Posted by Farkel [Keflar] on November 23, 1999 at 14:36:19 {KNpNN6QGfwjc7.1TE24IvhKqcjatLo}:
In Reply to: Hi everyone posted by jayembee on November 23, 1999 at 13:55:27:
Welcome to H20!
:My first question is:
Is it true that the Watchtower organization has, in years past, made prophecies concerning specific dates (now in the past) for Armageddon and other end times events?
The leaders of JW's have a lot of "weasal" words in their arsenal, so unless you are thinking clearly, you can be bamboozled by what they've said in print. Number one, they have never directly claimed to be inspired prophets, but they alluded to it in so many ways, they are hard to count. They claim to be "spirit-directed" and that that is somehow different from being "inspired." How one can be directed by holy spirit and not be considered inspired is beyond reason to the average person, but JWs swallow it and just go along with it.
They HAVE predicted a number of dates for Armageddon, among them 1878, 1914, 1915, 1918, 1919, 1925 and 1975. Particularly with the date 1925, they have printed that it was God's prediction and not theirs and that they couldn't change Armageddon happening on that date if they wanted to. 1975 was another big one, and while not directly stating that armageddon would occur in that year, they did plainly state that that year marked the end of 6,000 years of man's history. Since the WTS teaches that the earthly millenium of Christ's reign begins right after the 6,000 years, it is obvious they were clearying implying that 1975 would mark the start of Armageddon.
:If so, how does that mesh with Deuteronomy 18:20-22?
It means the WTS leaders are clueless when it comes to prophecy, but just won't admit it. They want to be treated with all the respect and awe that a prophet would get, but without having the face the responsibilities of being wrong when they "prophecy." The verse you cited directly points a finger at the Watchtower Religious Publishing company.
Farkel
I'd be interested in hearing from anyone. Thank you very much in advance!