The Witnesses own Bible had warned about false prophets who speak in the name of Jehovah:
“The prophet who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded him to speak or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die. And in case you should say in your heart: “How shall we know the word that Jehovah has not spoken?” when the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that Jehovah did not speak. With presumptuousness the prophet spoke it. You must not get frightened at him.” Deuteronomy 18:20-22 – NWT
“Impostors will come claiming to be messiahs or prophets, and they will produce great signs and wonders to mislead even God’s chosen, if such a thing were possible. See, I have forewarned you.” Matthew 24:23-25 - NE
By 1916 it was apparent that the date had not brought the fulfilment of these major prophecies. The book was reprinted with a foreword, which explained:
“This was a natural mistake to fall into, but the Lord overruled it for the blessing of his people. The thought that the church would all be gathered to glory before 1914 certainly did have a stimulating and sanctifying effect upon thousands, all of whom accordingly can praise the Lord – even for the mistake.” Page 1V
To “praise the Lord - even for the mistake” gave the impression that God was in some way involved in the false prophecy which the final paragraph in the book had called “an unquestionable certainty.”
