Tag: Awake

Should You Believe in the Trinity? (1/9)

On By Whatsoever Things Are TrueIn MiscLeave a comment

Hello it’s been a little while since our last post. We will be doing a series, examining the Brochure from the Watchtower called “Should you believe in the Trinity?” The Jehovah Witnesses are but a few groups who deny the doctrine of the Godhead/Trinity and call it satanic. It’s our endeavour to search out and see if the Trinity doctrine holds up to scrutiny or crumbles under critical observation.

1. Should You Believe It?

DO YOU believe in the Trinity? Most people in Christendom do. After all, it has been the central doctrine of the churches for centuries. In view of this, you would think that there could be no question about it. But there is, and lately even some of its supporters have added fuel to the controversy. Why should a subject like this be of any more than passing interest? Because Jesus himself said: “Eternal life is this: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” So our entire future hinges on our knowing the true nature of God, and that means getting to the root of the Trinity controversy. Therefore, why not examine it for yourself?—John 17:3, Catholic Jerusalem Bible (JB).

Should You Believe in the Trinity?

Often Jehovah Witnesses cite verses such as John 17:3 as a “proof text” is teaching against the Godhead/Trinity but they seem to miss the context of the verse. It’s perhaps the most intimate chapter of the Bible, we get to listen in on the Lord’s High priestly prayer.

John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

The Lord Jesus is moments away from being taken captive to be brought before Pontius Pilate and later crucified. He [Jesus Christ] lifted up his eyes to heaven and spoke of the intimate fellowship the Son has with the Father and that believers also will enjoy.

Christ says “that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” the JW immediately would say see Jesus calls the Father the only true God. They place emphasis on the Father being God alone, but they never look at the verse in its entirety. The text says the Father and the Son are the one God.

The Bible doesn’t only call the Father God it also ascribes this to the Son Jesus Christ as well. 1 John has a similar text which is speaking only of the Lord Jesus and it says:

1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, [even] in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

Why don’t Jehovah Witnesses take this verse in 1 John 5:20 in context with John 17:3? The Watchtower teaches them Jesus is not God Almighty and practice Arianism a heresy the early church condemned.

Various Trinitarian concepts exist. But generally the Trinity teaching is that in the Godhead there are three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; yet, together they are but one God. The doctrine says that the three are coequal, almighty, and uncreated, having existed eternally in the Godhead.

Should You Believe in the Trinity?

The Jehovah Witnesses understanding of the Trinity is wrong, when they say they don’t believe in the Trinity they are attacking the teaching of modalism. Christians have never taught modalism to be the doctrinal teaching of the Godhead.

Notice they start by saying “Various Trinitarian concepts exist” this is not true for there is only one true doctrine of the Trinity which Trinitarians believe. Which is we believe there is one God, who exists as three co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial divine persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Each one of the persons in the Godhead share the same nature which is the one nature of God. We do not believe in 3 separate gods, neither do we believe the Father at one time changed into the Son and the Son changed into the Holy Spirit.

This is not what Trinitarians believe. Trinitarians believe all 3 persons of the Godhead exist at the same time in perfect fellowship before all creation even began. We find this wonderful truth in the very beginning of our Bible.

Genesis 1:1-2 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness [was] upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Elohim or God is a plural word the text also mentions the Spirit of God that’s the Holy Spirit. There are many passages in the Old Testament that teaches the doctrine of the Trinity, it’s just more plainly seen in the New Testament.

אֱלֹהִיםʼĕlôhîym, el-o-heem’; plural of H433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:—angels, exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), (very) great, judges, mighty.

Outline of Biblical Usage

  1. (plural)
    1. rulers, judges
    2. divine ones
    3. angels
    4. gods
  2. (plural intensive – singular meaning)
    1. god, goddess
    2. godlike one
    3. works or special possessions of God
    4. the (true) God
    5. God

Others, however, say that the Trinity doctrine is false, that Almighty God stands alone as a separate, eternal, and all-powerful being. They say that Jesus in his prehuman existence was, like the angels, a separate spirit person created by God, and for this reason he must have had a beginning. They teach that Jesus has never been Almighty God’s equal in any sense; he has always been subject to God and still is. They also believe that the holy ghost is not a person but God’s spirit, his active force.

Should You Believe in the Trinity?

In speaking of the Almighty God the book of Revelation informs us on this matter.

Revelation 1:7-8 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they [also] which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

As we examine the verses it say “Behold, he cometh with clouds” is the Father the one coming in the clouds? Reading on it also says “every eye shall see him, and they [also] which pierced him” every eye will see Him, are they going to see the Father? The Bible says the Father dwells in light which no man can approach. The one who’s coming was pierced, was the Father or the Son pierced? By asking these simple questions we see it can’t be speaking of the Father in Revelation 1:7-8.

The same person in Revelation 1:7-8 speaks saying “Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” We see here this individual calls Himself the Almighty, but not only that He says “which is to come” who’s coming if it’s not the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

1 Timothy 6:16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom [be] honour and power everlasting. Amen.

Supporters of the Trinity say that it is founded not only on religious tradition but also on the Bible. Critics of the doctrine say that it is not a Bible teaching, one history source even declaring: “The origin of the [Trinity] is entirely pagan.”—The Paganism in Our Christianity.

Should You Believe in the Trinity?

The above quote is very misleading, first it was taken by Arthur Weigall and his book called “paganism in our christianity.” Arthur is a modernist and doesn’t believe the Bible is God’s word, in his book not only does he speak against Christianity but he also speaks against the Watchtower calling their own beliefs “Angel-Christology.”

The Watchtower uses strawman arguments in their attack against the Trinity trying to assert something Christians do not believe in the first place. Christians believe in only 1 God, we don’t believe in 3 gods as Watchtower claims. Trinitarianism is monotheistic because the doctrine teaches there’s only 1 God and within the 1 God exist 3 co-eternal co-equal Person’s the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. The 3 distinct Persons are all fully God and share the one nature of God.

Jehovah Witnesses are actually not monotheist because they believe in Jehovah and reduce Jesus Christ to a lesser “godlike” angel or “a god.” This means they are actually polytheistic in their belief, more specifically Henotheism.

Henotheism is the belief of one particular God in this case “Jehovah” out of several others namely Jesus (a god) and many others. Watchtower teaches there are others who also can be called god even though they are not Jehovah God they get this from 1 Corinthians 8:5 by pulling the text out of context saying Paul the apostle taught there are many legitimate gods. This of course is not the meaning of that particular text. By reading the surrounding text we can get the true context of that verse.

1 Corinthians 8:4-6 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol [is] nothing in the world, and that [there is] none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us [there is but] one God, the Father, of whom [are] all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom [are] all things, and we by him.

Paul was addressing the believers in Corinth that any other “god” is actual not god at all but an idol and therefore it’s nothing. When the Jehovah Witnesses claim Jesus is not God but “a god” they are placing Jesus in the category of a false God. Christians never would agree to this because we believe Christ Jesus is the Almighty God along with the Father and the Holy Spirit. All 3 Persons of the Godhead are the 1 Almighty God.

Lastly, the doctrine of the Trinity/Godhead didn’t derive from pagan triads of deities. It was formulated by Christians strictly on the basis of the teachings of God’s word. The Watchtower points to Babylonian religion which was polytheistic and makes the statement that the Trinity came from such. This is of course not so, the Babylonians believed in not just 3 separate gods but a plethora of gods. Christians don’t believe in a multitude of gods we only worship 1 God.

If the Trinity is true, it is degrading to Jesus to say that he was never equal to God as part of a Godhead. But if the Trinity is false, it is degrading to Almighty God to call anyone his equal, and even worse to call Mary the “Mother of God.” If the Trinity is false, it dishonors God to say, as noted in the book Catholicism: “Unless [people] keep this Faith whole and undefiled, without doubt [they] shall perish everlastingly. And the Catholic Faith is this: we worship one God in Trinity

Should You Believe in the Trinity?

Watchtower claims it’s “degrading to Jesus” to say He was never equal to God if the Trinity is true? Christians have always believed the Lord Jesus Christ is equal to the Father because they share the same nature. The watchtower argument against the deity of Christ is that Jesus is not Jehovah but “a god.” If the Father alone is Jehovah (the true God) then what does that make Jesus if He’s not Almighty God?

Is Jesus Christ a true God or a false god? There are no other choices either Christ is the True God just as His Father is also the True God, or Jesus is an additional god who is not truly God. This brings a big problem for the Jehovah Witness theology, when they started teaching Jesus was a created being it made them have 2 God’s.

Watchtower’s teaching of Jesus is merely a created creature as opposed to being God Almighty is degrading to Jesus Christ to demote Him to an angel or “godlike one” is completely heretical on their part. The Bible tells us that the Son should receive the same honour the Father receives.

John 5:23 That all [men] should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

Does the Watchtower honour the Son even as the Father is honoured? According to them the Father (Jehovah) alone is to be worshipped. Yet we have abundant proof that Christ was worshipped in the scriptures.

There are good reasons, then, why you should want to know the truth about the Trinity. But before examining its origin and its claim of truthfulness, it would be helpful to define this doctrine more specifically. What, exactly, is the Trinity? How do supporters of it explain it?

Should You Believe in the Trinity?

The Watchtower consistently misrepresents the doctrine of the Trinity, they assume Christians believe the Father and Jesus Christ are the same Person. This statement couldn’t be farther from the truth, Christians have consistently believed there is only 1 God and that 1 God consist of 3 distinct Persons. Each Person of the Godhead are fully and equally God because all 3 share the same nature.

Christians reject the notion of 3 separate gods, we are not tritheist, we affirm Deuteronomy 6:4 but can’t over look the distinction between the 3 Persons of the Godhead laid out in the scriptures. If you want to know more about The Doctrine of the Trinity feel free to read our past article. Moving forward we’ll continue to examine the Watchtower’s “Should You Believe in the Trinity?”

Awake No. 2 2020 | 5 Questions About Suffering Answered

On By Whatsoever Things Are TrueIn MiscLeave a comment

Apocalyptic groups use fear tactics in order to spread panic in order to gain more followers. Once such group is the Watchtower organisation. This global pandemic is a gold mine for them. Some of the grandiose claims made by the Jehovah Witnesses is astounding, quotes stating to join their organisation for salvation.

“Come to Jehovah’s organization for salvation” Watchtower 1981 Nov 15 p.212

‘Stay Awake and Keep Your Senses’ The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom—1981

Instead of leading people to the only One who can save the Lord Jesus Christ, the Watchtower would direct you to their organisation for salvation. Does this sound right what does the Bible say about salvation?

Psalm 3:8 Salvation [belongeth] unto the LORD: thy blessing [is] upon thy people. Selah.

Isaiah 52:10 The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

The Bible says salvation belongs to the LORD God not an organisation (Watchtower). With that said lets look at some of the content of the new Awake magazine.

As mentioned earlier apocalyptic groups will use fear as a catalyst to gain membership and will offer themselves as a “saviour” but as we’ve just seen only Christ Jesus alone is the Saviour. Here are the topics listed in the latest Awake.

1 Is God to Blame for Our Suffering? – People have been deceived by teachings that misrepresent God. What is the truth?
2 Are We to Blame for Our Own Suffering? – If the answer is yes, then it might be in our power to reduce our suffering.
3 Why Do Good People Suffer? – The Bible helps us to understand the answer.
4 Were We Meant to Suffer? – Would a God who created such beauty in the world consign us to a life of suffering? If not, what went wrong?
5 Will Suffering Ever End? – The Bible tells us exactly how God will eliminate suffering.
Help Is Available – Even if our problems seem unsolvable, there is a reliable guide that can help.

After reading these titles can you see a common theme? I’ll give you a hint the common theme is suffering. The Watchtower thrives on catastrophic events and will lay claim that they “predicted” the event.

According to many experts, it is not a question of if such a vicious flu virus will return but of when and how it will return. In fact, some expect a significant new influenza outbreak every 11 years or so and a severe one approximately every 30 years. According to these predictions, mankind is overdue for another pandemic. The medical journal Vaccine reported in 2003: “It has been 35 years since the last influenza pandemic, and the longest interval between pandemics recorded with certainty is 39 years.” The article continued: “The pandemic virus may emerge in China or a nearby country and could include surface antigens or virulence factors derived from animal influenza viruses.” The Vaccine article predicted concerning the virus: “It will spread rapidly throughout the world. Several waves of infection will occur. Morbidity will be extensive in all age groups, and there will be widespread disruption of social and economic activity in all countries.

Awake!  |  December 22, 2005 pp 8-9

They took information from a medical “The medical journal Vaccine reported in 2003” and made it seem as the Watchtower predicted this current global pandemic. The quote from the The medical journal Vaccine was a hypothetical question put forth by the journal. It was not a prediction.

Another failed prophecy by the Watchtower is the claimed prediction of WW1.

“When in 1914 C.E. the 2,520 years of the Gentile Times ended for the Gentile nations to trample on Jerusalem’s right to a Messianic kingship in the royal line of David, the Most High God Jehovah installed the Messiah Jesus on the heavenly throne in order to reign and go subduing among his enemies. (Psalm 110:1-6; Acts 2:34-36; Hebrews 10:12, 13) During World War I (1914-1918 C.E.) the dedicated, baptized remnant of spiritual Israelites publicly proclaimed that the Gentile Times had ended and that the Most High God had made his Son Jesus Christ reigning King in the heavens.”

 Paradise Restored to Mankind – By Theocracy! (1972) p.273

“Why, then, do the nations not realize and accept the approach of this climax of judgment? It is because they have not heeded the world wide advertising of Christ’s return and his second Presence. Since long before World War I Jehovah’s witnesses pointed to 1914 as the time for this great event to occur.”

Watchtower 1954 Jun 15 p.370

This is exactly what a doomsday cult does they use fear in order to recruit and keep their members by telling them they need to associate with the organization in order to have salvation.

In one of the subjects “God rejects religion that misrepresents him.” Here’s what the Watchtower had to say: “This includes religions that teach that God causes our suffering and those that are involved with warfare and violence.” they go on to quote a verse from Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 14:14 “The prophets are prophesying lies in my [God’s] name. I have not sent them or commanded them or spoken to them. A lying vision and . . . the deceit of their own heart is what they are prophesying to you.”​.

Is God to Blame for Our Suffering?

It’s quite ironic that a group who’s well known for multiple false prophecies would point to a verse which speaks against the very thing they are doing themselves. Just to list a few of their false prophecies.

1799 LAST DAYS BEGIN – 1914 THE END OF THE WORLD.
“The careful student will have observed that the period designated ‘The Time of the End’ is very appropriately named, since not only does the Gospel age close in it, but in it, also, all prophesies relating to the close of this age terminate, reaching their fulfillments. The same class of readers will have noticed, too, the special importance of the last 40 of these 115 years (1874-1914), called ‘The End’ or ‘Harvest.'”

Studies in the Scriptures Series III – Thy Kingdom Come p.121

“The Scriptural proof is that the period of his presence and the day of God’s preparation is a period from 1874 A.D. forward. The second coming of the Lord, therefore, began in 1874; and that date and the years 1914 and 1918 are specially marked dates with reference to his coming. Prophecy can not be understood until it has been fulfilled or is in the course of fulfillment. From 1874 to 1914 the prophecy concerning the Lord’s coming was being fulfilled and could be understood, and was understood, by those who were faithful to the Lord and who were watching the development of events, but not by others.”

Creation 1927 2,175,000 ed. p.289

“The prophecy of the Bible, fully supported by the physical facts in fulfilment thereof, shows that the second coming of Christ dates from the fall of the year 1914.”

What is Truth? (1932) p.48

For a more extensive look into many of these failed predictions check them out here on JWFacts.com

It goes without saying that the verse in Jeremiah 14:14 really fits the Watchtower in all of the failed prophecies they have passed off in their publications.

The last heading states “Jesus denounced religious hypocrisy” this couldn’t be said better. The Lord Jesus does denounce hypocrisy and the organisation is full of it. Do you remember last years Jehovah Witness convention? It was named “love never fails international convention 2019.”

Yet ex-Jehovah Witnesses are being shunned because they no longer want to be a Jehovah Witness and they risk losing their families, friends, jobs and work colleges. Unless you choose to remain a Jehovah Witness only then will the “love never fail” but if you choose to leave then does the love fail? Looks to be so.

Matthew 7:21-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Jehovah Witnesses pride themselves on “working” for the kingdom, they believe in a works based salvation. If so what were these people the Lord Jesus was speaking about trusting in? Their own works. Notice “have we not and in thy name” they trusted in themselves and not in the Lord Jesus Christ alone.

Statements which contradict

On By Whatsoever Things Are TrueIn MiscLeave a comment

Deuteronomy 18:20, 22 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. … When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that [is] the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, [but] the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

There are cults and other groups which would take the word of the Living God and twist them, add to them or completely remove a scripture text from its context. By doing so a multitude of people have been deceived into believing a lie perpetrated by the Watchtower.

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society: has claimed they are not neither inspired nor infallible. Here’s the quote from the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

“The Governing Body is neither inspired nor infallible. Therefore, it can err in doctrinal matters or in organizational direction. In fact, the Watch Tower Publications Index includes the heading “Beliefs Clarified,” which lists adjustments in our Scriptural understanding since 1870. Of course, Jesus did not tell us that his faithful slave would produce perfect spiritual food.”

Watchtower 2017 Feb p.26

Here we have a direct quote from the Governing Body, the men who are in charge of directing the entire organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Who disseminate all doctrines JW’s believe worldwide, and these men come out and said they are not ‘inspired nor infallible’. If you know anything about the Jehovah’s Witnesses they believe they alone are the only Christians in the world and teach all ‘Christendom’ are or satan.

Yet they speak out the other side of their mouth making tremendous claims. While they don’t use the word ‘inspired’ or ‘infallible’ these quotes say they believe otherwise. Look at some of just many inspiration claims.

“Come to Jehovah’s organization for salvation”

Watchtower 1981 Nov 15 p.212

“Consider, too, the fact that Jehovah’s organization alone, in all the earth, is directed by God’s holy spirit or active force. (Zech. 4:6) Only this organization functions for Jehovah’s purpose and to his praise. To it alone God’s Sacred Word, the Bible, is not a sealed book.”

Watchtower 1973 Jul 1 p.402

“However, the Governing Body are appointed through the holy spirit under the direction of Jehovah God and Jesus Christ.” Watchtower 1990 Mar 15 p.18

Watchtower 1990 Mar 15 p.18

The last quote states the Governing Body is appointed through the Holy Spirit by Jehovah God and Jesus. If this is not an inspiration claim then I don’t know what is? Also note the following quote is the same as the last one, but the Watchtower changed a few words so that it would read a bit differently.

However, the Governing Body is not a legal instrument. Its members are not elected. They are appointed through the holy spirit under the direction of Jehovah God and Jesus Christ. Watchtower 1990 Mar 15 p.18

Watchtower 1990 Mar 15 p.18

This is called deception. It’s obvious the Watchtower claims inspiration from God in which they can say they ‘alone in all the earth’ are directed by God. For this to be true then every word spoken by the Watchtower organization would come true because God cannot err.

Failed Predictions of the Watchtower (Changed Dates)

Here’s a Wikipedia list of some of the many failed predictions from the Watchtower publications, predicted from its founder Charles Taze Russell, Joseph Franklin Rutherford and now ruling Governing Body. You can look into these for yourself and verify if these statements are true.

1877: Christ’s kingdom would hold full sway over the earth in 1914; the Jews, as a people, would be restored to God’s favor; the “saints” would be carried to heaven.

Charles Taze Russell and Nelson H. Barbour, The Three Worlds (1907)

1891: 1914 would be “the farthest limit of the rule of imperfect men.”

Charles Taze Russell, The Time Is At Hand (1891)

1904: “World-wide anarchy” would follow the end of the Gentile Times in 1914.

Melvin D. Curry, Jehovah’s Witnesses: The Millenarian World of the Watch Tower, Garland, 1992, as cited by James Penton, Apocalypse Delayed, page 45.

1916: World War I would terminate in Armageddon and the rapture of the “saints”.

Penton, James (1997). Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah’s Witnesses. University of Toronto Press. p. 46. ISBN 978-0802079732.

1917: In 1918, Christendom would go down as a system to oblivion and be succeeded by revolutionary governments. God would “destroy the churches wholesale and the church members by the millions.” Church members would “perish by the sword of war, revolution and anarchy.” The dead would lie unburied. In 1920 all earthly governments would disappear, with worldwide anarchy prevailing.

The Finished Mystery, 1917, p. 485, 258, as cited by Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience, pages 206-211.

1920: Messiah’s kingdom would be established in 1925 and bring worldwide peace. God would begin restoring the earth. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and other faithful patriarchs would be resurrected to perfect human life and be made princes and rulers, the visible representatives of the New Order on earth. Those who showed themselves obedient to God would never die.

J. F. Rutherford (1920). Millions Now Living Will Never Die. p. 97. Based upon the argument heretofore set forth, then, that the old order of things, the old world, is ending and is therefore passing away, and that the new order is coming in, and that 1925 shall mark the resurrection of the faithful worthies of old and the beginning of reconstruction, it is reasonable to conclude that millions of p

1922: The anti-typical “jubilee” that would mark God’s intervention in earthly affairs would take place “probably the fall” of 1925.

Watch Tower, May 15, 1922, as cited by Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience, page 224.

1925: God’s restoration of Earth would begin “shortly after” October 1, 1925. Jerusalem would be made the world’s capital. Resurrected “princes” such as Abel, Noah, Moses and John the Baptist would give instructions to their subjects around the world by radio, and airplanes would transport people to and from Jerusalem from all parts of the globe in just “a few hours”.

W. E. Van Amburgh (1924). The Way to Paradise (1925 ed.). pp. 215–236.

1938: Armageddon was too close for marriage or child bearing.

J. F. Rutherford (1938). Face the Facts and learn the only one way of escape. pp. 46–50.

1941: There were only “months” remaining until Armageddon.

The Watchtower, September 15, 1941, p. 288

1942: Armageddon was “immediately before us.”

The Watchtower, May 1, 1942, p. 139

1961: Awake! magazine stated that Armageddon “will come in the twentieth century. … This generation will see its fulfillment.”

Awake!, February 22, 1961, p. 8

1966: It would be 6000 years since man’s creation in the fall of 1975 and it would be “appropriate” for Christ’s thousand-year reign to begin at that time. Time was “running out, no question about that.” The “immediate future” was “certain to be filled with climactic events … within a few years at most”, the final parts of Bible prophecy relating to the “last days” would undergo fulfillment as Christ’s reign began.

Life Everlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God, Watch Tower Society, 1966, pp. 29–35, as cited by Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience, pages 238-239.) (Talk by F. W. Franz, Baltimore, Maryland 1966, cited by Jehovah’s Witnesses – Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom, Watch Tower Society, and by Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience, pages 238-239.

1967: The end-time period (beginning in 1914) was claimed to be so far advanced that the time remaining could “be compared, not just to the last day of a week, but rather, to the last part of that day”.

Did Man Get Here By Evolution Or By Creation?, Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, 1967, pg 161.

1968: No one could say “with certainty” that the battle of Armageddon would begin in 1975, but time was “running out rapidly” with “earthshaking events” soon to take place. In March 1968 there was a “short period of time left”, with “only about ninety months left before 6000 years of man’s existence on earth is completed”.

The Watchtower, May 1, 1968, page 273) (Kingdom Ministry, Watch Tower Society, March 1968, as cited by Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience, pages 246.

1969: “If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things.”

Awake!, May 22, 1969, p. 15

1971: The “battle in the day of Jehovah” was described as beginning “[s]hortly, within our twentieth century”.

The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah – How?, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1971, pg 214.

1974: There was just a “short time remaining before the wicked world’s end” and Witnesses were commended for selling their homes and property to “finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service.”

Kingdom Ministry, Watch Tower Society, May 1974, page 3.

1984: There were “many indications” that “the end” was closer than the end of the 20th century.

The Watchtower, March 1, 1984, pp. 18-19

1989: The Watchtower asserted that Christian missionary work begun in the first century would “be completed in our 20th century”. When the magazine was republished in bound volumes, the phrase “in our 20th century” was replaced with the less specific “in our day”.

The Watchtower, January 1, 1989, pg. 12.

These are just a very small few of years upon years of Watchtower failed prophecies. There are just way to many to list them all here. As we close out I would like leave you with a small clip of Governing Body members Geoffrey Jackson lying in court during the Australian Royal Commission Case 29.

The back story is the Jehovah Witnesses are being investigated in Australia and other parts of the world for child sexual abuse. (https://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/case-studies/case-study-29-jehovahs-witnesses)

The Royal Commission held a public hearing in Sydney from Monday 27 July to Wednesday 5 August and on Friday 14 August 2015.

The public hearing inquired into the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Australia Ltd.

The scope and purpose of the public hearing was to inquire into:
1 The experience of survivors of child sexual abuse within the Jehovah’s Witnesses Church in Australia.

2 The response of the Jehovah’s Witnesses Church and the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Australia Ltd to allegations, reports or complaints of child sexual abuse within the Church.

3 The systems, policies and procedures in place within the Jehovah’s Witnesses Church and the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Australia Ltd for raising and responding to allegations of or concerns about child sexual abuse within the Church.

4 The systems, policies and procedures in place within the Jehovah’s Witnesses Church and the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Australia Ltd to prevent child sexual abuse within the Church.

5 Any related matters.