1. "Jehovah's Witnesses, do not claim to be inspired Prophets"
- They have claimed to be a prophet (see article above). So what kind of prophet were they claiming to be if not an "inspired prophet"? Does the Bible describe inspired and uninspired prophets? No. It's described prophets and false prophets. They have invented an unscriptural category of prophet to escape identification as a 'false prophet'
- They have claimed to be inspired. If you look up the word inspired, they completely claim the definition just without using the word. Instead they use phrases like "spirit-led", "spirit-directed", "channel of communication" and "God's Channel". Historically, they have also explicitly claimed the Watchtower to contain only God's words, not those of men. In short, they have long claimed inspiration.
- The line "Jehovah's Witnesses, do not claim to be inspired Prophets" is a red herring. They are implying that this contrasts with claims made by false prophets in the Bible. In fact, Biblical false prophets don't explicitly make the claim to be inspired either and this is not a Scriptural identifying mark of a 'false prophet'. Biblical 'false prophets' just presumptuously made false predictions/proclamations in God's name. Their lack of making the direct claim to being inspired did not save these Biblical false prophets from being identified and punished, and neither does it save the Watchtower Society. They have made countless predictions/proclamations in God's name. This is the Biblical (OT) definition of a "false prophet". As we'll see they also fully meet the NT definition.
2. They have made mistakes. Like the apostles of Jesus Christ, they have at times had some wrong expectations.—Luke 19:11; Acts 1:6.
- The Apostles sometimes had incorrect ideas - however they did not publish them globally - as fact and as required belief - in God's name, nor did they falsely predict and preach the End multiple times. There is a vast different. Actually, there is one clear identifying mark for 'false prophets' after the first century and which Christians who believe these are the last days should use as a clear guide to identifying them, and that is falsely proclaiming the return of Christ. Matt 24:23-28. No other religion has such a long career of falsely proclaiming or predicting Christ's return as The Watchtower Society, thus they completely embody the NT definition of "False Prophet" that is relevant to our time and of which Jesus warned.
3. Matters on which corrections of viewpoint have been needed have been relatively minor when compared with the vital Bible truths that they have discerned and publicized.
- This presumes that the 'vital Bible truths' are true, but seeing as JW teaching changes so often and they have preached so many false dates and interpretations, confidence in their 'Bible truths' is unwarranted. At least one of these listed "truths", the 1914 doctrine, is demonstrably false. Also, predicting and preaching the end of the world - Armageddon - multiple times and insisting that generations now long dead would "never die", or that others (now in middle age), should not marry or have children in their youth, should not bother with a career, education or any preparation for their future and should "face the fact" that they would never reach their teens - all this, and it's damaging repercussions - is not "trivial".
4. Another factor to consider regarding the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses is this: Have these truly uplifted people morally? Are those who adhere to these teachings outstanding in their communities because of their honesty? Is their family life beneficially influenced by applying these teachings? Jesus said that his disciples would be readily identified because of having love among themselves. (John 13:35) Is this quality outstanding among Jehovah’s Witnesses? We let the facts speak for themselves.
- Actually, there are irrelevant to the identification of a "false prophet". If you prophesy falsely, you are a false prophet, and such claims as these are no defense, even if true. In fact, Jesus warned of those who would make such defenses, pointing to their supposed good works to attempt to escape judgement for their sin:
"Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' - Matthew 7:22, 23
- Actually, JW's are not noted for their love, either within or without the congregation. They mercilessly condemn, judging and handing out what are supposedly God's condemnations to others, rather than leaving it to Him. They wrote, with brazen hypocrisy, dismissive of the rafter in their own eye:
"True, there have been those in times past who predicted an "end to the world," even announcing a specific date....Yet nothing happened. The "end" did not come. They were guilty of false prophesying. (Awake!, October 8, 1968, p. 23, italics in original).
So they condemn themselves out of their own mouth. Later self-serving attempts to contradict their own clear statements will not save them. As Jesus warned:
"D o not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." - Matthew 7:1