Charles Taze Russell took part in the Millerite Adventist group spawned by William Miller in the 1870s. This is the same movement whose disappointment in the failed 1878 prophecy of Jesus 2nd coming also spawned the Seventh Day Adventist by Ellen G White. However unlike White, Russell, to his credit, refused to proclaim himself a prophet.
"I am not a prophet." (What Pastor Russell Said, Q272:1, 1910)
"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." Watchtower 4/1/1972, p 197
Instead He made his entire organization the prophet. Russell started the Watch Tower society in 1881. Russell himself expected the "time of trouble" (aka Great Tribulation of Rev) to begin in 1914. While Russell hesitated to publically prophecy anything, his organization the Watch Tower has not.
"I am not a prophet." (What Pastor Russell Said, Q272:1, 1910)
"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." Watchtower 4/1/1972, p 197
Instead He made his entire organization the prophet. Russell started the Watch Tower society in 1881. Russell himself expected the "time of trouble" (aka Great Tribulation of Rev) to begin in 1914. While Russell hesitated to publically prophecy anything, his organization the Watch Tower has not.
2) Do they teach that Jesus is God(Trinity) and that he died and rose again?
On the trinity of God
They deny the triune nature of God and teaches that such a belief is inspired by Satan. They teach Jehovah, the name of the one true God, corresponds only to God the Father. JWs also deny that Jesus is God. They deny the Holy Spirit is a person, and instead teach he is merely God's active force, similar to electricity.
On deity, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
The JW's that Jesus is a created being who existed as Michael the archangel before being born as a perfect man. JWs believe that after Jesus was buried, God disposed of his physical body. He was raised a spiritual creature and "materialized" to make himself visible. Now in heaven he is once again known as Michael the archangel.
On the trinity of God
They deny the triune nature of God and teaches that such a belief is inspired by Satan. They teach Jehovah, the name of the one true God, corresponds only to God the Father. JWs also deny that Jesus is God. They deny the Holy Spirit is a person, and instead teach he is merely God's active force, similar to electricity.
On deity, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
The JW's that Jesus is a created being who existed as Michael the archangel before being born as a perfect man. JWs believe that after Jesus was buried, God disposed of his physical body. He was raised a spiritual creature and "materialized" to make himself visible. Now in heaven he is once again known as Michael the archangel.
4) Do they do it for monetary gain or any personal gain?On March 22, 1911, The Brooklyn Daily Eagle published articles accusing Russell of gaining profit from a strain of wheat named "Miracle Wheat". Russell sued but lost. He was selling this wheat at higher prices claiming that it could provide a 10 fold yield. Subsequent government expert tests proved conclusively that the wheat was ordinary. In 1975, the Watch Tower Society stated that gross receipts from the "Miracle Wheat" fundraiser totaled "about $1800" (current value $46,000). It claimed Russell received none of it but that can not be confirmed.
5) Are they speaking of things God has proclaimed not to be known by anyone?
God has clearly stated that no man nor angel knows the day or hour of Jesus return. Russell and the Watch Tower claim otherwise. They have made a multitude of dates too numerous to list for Jesus return. When they all failed, they simply claimed that Jesus came invisibly, thereby foregoing the need to repent their mistakes of date setting.
God has clearly stated that no man nor angel knows the day or hour of Jesus return. Russell and the Watch Tower claim otherwise. They have made a multitude of dates too numerous to list for Jesus return. When they all failed, they simply claimed that Jesus came invisibly, thereby foregoing the need to repent their mistakes of date setting.
6) They add to, alter, twist, take out of context, or even to replace the Bible.
Jehovah's Witness are told that the only ones allowed to interpret Scripture is the Watchtower and that the magazine even supercedes the Bible.
Jehovah's Witness are told that the only ones allowed to interpret Scripture is the Watchtower and that the magazine even supercedes the Bible.
It is only by studying the WATCHTOWER magazine and kindred publications that they can get the needed life-giving knowledge. There is no other source." Informant, July 1940, p 2
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Ironically Russell himself warned people not to depend on any of the publications for truth, which only goes to show how far the Jehovah's Witnesses have fallen.
"Neither must you lean upon the DAWN and the TOWER as infallible teachers." (The Watch Tower, June, 1893)
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7) Lastly does what they foretell come to pass?
1892
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"The date of the close of that 'battle' is definitely marked in Scripture as October, 1914. It is already in progress, its beginning dating from October 1874." Watchtower Reprints, 1/15/1892, p 1355
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1899
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"...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, (1908 ed), p 101
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1916
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"The Bible chronology herein presented shows that the six... 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, p ii
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1918
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"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, p 89
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1922
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"The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures than 1914." Watchtower, 9/1/22, p 262
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1931
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"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, p 338
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1940
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"The year 1940 is certain to be the most important year yet, because Armageddon is very near. It behooves all who love righteousness to put forth every effort to advertise THE THEOCRACY while the privileges are still open." Informant, May 1940, p 1
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1943
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"Man cannot by airplane or rockets or other means get above the air envelope which is about our earthly globe..."(The Truth Shall Make you Free, p. 285, 1943 edition)
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1971
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"Shortly, within our twentieth century, the "battle in the day of Jehovah" will begin against the modern antitype of Jerusalem, Christendom." (The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah; 1971; 2nd ed.; p. 216)
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For complete lists of all their failed predictions refer to these pages:
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Conclusion
There are few other cults like the Jehovah's witnesses that have shown such a record of total and complete failure. None of their predictions year after year after year ever materialized. What does the Watchtower have to say for itself and its failings?
There are few other cults like the Jehovah's witnesses that have shown such a record of total and complete failure. None of their predictions year after year after year ever materialized. What does the Watchtower have to say for itself and its failings?
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At least on that the Bible agrees. No prophet, whether individual or group, can prophecy falsely even once let alone so many times over and still be a true prophet/prophets of Yahweh.(Deu 18:20-22) What is worse is that Jehovah’s Witnesses have no assurance of salvation. They tell their followers that they must go door to door proselytizing constantly. If Jesus was to ever come back and catch them not proselytizing, they will actually lose their salvation and wind up in Hell.
Fortunately the Bible isn’t fickle like these cults are. The Bible clearly states if you repent and believe in Jesus as your Savior that you can know you are saved and headed to Heaven.
Fortunately the Bible isn’t fickle like these cults are. The Bible clearly states if you repent and believe in Jesus as your Savior that you can know you are saved and headed to Heaven.
1 John 5:13 - These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Romans 10:13 - For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. |
Wouldn't you like that kind of security over the constant uncertainity Jehovah's Witnesses offer? If you do all you need to do is repent of your sins and believe in Christ Jesus as your Savior by praying this prayer and accepting him.
Dear Lord God. I know I am a sinner and need your gift of salvation from my sins. I BELIEVE IN JESUS, the Son of God, as my personal Savior. I believe that His death on the cross and resurrection provides forgiveness for ALL my sins past, present, & future. Please forgive all my sins and come into my heart and life. I hereby trust in Jesus FINISHED WORK alone, and NOT upon me & my "good works", as sufficient to make me right with you and fit for Heaven. Please forgive ALL my sins and come into my heart, Lord Jesus. Seal me with your Holy Spirit until the day you come to take me home. In your Son Jesus’ name. Amen.
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