Posted by Camryn [camryn] on November 26, 1999 at 14:40:07 {2lTH7z2znECAoFoSdQ9.DroBvA4afs}:
Most of the time that the Society refers to Matthew 7:15-20 they apply it to everthing *except* what Jesus was talking about! *They* use this illustration to identify the "true religion." But *Jesus* gave it to identify the 'false prophets.' The only subject he mentiones in this entire illustration are the "false prophets who come to you in sheep's coverning." "Those men" mentioned in the last verse are the false prophets.
Who are the "trees" in Jesus' illustration? The way it looks to me, the "good trees" refer to the good (true)prophets. The "fine fruit" they produce are their true prophecies. True prophets produce true prophecies. They cannot produce false prophecies. The specific fruits of true prophets are their true prophecies.
On the other hand, the "rotten trees" refer to the rotten (false) prophets. The "worthless fruit" they produce is their false prophecies. The specific fruits of false prophets are their false prophecies. False prophets cannot produce true prophecies.
Jesus explained that we will not be able to recognize a false prophets by looking at them. For they will look like a gentle, innocent sheep. Rather, he said that the only way to be able to recognize them is by looking at their prophecies (worthless fruit). Or, as Jesus concluded, "Really then, by their fruits (false prophecies) you will recognize those men."
Alright then, what does a false prohpecy look like? Jesus doesn't say. But Moses does. In Deut. 18:20-22 he mentiones 2 things that are involved...
1] What is said is presented "in the name of Jehovah."
2] What is said "does not occur or come true."
Most Witnesses are aware of at least some of the things that the Society has said ahead of time that Jehovah was going to do, which did not occur or come true. Athough - they are not likely aware of just how many times this has happened.
But has the Society been presenting their words "in the name of Jehovah?" The official answer from those who are are responsible for all those words that did not occur or come true has always abeen "No!" On page 4 of the March 22, 2993 Awake! the GB says...
"Never did (we or anyone else in the Society) presume to originate predictions 'in the name of Jehovah.' Never did (we or) they say, 'These are the words of Jehovah.'"
And yet, *on the bottom of this very same page* the GB puts Jehovah's name on a then current prediction which has (since 1995) been recognized to be not true...
"Most importantly, this magazine builds confidence in *the Creator's promise* of a peaceful and secure new world before the generation that saw the evens of 1914 passes away."
Who is the Creator? Every single Witness will answer, "Jehovah." And so, in who's name was the above prediction made? Although for so many years they said it was 'Jehovah's promise,' they finally acknowledged that was only the 'Watchtower's promise.'
It seems that the only way Jehovah's Witnesses will be able to recognize the Society as a false prophet is if the Governing Body admits that that's what they are. But, what false prophet in the history of mankind ever admitted that he was a false prophet?
What does it mean when men can say that they do not present what they say "in the name of Jehovah" and then *on the very same page*, present what they say 'in the name of Jehovah' - and not notice what they have said? And what does it mean when millions of Witnesses read what they are saying and notice notice anything wrong with it?
Of what value are all the Bible's warnings about false prophets if the Society does everything a false prophet does, and yet is not a false prophet?