Thank God for the Witnesses Again!

August 2nd , 2005

Every so often, I revisit these pages in an attempt to test my own thinking on the contentious issues that any discussion on the subject of the "cultist" nature of the Jehovah's Witnesses organization may bring about.

To the defense of the Witnesses, I see the validity of some of their criticisms on being singled out for their doctrinal errors and "end of the world" predictions. I, even, agree with them that many Christians and some "fathers" of the early church have committed similar errors in their own predictions. I am, also, prepared to admit that their New World Translation of the Bible may not be the worst in circulation today.

However, this does not excuse them from failing to examine the scriptures in an honest manner and in a logical and scientific fashion. For instance, they start with a certain set of hypotheses/doctrines and then, they go to great lengths to "prove" their truthfulness or validity. So, if something in the scriptures seems to contradict what they believe, they, automatically, suspect some sort of a "conspiracy", "manuscript tampering" and or a mistranslation of the "original" languages.

Therefore, their next task is a relentless search for any source ancient or modern which may give credence to their beliefs. This approach can be very frustrating for the serious scholar who may want to give them the benefit of the doubt [ as he or she ought to ] by further evaluating the sources the Witnesses are quoting from. My point is that many of their references are obscure and of questionable reliability.

In the final analysis, it does not really matter how they err but that they err and in doing so they are ruining the lives and eternal destiny of millions of people. Unlike the various Christian denominations which agree on key doctrinal points like the Trinity, salvation by faith/grace, the bodily/physical resurrection and physical second coming of Christ, etc. etc., the Witnesses have chosen dangerous positions and doctrines which ultimately serve the interests of the demonic rulers of this world!

To the individual Jehovah's Witnesses who are truly searching for the Truth, please pray to Jehovah [ God the Father ] and ask Him to guide you in the name of Jesus to discover the whole truth as you ponder over the following scriptures taken directly from your favorite translation the NWT [1969 Revised edition ].

In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god. This one was in [the] beginning with God. All things came into existence through him, and apart from him not even one thing came into existence. John 1:1-3.

So the Word became flesh and resided among us, and we had a view of his glory, a glory such as belongs to an only-begotten son from a father; and he was full of undeserved kindness and truth. John 1:14

No man has seen God at any time; the only-begotten god who is in the bosom position with the Father is the one that has explained him. John 1:18

In answer Thomas said to him: "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him: "Because you have seen me have you believed? Happy are those who do not see and yet believe." John 20: 28-29 [ Emphasis added ]

As you know there is no other god beside Jehovah and yet John tells us that the Word was from the beginning with God [ the Father ] and that he himself was god or a god and not in title only: everything came into existence through him [ or by him as the Greek may mean ]and that includes the angels and Michael the Archangel! PANTA means everything and everyone!

This only-begotten god became flesh, was impaled/crucified and resurrected on the third day and appeared to the disciples in the same body [in its glorified-resurrected state obviously ]. When Thomas called him "My Lord and my God" what did Jesus do? Did he rebuke him for blaspheming? Absolutely NO!!!

Again, John tells us that many did not believe Jesus despite his many miracles because Jehovah had "blinded their eyes and he has made their hearts hard, that they should not see with their eyes and perceive with their hearts and turn around [repent] and I should heal them" John 12:40 Right after that John says that " Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and he spoke about him. John 12:41

But wait a minute! Why did John say that Isaiah saw the glory of Jesus? If you go to the Old Testament, Isaiah clearly talks about the glory of Jehovah. You can play with the text all you want but if you are a serious student of the Bible you either have to conclude that John was confused or that Isaiah had actually seen the second person of the Trinity, the Eternal Son of God, in his vision of Jehovah. [See Isaiah 6:1-11 ]

Recently, I came across the following article which I believe proves the "cultist" nature of the Jehovah's Witnesses organization.

Check it out:

The following is taken from the in progress manuscript of the book Letters to an Elder by R. J. Sikorski. It outlines Robert J. Lofton's defining cult characteristics and how the Jehovah's Witnesses fit the "mind control" profile. It was written as a refutation to the February '94 Watchtower article "Cults-What Are They?."

The Watchtower article, "Cults--What Are They?" presents encyclopedia and magazine references for the term "cult" and argues that they cold fit any religious organization. But when a clear definition is actually stated (I'm referring to the State of Maryland 100th Congress resolution), there is no clear attempt to prove why Jehovah's Witnesses don't fit it, or why they don't, in fact, use manipulative, deceptive or unethical techniques to recruit members or control followers.

The fact is: they do. The manipulative, deceptive and unethical technique is called "mind control." With the help of psychologists Robert J. Lofton and Steven Hassan, I'd like to prove how their use of it classifies Jehovah's Witnesses as a destructive cult.

In his definitive book on the subject, Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism, Lofton outlines the eight basic elements of mind control, whether they are used by political, religious or psychological cults. Let's examine them and see if the Jehovah's Witnesses employ them to gain recruits and maintain members.

The first is "milieu" or environment control. Lofton explains that cults control the environment around recruits in a number of ways. most always using some form of isolation. They can be physically separated from society or they can be warned to stay away from media that might provoke critical thinking. Any book, movie, testimony or ex-members, or anyone critical of the group, in any way, is to be avoided.

Ask yourself: doesn't the Watchtower explicitly say "avoid independent thinking". Isn't literature critical to Jehovah's Witnesses something to be avoided? Aren't Jehovah's Witnesses forbidden to associate with disfellowshipped members?

The second element of mind control is "mystical manipulation." It is a systematic process planned and managed from above leadership. God is supposedly ever present in the organization. Leaders become mediators for God. God centered principles can be put forcibly and claimed exclusively so the cult and its beliefs become the only true path to salvation. If one has not seen the light, and is not in the realm of the cult, one is in the realm of evil.

Doesn't the Watchtower claim to be the Jehovah's one true prophet? Doesn't it claim Jesus Christ returned invisibly in 1914 to establish his rule through the Jehovah's Witnesses? Don't Jehovah's Witnesses claim exclusive doctrine and enforce practices? Aren't they the only group that will survive Armageddon? Aren't unbelievers in the realm of Satan?

Lofton cites the "demand for purity" as another defining element. Such a demand calls for the radical separation of pure and impure or good and evil within an environment and within oneself. The world is depicted as black and white, with little room for making personal decisions. One's conduct is modeled after the ideology of the group as taught in its literature. People and organizations are pictured as good or evil depending on their relationship to the group. Universal tendencies of guilt or shame are used to influence or control individuals, sometimes in a structured confession process.

Doesn't Watchtower literature say mainstream Christian religions are controlled by Satan? Isn't the Catholic Church called the "Whore of Babylon?" Isn't the modern day celebration of Christmas branded pagan? Aren't JW school children given specific rules for group participation?

Lofton's fourth element is the "cult of confession." Serious sins (as defined by the organization) are to be confessed immediately. Members are to be reported if found behaving contrary. The confession process has its own structure, usually the context of a small group. Sins could be caused by identification with one's prior existence. This tactic allows leaders from within to exercise authority over weaker or radical members.

Aren't JW transgressors ordered to report to a group of elders? Hasn't the process been used to reprimand and control? (You don't have to read Franz's Crisis of Conscience to learn the above happens. There are many disfellowshipped Witnesses only to busy to testify.)

"Sacred science" is the fifth operating characteristic of a "mind control cult". The cult's ideology becomes the ultimate moral vision for the ordering of human existence. The ideology is too "sacred" to be called into question, and reverence is demanded for the leadership. It claims absolute truth with no contradictions. Such a system can offer considerable security for the "searching" or vulnerable.

Doesn't the Watchtower define who goes to heaven and who doesn't? Aren't the "anointed" the only ones allowed to be members of the governing body? Aren't the anointed the only ones who can receive the bread and wine at the Last Supper memorial? Doesn't the Watchtower lay claim to the absolute truth?

Sixth defining element is called "loading the language." Functional member vocabulary becomes simplified with the use of thought terminating clichés, expressions or words designed to end the controversy or conversation. They become the language of non-thought since they tend to stop discussion or prevent further consideration. There is always some simple cliché or slogan to answer a complex issue or difficult question.

Among Jehovah's Witnesses, for example, don't expressions like "the truth", the "new system of things", "apostates", and "worldly" carry with them automatic judgment of outsiders? How often does "the truth gets brighter" get used to explain away a doctrinal change (even though the WT claims absolute truth)? Or the terms "worldly" or "pagan" get used to justify non-participation?

Seventh operating characteristic of mind control is "doctrine over person." Human experience is subordinated to doctrine, no matter how profound or contradictory such experience seem to be. The history of the cult is altered to fit their doctrine of logic. The person is only valuable in so much as they conform to the role models of the cult. Common sense perceptions are disregarded if they are hostile to the ideology.

Doesn't the prohibition of blood transfusions in life threatening circumstances disregard common sense? Couldn't mass persecution of Malawi Jehovah's Witnesses have been prevented if only they had been granted permission for proper I.D. Haven't doctrinal truths been altered to fit history.

Lofton's eighth element of mind control is the "dispensing of existence." The organization decides who will perish in the final battle of good over evil. Leaders decide which history books are accurate and which are biased. Families can be cut off and outsiders deceived for they are not fit to exist.

JWs make no secret of the fact that only they will survive the battle of Armageddon, or inherit paradise earth. Even family members are ostracized if disfellowshipped. Aren't textbooks that don't support JW doctrine or logic branded apostate, biased, worldly or somehow under the influence of Satan?

According to Lofton, if any group exercises all eight of these control elements, they are, in fact a destructive mind control cult. It doesn't matter how kind, credible, or self-righteous the group or its members appear to be. Rationalizing with biblical verses, Hassan would argue, is no excuse for impeding personal choice or violating personal freedom.

If the Watchtower article reviewed Jehovah's Witnesses in light of Lofton's criteria it would be hard pressed to deny the use of mind control or the consequent categorization of the JW organization as a destructive cult. The examples presented just scratch the surface.

As Hassan explains, mind control may not be a coercive form of thought reform like brainwashing, but it is still psychologically damaging. Perhaps the biggest problem is the disruption of a person's identity. "Under the influence of mind control a person's original identity, as formed by family education, friendships, and, most importantly, a person's own free choice, becomes replaced with another identity, often one, he (or she) would not have chosen for himself (or herself) without the social pressure of the group."

Mind control practiced by destructive cults is a social process involving large groups of people. To function, in that social environment, one must shed his (or her) own identity and adhere to the identity desired by the group. Even if he (or she) gets along by play-acting at first, the act eventually becomes real, the totalistic ideology is internalized and prior belief systems superceded.

Hassan sums up "mind control" with this simple statement:

"The term mind control refers to any system that seeks to undermine an individual's integrity in making his (or her) own personal decisions."

There is no justifiable rationalization for the use of mind control. Ends don't justify the means. There is no excuse for undermining personal freedom. This country promotes and defends it in its "Bill of Rights." Even the Bible teaches that our Creator holds personal freedom so sacred that He will not take glory from any form of worship or honor unless it is given freely.

As spreaders of the Good News, protecting an individual freedom in choice of religion is just as much our responsibility as the execution of God's two greatest commandments.

Rick Sikorski holds a bachelor's and master's degree from Michigan State University's College of Communications, with a specialties in mass media advertising and consumer behavior. He's taught at the University of Washington as well as MSU and has held senior executive management positions in both advertising and marketing. This father of four became actively involved in Catholic apologetics and the dynamics of cult mind control when he lost his wife to the Jehovah's Witnesses. Besides the book Letters to an Elder, he is currently working on The Jehovah's Witness Survival Guide for Catholics.

As I mentioned before , if one is sincere in finding the truth about God, one needs to pray fervently that the true God of the universe will open his/her spiritual eyes and lead one to a higher level of understanding of all wisdom and truth!

From April 15/2003

The article that follows was written a couple of years ago [ in 2001 ] in response to Jehovah's Witnesses' opposition to my commentaries regarding their religious organization.

As I am revisiting these pages again, I feel the need to make some clarifications and possibly some amendments to my way of thinking.

Many people who had the opportunity to get to know me personally, would probably agree that I have a very strong personality and am prepared to defend my views to the" bitter end".

Political correctness has no place in my life and as my wife would probably attest to , I can be a very stubborn individual at times!!!

Therefore, when I tackle certain issues, I may go somewhat overboard with my decisive and often "vitriolic" style of writing.

This, I admit, may not be as effective of a way to lead people to the "right" way of thinking and acting. Again, my wonderful wife has pointed out to me, on many occasions, that while it may have been O.K. for Jesus to call the Pharisees "vipers", that does not give me the authority to do the same when I criticize our religious leaders and the shepherds of the various "cults".

Jesus knew the hearts and minds of these people but I do not know those whom I criticize.

How are we going to proceed then? I believe that we as Christians have the responsibility to judge people by their deeds which are in turn indicative of their moral characters.

Although, I do not know the motives of the people who lead the Jehovah's Witnesses organization, I can still criticize them for bringing out "doctrines" and "fables" which ultimately serve the demonic rulers of this world.

However, my manner of dealing with this subject ought to have been somewhat tempered by what it says in the scriptures:

1PET 1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

1PET 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

1PET 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

For this, I apologize to all of my readers and especially Heinz and the other Jehovah's Witnesses.

Today, I look at members of various Christian cults as brothers and sisters in desperate need to be liberated. I pray to the Father that in due time He will open up your hearts and minds and lead you to the Truth and the real source of Life , our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Thank God for the Witnesses Again!

In recent weeks, I received some interesting e-mails from a witness who was offended by my comments in my Thank God for the Witnesses regarding the validity of the New World Translation and my perceived errors of witness doctrines and practices.

In a highly eloquent and well researched fashion Heinz proceeded to point out how Christendom from its early stages of development has corrupted the infallible word of God and how its churches introduced dogmas and doctrines which are not biblical.

At the forefront of his attacks came his strong arguments against the concept of Trinity and the divinity of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ which resulted in some interesting, to say the least, statements by both parties.

When I wrote to him, I believed all along that our correspondence was private and at a basic level. Certainly, I did not think to create a dissertation to impress him or the internet public. However, that was not the case with Heinz. He chose to take parts of my letters and publish them in his web site.

In one of my letters, I had pointed out to Heinz some examples of what other Jehovah's Witnesses critics had to say about them. As a matter of fact, I copied a whole article of someone else and forwarded it to him. Next, I discovered that Heinz was dissecting this work in his site and without regard for copyright, he had proceeded to make me the author of this article and to give me "credit" for it which I did not deserve.

To this day, despite my previous clarifications to him regarding this error, Heinz continues to present me falsely as the author of that work. Obviously, truth is irrelevant to this zealous witness who is prepared to go to any lengths to defend the errors of his organization!

I was disappointed with his general approach and stated so in my e-mails. In one case in particular, Heinz was "upset" and critical of my choice of words like "piss off" which I used even though I knew that it was not necessarily in good taste. Judge for yourselves the error of my ways and hopefully you'll find it in your hearts to forgive me for my basic and somewhat "crude " humanity.

John: In previous letters I asked you to tell me why Jesus claimed to be the Lord of the Sabbath when the Jews knew very well that the title referred to their covenant God Jehovah. Do you think He was saying that just to "piss them off"? Jesus also claimed that He is the Truth and the Life, the Good Shepherd, the living bread, the vine etc, etc which are clearly attributes of the almighty Jehovah. If He has all of the characteristics of Jehovah, He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords [ Revelation 19:16] is it not possible that He may be equal to Him or be Him ? The name Jehovah applies to the one and only God who acts in history in the persons of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Heinz: It is sad to see a good man like you resort to bad language like using the vernacular for "urinate" to make your point.

Here comes my answer to that remark :

It is unfortunate that my private e-mail to you has been used to promote your cause by displaying it for all to see in your site. Your "holier than thou" attitude regarding my use of the verb "piss off" is another indication that you are following in the footsteps of your spiritual forefathers the Pharisees. If I recall correctly, they had similar complaints about the disciples not following etiquette, i.e. not washing their hands before eating etc.

Well, now that all is out in the open, let us continue with the main points of our disagreement.

Are Jehovah's Witnesses A cult?

In my correspondence with Heinz, I tried to explain that the reason why I believe that Jehovah's Witnesses are a "cult" is primarily because of their attitude that their interpretation of the Bible is the only correct one and that everyone else's is by default the wrong one.

Even, though, I believe strongly that I have found the Truth and I am prepared to defend my faith, this does not give me the right to force my beliefs on anyone . My duty as a Christian is to witness to others through word and deed and let God take care of everything else.

I believe firmly that unless the Holy Spirit draws you to God, your eyes and ears to your heart and mind will remain closed. However, because it is God's will that no-one should perish and that each one of us should have the opportunity to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior and thereby achieve everlasting life, everyone has at some point in their life the chance to answer the knock on their door. They simply need to respond to the call and open the door to Jesus.

I know that for a long time before I accepted Jesus, I was very unhappy and had a big void in my heart despite my monetary stability and professional successes.

I used to tell my wife that my greatest fear was that "one of these days I will die and I will not know the truth and the purpose of my existence".

Today, I can say with confidence that all fear is gone. The moment I said "yes" to Jesus all burdens were lifted , my eyes were opened and the Holy Spirit pointed out to me biblical truths which I never knew that existed.

So, if I appear to be arguing with Heinz and the other witnesses, it is because of my sincere desire that they ,also, may partake of the life which the Holy Spirit has in store for us for Jesus' sake.

As I said before, ever since I made my commitment to Christ by accepting him not only in my heart but also my mind, I started seeing truths in the Bible which I had never noticed before.

For instance, some of you may be familiar with the meaning of the Greek word onoma which is usually translated as name. However, there is another meaning which tends to be very common throughout the scriptures; this noun, also, signifies authority. So, if one comes in the name of the king, he or she comes under the authority of the king. Therefore, if one mistreats the representative of the king, it is as if one did that directly to the king.

Many times throughout the New Testament we see Jesus telling both his disciples and his opponents that he comes in the name of his Father. In other words, he is sent by his Father, he speaks of what his Father tells him and therefore, those who do not believe in him, they do not believe in the one who sent him.

In the last commandment to his disciples which is otherwise known as The Great Commission, Jesus instructed them to go in all the world and make disciples and to baptize them "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit". One may paraphrase this to read " under the authority....". Unfortunately, the witnesses fail to see the meaning of Jesus' words.

Jesus is talking about one name [ authority ] and not many; three persons and not two plus a force . Using witness logic, one would be forced to conclude that the Lord asked us to baptize "in the name of the father and of the son and of the force". How absurd indeed!

Absurdities, bad translations, out of context quotations and bizarre and non-scriptural suppositions [ like the one about Jesus not being resurrected in the body and that somehow God hid it away so that the disciples would have no doubts about his resurrection ], inaccurate end of the world predictions, false and arbitrarily reversed doctrines are among some of the key legacies of this organization.

The Witnesses are unhappy about being called cultist but they fail to see the validity of the remarks of their critics. They claim to be great proponents of logic and yet they fail miserably to use it when examining their own ideas and doctrines.

This is a group whose antennas are definitely pointing in the wrong direction. They claim to be God's special remnant but they are tuned to the wrong source. Their God cannot be the God of the Bible, the God of Abraham and Jacob because that God is the God of Truth [ better yet He is Truth, Jesus is Truth {whoever has ears, let him hear}], he never changes; he is the same yesterday, today and forever.

The Almighty, the God who Jesus revealed to us is not a liar who would feed you one story today and another one tomorrow. The Witnesses Organization is feeding its members the lies of their spiritual father, the arch enemy of the human race, Satan.

Examine their literature and discover for yourselves how often they have changed the tunes of their songs. If God was ever behind that group, he is the greatest flip flopper that I have ever met!!!

My special thanks go to Heinz and the other witnesses who helped me, indirectly, over the years to discover the Truth. Instead of believing their interpretation of the Bible as presented in their literature, I decided to check out the original sources and lo and behold under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I was drawn to the real Jesus and I accepted His cleansing sacrifice. My prayer is that they may get rid of the scales in their eyes and that they may examine their beliefs in an honest and consistent manner by asking the Holy Spirit to point the way in the name of Jesus.

What follows is a special "cut and paste" section which may not sit that well with Heinz. However, my attitude is why tamper with the words of others when they express the truth so succinctly.

What do the Jehovah's Witnesses Teach?

There is one God in one person, Make Sure of All Things, p 188.
There is no Trinity, Let God be True, p. 100-101; Make Sure of All Things, p.386.
The Holy Spirit is a force, not alive, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp.
406-407.
The Holy Spirit is God's impersonal active force, The Watchtower, June 1, 1952,
p. 24.
Jehovah's first creation was his 'only-begotten Son'. . . was used by Jehovah in
creating all other things", Aid to Bible Understanding, pp. 390-391.
Jesus was Michael the archangel who became a man, The Watchtower, May 15,
1963, p. 307; The New World, 284.
Jesus was only a perfect man, not God in flesh, Reasoning from the Scriptures,
1985, pp. 306.
Jesus did not rise from the dead in his physical body, Awake! July 22, 1973, p. 4.
Jesus was raised "not a human creature, but a spirit." Let God be True, p. 276.
Jesus did not die on a cross but on a stake, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985,
pp. 89-90.
Jesus returned to earth, invisibly, in 1914, The Truth Shall Make You Free, p. 300.
Jesus' ransom sacrifice did not include Adam, Let God be True, p. 119.
Their church is the self-proclaimed prophet of God, The Watchtower, April 1,
1972, p. 197.
They claim to be the only channel of God's truth, The Watchtower, Feb. 15,
1981, p. 19.
Only their church members will be saved, The Watchtower, Feb, 15, 1979, p. 30.
Good works are necessary for salvation, Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 1,
pp. 150, 152.
The soul ceases to exist after death, Let God be True, p. 59, 60, 67.
There is no hell of fire where the wicked are punished, Let God be True, p. 79, 80.
Only 144,000 Jehovah's Witness go to heaven, Reasoning from the Scriptures,
1985, pp. 166-167, 361; Let God be True, p. 121.
Blood transfusions are a sin, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp. 72-73.
The Cross is a pagan symbol and should not be used, Reasoning from the
Scriptures, 1985, pp. 90-92.
Salvation is by faith and what you do, Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 1, pp.
150,152.
It is possible to lose your salvation, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp.
358-359.
The universe is billions of years old, Your will Be Done on Earth, p. 43.
Each of the 6 creative days of God in Genesis 1, was 7000 years long.
Therefore, Man was created toward the end of 42,000 years of earth's
preparation, Let God be True, p. 168.
They also refuse to vote, salute the flag, sing the "Star Spangled Banner," or
celebrate Christmas or birthdays. They are not allowed to serve in the armed
forces.

{ Above and following information is borrowed from this site: http://www.carm.org/ }

False Prophecies of the Jehovah's Witnesses

     " The Witnesses make many claims in their attempt to convert you to their faith. They profess to have the only true Christian church, to be the only true representatives of God, to have the only correct biblical teaching, and to be the only true announcers of Jehovah's coming kingdom.
      If they are the only true church and are the only true voice of God's word, then what they say should prove to be true, especially in prophecy. When it comes to predicting the future, the Watchtower organization fails miserably. Following are some of the false predictions made over the years by the Watchtower organization. If you present these to a JW, he will probably say something like, "Those are taken out of context," or "They didn't claim to be the prophet of God," or "The light is getting brighter and we are understanding Bible prophecy better now," etc. Make a copy of these false prophecies, found in the appendix, and give it to them to check. They are right out of the Witnesses' literature.
      Remember Deut. 18:22, "If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him." If someone makes a false prophecy, and they have claimed to be a prophet of God, then they are false prophets and are not to be listened to.
      Do the Witnesses claim to be the prophet of God? Yes, they do."

" In 1972 the Jehovah's Witness Watchtower claimed to be the prophet of God.

IDENTIFYING THE "PROPHET
" -- "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 Watchtower, 4/1/72, p. 197. (See Deut. 18:21)

1897 "Our Lord, the appointed King, is now present, since October 1874," Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 4, page 621.

1899 "...the ‘battle of the great day of God Almighty' (Revelation 16:14), which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth's present rulership, is already commenced." The Time Is at Hand, page 101 (1908 edition).
1916 "The Bible chronology herein presented shows that the six great 1000 year days beginning with Adam are ended, and that the great 7th Day, the 1000 years of Christ's Reign, began in 1873." The Time Is at Hand, page ii, (forward).
1918 "Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old, particularly those named by the Apostle in Hebrews 11, to the condition of human perfection." Millions Now Living Will Never Die, page 89.
1922 "The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures than 1914." The Watchtower 9/1/22, page 262.
1923 "Our thought is, that 1925 is definitely settled by the Scriptures. As to Noah, the Christian now has much more upon which to base his faith than Noah had upon which to base his faith in a coming deluge." The Watchtower, page 106 4/1/23.
1925 "The year 1925 is here. With great expectation Christians have looked forward to this year. Many have confidently expected that all members of the body of Christ will be changed to heavenly glory during this year. This may be accomplished. It may not be. In his own due time God will accomplish his purposes concerning his people. Christians should not be so deeply concerned about what may transpire this year." The Watchtower, 1/1/25, page. 3.
1925 "It is to be expected that Satan will try to inject into the minds of the consecrated, the thought that 1925 should see an end to the work." The Watchtower, Sept, 1925 page 262.
1926 "Some anticipated that the work would end in 1925, but the Lord did not state so. The difficulty was that the friends inflated their imaginations beyond reason; and that when their imaginations burst asunder, they were inclined to throw away everything." The Watchtower, page 232.
1931 "There was a measure of disappointment on the part of Jehovah's faithful ones on earth concerning the years 1917, 1918, and 1925, which disappointment lasted for a time...and they also learned to quit fixing dates." Vindication, page 338.
1941 "Receiving the gift, the marching children clasped it to them, not a toy or plaything for idle pleasure, but the Lord's provided instrument for most effective work in the remaining months before Armageddon." The Watchtower, 9/15/41, page 288.
1968 "True, there have been those in times past who predicted an ‘end to the world', even announcing a specific date. Yet nothing happened. The ‘end' did not come. They were guilty of false prophesying. Why? What was missing?.. Missing from such people were God's truths and evidence that he was using and guiding them." Awake, 10/8/68.
1968 "Why are you looking forward to 1975?" The Watchtower, 8/15/68, page 494.

" A JW might say that the organization is still learning. If that is so, then how can they trust what they are taught now by the Watchtower? Will what they are being taught now change also?
A true prophet of God won't err in prophesying. Only a false prophet does. The Jehovah's Witness organization, that claims to be a prophet of God, is really a false prophet. Jesus warned us by saying, "For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect -- if that were possible" (Matt. 24:24)."

For additional information on the Jehovah's Witnesses, please check out these links:

Tools for Witnessing to Jehovah's Witnesses

The Deity of Christ as presented in the Gospel of John

The History of the JW's

Let the Record Speak For Itself

Singing the Song of the Lamb

Jehovah's Witnesses: Christian or Cult?

John Costouros

[email protected]

Scripture Moment