the truth. Like an animal, released from the cage, but afraid to leave it. They refuse to look at the real truth.

There are many other false prophets also, who predicted the wrong dates. William Branham, has many followers today, who flat refuse to acknowledge that he made false predictions, and claim they are different from prophesies. But upon looking it up in a dictionary, I found that predictions is the same as prophesies.

He told many false dates and things and taught many lies against God's word, yet the millions of followers refuse to look at the truth.

I say all of them will be lost as they do not obey god's word. He said, if a prophet prophesies wrong stuff, do not believe him or fear him. Yet they will cling to the false man instead of seeking God's truth.

I think they are all afraid to find the truth and have to stand for it.

we who do stand for the truth, mostly stand alone. They are afraid of this standing alone.

you cannot predict the day the end of the world will come.

the bible even sais that not even the angels, nor the Son knows it but only God himself.

Your celebrity "Christian Apologists" don't tell you that Jewovah's Witnessers are immune to reason. Ha! You bought a Hank Hanegraaf book and you are still not going to change anyone's mind. Money down the toilet.

Those I have met agree with these dates and do not argue the point

Who cares..Jehovahs send out pensioners to preach for them on Xmas day in a blizzards..they turned up at my house..anyone who does that is not right in the head!!

bar guy say watchtower speak with fork tongue. simultaneously say "me big prophet" but with other tongue say "we not prophet". this be heap big dissonance of the cognitive.

Why are you a bigot?