Blueblades,
Thanks for your insightful and well thought out post. It is indeed true that the Wt has proven itself to be a false prophet as a result of its many dates it predicted for the end that never materialized. I'll never forget many years ago having a debate with a Baptist concerning all these things. He brought up how Rutherford predicted the end in 1925 and also how the WT society had pointed to 1975 as another end, both of which failed. I remember spewing the typical WT line about, no, not being false prophets, but just individuals eager for the end that just made a mistake. It's amazing how besotted I was with the WT. I couldn't see it, but I was unable to see reason because of their slick, deceptive reasonings. Quite frankly, I think I left leaving that man befuddled, but in hindsight he was probably thinking, "What do I have to do to get through to Jehovah's Witnesses.
The problem with the WT is that they have misinterpreted what Jesus said at Matthew 24. In the Good News Bible at Matthew 24: 4,5 it reads: "Jesus answered, "Watch out, and do not let anyone fool you. Many men, CLAIMING TO SPEAK FOR ME (my highlight) will come and say, I am the messiah! and they will fool many people. Then Jesus continues with wars and reports of wars, kingdom against kingdom, famines, earthquakes, diseases, and the preaching of the good news of God's Kingdom worldwide. The Wt claims that these signs began to be fulfilled in 1914. However, the WT is unaware (I should say purposely unaware) that in centuries past all these so called signs mentioned above were much worse in centuries past. So, why didn't Jesus' return come at other times when these conditions were much worse than the 20th century. Because, in reality, Jesus was telling us not to think that wars, famines, earthquakes,diseases, etc. were an imminent sign of his return. Rather, as long as mankind existed these terrible conditions would prevail until Jesus returned suddenly and unexpectedly.
This fact is borne out by what Jesus says at Matthew 24: 23-27. It reads: "Then, if anyone says to you, Look, here is the Messiah! or There he is!-do not believe him. (that would include claims by the WT that the Messiah has returned invisibly, without any proof that his return has come) For false Messiahs and false Christs will appear; they will perform great miracles and wonders in order to deceive even God's chosen people, if possible. Listen! I have told you ahead of time. Or, if people should tell you, Look, he is hiding here!-don't believe it. For the Son of Man will come like the lightning which flashes across the whole sky from the east to the west. So, when lightning flashes across the sky, it happens suddenly and unexpectedly, therefore Christs return will be just as shocking and sudden as that.
If we were able to discern the return of Jesus by certain signs then why would he say the above at Matthew 24:23-27. In Matthew 24:36, why would he say "no one knows, however, when that day and hour will come-neither the angels in heaven nor the Son; the Father alone knows. Then Jesus refers to the days of Noah and compares that to the people alive when he returns. Then in Matthew 24:44 Jesus says: "So then, you also must always be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you are NOT (my highlight) expecting him. If that's the case, what proof is there that any particular signs or "composite sign" will point to the imminent return of Christ.
So, the Watchtower Society has been thoroughly proved to be a false prophet that Jesus warned about in Matthew 24:11. They have also been shown to take the place of Christ by claiming that only coming to their organization can people gain life. Even though John14:6 makes it plain that: "I am the way and the truth and the life; no one goes to the Father except through me." In other words, the society's claim to be the only way to God usurps Christ's unique position of being the only way to be reconciled with God. Thanks Blueblades for your post. The Watchtowers house of cards needs to come down one card or one point at a time.
Mr. Shakita
