There’s a part in this week’s Service Meeting based on Reasoning from the Scriptures, page 136, paragraph 2. Under the “If Someone Says—“ section we are encouraged to say, “May I show you how the Bible describes false prophets?” Then we are to use the points outlined on pages 132 to 136. That’s five pages of points to show the householder how the Bible describes false prophets!
That’s a lot of points. With that, we should just about cover everything the Bible has to say about the subject, wouldn’t you agree?
Here’s how the Bible describes false prophets:
(Deuteronomy 18:21, 22) And in case you should say in your heart: “How shall we know the word that Jehovah has not spoken?” 22 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.’
Now I ask you, in the whole of Scripture can you honestly come up with a better, more concise, more succinct explanation on how to identify a false prophet? If you can, I’d love to read it.
So in our five pages of points outlining “how the Bible describes false prophets”, do we refer to these two verses?
WE DO NOT!
Personally, I find the absence of these verses to be most telling. It can’t be that we merely overlooked them. After all, we refer to Deut. 18:18-20 in our discussion. Surely the writers of this topic didn’t stop short at verse 20 in their research.
I can see only one reason for not including these verses in our extensive treatment of this topic. Simply put, they condemn us. We have no defense against them. So we ignore them, pretend they are not there, and hope that they are not raised in any doorstep discussion. Most of all, we hope the average Witness doesn’t become aware of them in this context. Fortunately, we rarely meet anyone at the door who knows the Bible well enough to raise these verses. Otherwise, we might find ourselves, for once, on the receiving end of the “two-edged sword”. For it must be admitted honestly that there have been times when we have ‘spoken in the name of Jehovah’ (as his appointed channel of communication) and the ‘word did not occur or come true’. So “Jehovah did not speak” it. Therefore, it was with ‘presumptuousness that we spoke it’.
If we expect candor and honesty from those in other religions, we have to display it ourselves. However, it appears we have failed to do so in dealing with this topic in the Reasoning book, and elsewhere, for that matter.
Greetings Meleti,
Very, very true. The irony and hypocrisy are inescapable. How many failed predictions. All I can do is shake my head.
But the claim is “not prophesy but old light” they can say anything and hide behind “old light” because they claim it wasn’t prophesy.
I had a conversation with someone whose thoughts were “false” prophets are not necessarily ones who misinterpret scriptures or get it wrong due to just eagerly trying to understand or discern the bible since he believes just like angels are interested in certain things without understanding so it’s in our nature, which he said the bible shows examples of good people who also erred as well. He believes false prophets are ones who knowingly deter ones from the bible with evil intent that steer right hearted individuals for personal glory or with a warped sense of spirituality. His examples were… Read more »
To the point raised in the first paragraph, I think the best answer is what we are told at Deut. 18:22: “(Deuteronomy 18:22) . . .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.” The Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses claim to be Jehovah’s appointed channel of communication. Therefore, they speak in Jehovah’s name. When what they say will come to pass fails to happen, then they fit this scriptural definition… Read more »
You may remember Harold Camping who infamously predicted May 21, 2011 as the date for the second coming of Jesus. I was still attending meetings at this time and I remember one Sunday the speaker criticized him severely for being a false prophet. I remember thinking is this not a clear case of the pot calling the kettle black.
If one examines the historical proof without bias the evidence is absolutely overwhelming. If Harold Camping is a false prophet then without any doubt the Watchtower Society is as well.
Erick EXCELLENT POINT! I remember that as well. I sat in the meeting and it was nonstop making fun of him in the audience and on the platform and something inside me just thought it was hypocritical about that since my mind went back to our failings and predictions. I was thinking… the bible says false prophets plural not singular.
I’ve often been tempted into an angry outburst when the accusation goes out in a WT paragraph or article saying that we are in danger of apostasy when taking the stand as Korah did to Moses (as if the FDS are on the same prophet level as Moses). What did Jesus say? “Why, then, do you look at the straw that is in your brother’s eye, but do not observe the rafter that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, allow me to extract the straw that is in your eye,’ while you yourself… Read more »
One of the greatest comments I’ve ever read, but at the same time so hard to practise.
I wish all of us to be able to make progres in that for Jehova’s glory.
Great article and very interesting comments. In our meeting part the brother tried to make much of the “false expectations of the apostles” based upon … (Luke 19:11) … they were imagining that the kingdom of God was going to display itself instantly. … and … (Acts 1:6) … they went asking him: “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?” How the distinction between the apostles and JW leadership is not obvious is beyond me. There is a huge difference between a) imagining something or simply asking a question, and b) proclaiming it publicly as fact… Read more »
The brother who handled this part in our congregation made the statement that “when the brothers (aka the GB) realize they have made a mistake, they quickly change it and apologize. That’s what makes the difference.” They quickly change and apologize for the mistake? I can’t think of one example of this, not one.
This is the crux of the matter in my opinion, Dorcas. Bible writers are remarkable for their humble candor. David is a prime example, but Paul also comes to mind. They were self-effacing servants of God. They acknowledged their failings with specifics. Our leadership however makes generalized statements when speaking of past mistakes. What we do is make statements that shift the blame (“some have thought”) or imply no one was really responsible (“at times in our publications”) or what is most common of late, simply ignore that any previous understanding ever existed. The only time we have apologized for… Read more »
“There were some who used to persecute Christians” Good one Meleti. Here’s a little exchange with another chap who’s reluctant to admit personal responsibility. (It’s from “Yes, Minister” back in the 1980’s for those who don’t know.) ……………………………. Sir Humphrey Appleby: The identity of the official whose alleged responsibility for this hypothetical oversight has been the subject of recent discussion is not shrouded in quite such impenetrable obscurity as certain previous disclosures may have led you to assume, but, not to put too fine a point on it, the individual in question is, it may surprise you to learn, one… Read more »
That ‘apology’ in the March 15, 1980 WT, was written by Ray Franz. He said in ‘Crisis of Conscience’ that he wanted to explicitly apologise, but it would never have been approved by the rest of the GB, hence the guarded way it was written. It has never been the policy of WT leaders to apologise for anything, as you say in stark contrast to the bible writers.
For those who believe JW’s never claimed to be God’s prophet a few quotations:- However note the Awake March 22, 1993 pp 3-4 quotation where apparently Deuteronomy 18:21, 22 does not apply to the WT organization!!! Likewise in heaven (1) Jehovah God originates his utterances; (2) then his official Word, or Spokesman—now known as Jesus Christ—often transmits the message; (3) God’s holy spirit, the active force that is used as the medium of communication, carries it earthward; (4) God’s prophet on earth receives the message; and (5) he then publishes it for the benefit of God’s people. Just as on occasion today a courier may… Read more »
miken see the problem I have is most inside the org believe/ teach, and is not shy in telling non JW’s, we are not only the only approved channel of communication between God and ones on the earth but also the only ones who will be saved. When you say we are “God messengers” but then give the explanation above it only confuses ones since even if certain things were never said directly at the very least it was seriously implied throughout the history. I’ve said it before… so bad I wish ones in the org would have years ago… Read more »
well said!
Yes Meleti, Deuteronomy 18:21, 22 were precisely the verses that came to mind as I sat in silence during the meeting. What could anyone say without turning all eyes upon us? Notice that the scripture says “in case you should say in your heart: ‘How shall we know the word that Jehovah has not spoken?'” We need not ask it out loud, need we? Only to know in our heart that “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!” and “With… Read more »
Tonight meeting has that part in it, and I should go and during that part laugh uncontrollably.
So many times in service or general conversations with non JW’s Deuteronomy 18:21, 22 is brought up and I NEVER had a rebuttal. This is after I mentioned a example a brother at a public talk made about “drop of poison in a glass would you drink it” and it would then also get thrown back in my face saying doesn’t this apply to us too. Suffice to say when in service I get the “tap out” on the knee from the elder to leave and then he would just explain they are apostates.
I mentioned in this part that a prophet is held accountable if he claims to be directly inspired by Jehovah, and what brother or group of brothers would be foolish enough to make this claim. I then said that what we’re given in the Watchtower are very strong viewpoints and opinions, always subject to change, because those that write them are not directly inspired by God.