Shaky Pillar #1
False Prophecy
“But bear in mind that the end of 1914 is not the date for the beginning, but for the end of the time of trouble” (Zion's Watch Tower, July 15th, 1894, page 226).
Many times over the years, beginning with a prediction of 1914, the Watchtower has falsely set the date for Christ’s return.
The apostle John wrote, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (I John 4:1). Scrutiny is not evidence of a lack of faith; on the contrary, a firm reliance on Scripture demands that believers test claims of prophecy. Those who proclaim sound doctrine welcome testing, but false prophets shy away from this, which is why so-called “Jehovah’s Witnesses” will offer their literature to any and all but refuse to accept written materials from others.
Within the previous Covenant, God taught Israel how to distinguish legitimate prophets from false prophets: “But the prophet, that shall speak a word presumptuously in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die. And if thou say in thy heart, How shall we know the word which Jehovah hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of Jehovah, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which Jehovah hath not spoken: the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously, thou shalt not be afraid of him” (Deuteronomy 18:20-22). This is nothing complicated. When one foretells an event that subsequently goes unfulfilled, that person is presumptuous and honest, and people must ignore him. The Watchtower is full of false prophets and always has been.
Paul the apostle anticipated the end of prophetic gifts, writing, “whether (there be) prophecies, they shall be done away” (I Corinthians 13:8). Such would occur when “that which is perfect is come” (I Corinthians 13:10), which some have misunderstood to refer to the second coming of Christ. That does not fit, however, because spiritual gifts, including prophecy, would be terminated while “faith” and “hope” would abide (I Corinthians 13:13). Since both faith (Hebrews 11:1) and hope (Romans 8:24) are fixed on that which is unseen when Christ is finally revealed to the whole world, then faith will be fulfilled and hope will be realized, thus ending faith and hope. Whereas the church in its infancy relied on ongoing revelation while the Scripture was incomplete, that inspired record has been written in its fulness and now “his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (II Peter 1:3). No longer does one need to wait to see if a prophecy comes to pass. The very claim of prophetic abilities must be instinctively rejected since the completion of the written New Testament.
Watchtower disciples may deny they are attempting to prophesy when they foretell Christ’s return, but that is immaterial. God’s warning to Israel about false prophecy emphasized those who “speak a word presumptuously.” So, whether they call themselves prophets or not is beside the point.
Scripture addresses the timing of Christ’s return by informing readers there will be no clues, hints, or signs. “The day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night” (I Thessalonians 5:2). Thieves don’t make appointments. They don’t call ahead. They do all in their power to conceal their intent, acting with deliberate stealth.
It is up to the “strong (man) fully armed [to] guardeth his own court [so that] his goods are in peace” (Luke 11:21). A homeowner can take precautions to guard against burglary but cannot anticipate when the burglar would attempt to break in. Likewise, believers must prepare their hearts and souls for judgment without ever expecting to know when Jesus will come.
