Posted by Friend [Friend] on March 31, 1999 at 15:25:02 {ohFII14TUcagf9NbHbU2OgnjR4Br/g}:
In Reply to: Friend-False prophecy posted by Jeffery M. Schwehm on March 31, 1999 at 09:42:22:
Jeff S.
I wanted to make sure that I understood your position. It seems like we agree that false prophecying is when an individual or group of individuals misrepresent God while claiming to be God's spokesperson. This could include prophecies that predict something or not. Is that correct?
Yes, that is pretty much correct. For clarification though, I believe that Deuteronomy 18:20-22 specifically provided judgment against false prophets in the sense of false predictors. However, there are other parts of the Law of Moses that equally condemn speaking falsehood in God�s name, whether it is prediction or not. As for Deuteronomy 18:20-22, my position is that principles therein enabling identification of false prophets is useful for Christians but not necessarily the required judgment, Jesus demonstrated that he was applying a judgment related to heart condition by providing time for repentance.
Your stand is that the way that the Israelites treated false prophets is different from the way Jesus treats false prophets. In Revelation Jesus allows time for the false prophet to repent. Is this correct?
Yes, according to the Bible book of Revelation Jesus definitely handled false prophets amidst his congregation differently than what the Law of Moses required. Also, Jesus dealt with his congregation�s tolerance of false prophets contrarily to the Law of Moses.
I have to say that I believe that Jesus would certainly forgive someone who uttered a false prophecy if they repent as is described in Revelation. Of course, if someone truly repents of false prophecying, then it seems to me that they would then be forced to admit that they never did speak for God when they uttered those false prophecies or misrepresentations.
That is a sound belief, nevertheless all we know is that Jesus expected repentance and that the period of time that his congregation had tolerated particular false prophesying was adequate and it was time that it be tolerated no more. Exactly what Jesus was willing to accept as repentance is not absolutely certain, though your belief is arguable. I contend that what Jesus was really looking for was a good condition of heart. More on that can be found in my initial post on the subject.
As for the WTS, they have time and time again stated explicitly that they have are supernaturally inspired by God for making predictions. Admittedly the normal implication is that God is somehow responsible for WTS actions and teachings. I think that is where a lot of what JW detractors like to label "double-speak" comes in. Those detractors tend to emphasis implications (so called "double-speak") and de-emphasis explicit comments contrary to their own interpretations. I find that approach self-defeating. Here is a quote from Russell that to my knowledge has never ever been retracted:
To our understanding this would not imply that "that servant" or steward, used as a channel for the circulation of the "meat in due season," would be the originator of the meat, nor inspired, nor infallible. Quite to the contrary, we may be sure that whoever the Lord will so use, as a truth-distributing agent, will be very humble and unassuming, as well as very zealous for the Master�s glory; so that he would not think of claiming authorship or ownership of the truth, but would merely dispense it zealously, as his Master�s gift, t the Master�s "servants" and "Household"" � Studies IN THE Scriptures series IV, 1905.
Let me ask you a question. In your opinion, had the Jezebel of Revelation 2:20 stopped her false prophesying and said I was mistaken and then gotten on with doing what Jesus wanted done as best as she could, what response do you think that would have drawn from Jesus? If she later fell back into the same practice of falsely prophesying do you think Jesus would have again given her time to repent?
One other thing. Contrary to 1�s ideas, I have been aware of WTS history for decades. Within the past year or so 1 has learned things that troubled him deeply leading to his decision to leave association with JWs. Now he thinks that everyone knowledgeable of JW history and teaching is following the same path he took, they are not.
Friend