We do not claim to be inspired prophets

by OnTheWayOut 24 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  OnTheWayOut

  CCS, here's some more inspired by that book-

  ***

  w01 6/1p.14"If God Is for Us, Who Will Be Against Us?"***

  Logically, to enjoy God’s backing, one must teach only what God reveals in his Word and reject teachings based on human wisdom or tradition.—Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 15:3-9; Colossians 2:8.

  (Matthew 7:2) 2 for with what judgment YOU are judging, YOU will be judged; and with the measure that YOU are measuring out, they will measure out to YOU.

  They do not stick to their own rules- many teachings in JW history are from human wisdom.

  If they use a method of exposing other religions as false prophets, then their own methods should be applied to WTS.
  That will reveal them.
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  avidbiblereader

  Thanks OnTheWayOut, I knew it was there but I believe even farther back then that before CD rom information they printed an article with that title, decades ago in the 50's or 60's, I am sure that is one that they dont want published again since so many use the scripture in Duet 18:20-22 thanks again

  abr
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  garybuss

  Who, of all religions on earth today, has "the credentials of a true prophet?" I can see only two possible answers to this question:
  
  1] The Society
  2] Nobody
  
  If the Society does not claim to be a *real* prophet; a true prophet - then wouldn't that mean that there isn't *any* actual prophet on earth today? The only other source of prophets would be "Babylon the Great," wouldn't it? Isn't the Watchtower Society the only possible source of a real prophet? But if they deny being such a prophet, then wouldn't that mean that there isn't one single prophet on earth today? (Don Cameron)
  
  
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  Scully

  Whenever I see the WTS making this statement, my first question is "So why should I listen to anything you say?"

  Then when they claim to be Spirit Directed™, I like to point out the many times they have changed their thinking on various matters, because it doesn't look Spirit Directed™ to me. More like Spirit Bum-Steered. My next question is "So why should I listen to anything you say?"

  If they aren't prophets, and they don't get their predictions right, why should anyone listen to anything they have to say? And more importantly, why should anyone trust these idiots with their lives, or their children's lives?
• 

  OnTheWayOut

  ***

  w99 4/1p.21 Who Molds Your Thinking?***

  Lack of information can be just as lethal as misinformation. So while it is true that you need to protect your mind from misleading ideas and philosophies, try not to develop a jaundiced and cynical view of all advice or information offered to you.—1 John 4:1.

  (1 John 4:1) 4 Beloved ones, do not believe every inspired expression, but test the inspired expressions to see whether they originate with God, because many false prophets have gone forth into the world.

  They cover all bases. The quote above is from an article warning us about influences on our thinking.
  I think the scripture is the reason they say that they never claimed to be inspired prophets. You don't need to
  examine spirit-directed expressions, just inspired ones.
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  Invetigator74

  They are then faithful in publishing and preaching the revealed prophecies to the utter ends of the earth.The twentieth-century preaching prophets ofJehovah are the ones who are running to and fro over the Bible to gain knowledge of the divine pronouncement which is on the increase.- Dan. 12:4 ...........

  No amount of persecution will deter the modern prophets of God from fulfilling their commission as a cloud of witnesses to the supremacy of Jehovah God. Wt.4/15/52 pg 253-254 par.20 and 21
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  carla

  I once showed an elder pages and pages of their claim of being a prophet and many of the false prophecies. His response? Because they did not use the words, 'thus sayeth' they were not false prophets. He actually said it with a straight face. I asked, 'because they didn't say 'thus'? He answered in the affirmative.

  Jw's cannot give one example of an uninspired prophet from scripture.

  So, does Jehovah have a prophet to help them, to warn them of dangers and to declare things to come?...These questions can be answered in the affirmative. Who is this prophet?...This 'prophet' was not one man, but was a body of men and women. It was the small group of footstep followers of Jesus Christ, known at that time as International Bible Students. Today they are known as Jehovah's Christian witnesses...Of course, it is easy to say that this group acts as a 'prophet' of God. It is another thing to prove it. The only way that this can be done is to review the record. What does it show ?" (Watchtower, April 1, 1972, page 197)

  1917 "In all his (Russell's) warnings he claimed no originality. He said that he could never have written his books himself. It all came from God , through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit." (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 7, p. 387.

  The writer does not give his opinion. No human interpretation of scripture is advanced." (Reconciliation, 1928, p. 6)

  Whom has God actually used as his prophet? .... Jehovah's witnesses are deeply grateful today that the plain facts show that God has been pleased to use them.... Jehovah thrust out his hand of power and touched their lips and put his words in their mouths." (Watchtower, January 15, 1959, p. 40-41)
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  Mary

  What I find interesting is how the WTS dodges what constitutes a "false prophet":

  MultipleArticles*** Definition: Individuals and organizations proclaiming messages that they attribute to a superhuman source but that do not originate with the true God and are not in harmony with his revealed will.

  How can true prophets and false ones be identified?

  True prophets make known their faith in Jesus, but more is required than claiming to preach in his name

  John 4:1-3: "Test the inspired expressions to see whether they originate with God, because many false prophets have gone forth into the world. You gain the knowledge of the inspired expression from God by this: Every inspired expression that confesses Jesus Christ as having come in the flesh originates with God, but every inspired expression that does not confess Jesus does not originate with God."

  Matt. 7:21-23: "Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will. Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name . . . ?’ And yet then I will confess to them: I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness."

  True prophets speak in the name of God,but merely claiming to represent him is not enough

  Deut. 18:18-20: "A prophet I shall raise up for them from the midst of their brothers, like you [like Moses]; and I shall indeed put my words in his mouth, and he will certainly speak to them all that I shall command him. And it must occur that the man who will not listen to my words that he will speak in my name, I shall myself require an account from him. However, 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." (Compare Jeremiah 14:14; 28:11, 15.)

  Jesus said: "I do nothing of my own initiative; but just as the Father taught me I speak these things." (John 8:28) He said: "I have come in the name of my Father." (John 5:43) Jesus also said: "He that speaks of his own originality is seeking his own glory."—John 7:18.

  If any individuals or organizations claim to represent God but decline to use God’s personal name, and make it a practice to express their own opinions on matters, are they measuring up to this important qualification of a true prophet?

  Ability to perform "great signs,"or"miracles,"is not necessarily proof of a true prophet

  Matt. 24:24: "False Christs and false prophets will arise and will give great signs ["miracles," TEV] and wonders so as to mislead, if possible, even the chosen ones."

  2 Thess. 2:9, 10: "The lawless one’s presence is according to the operation of Satan with every powerful work and lying signs and portents and with every unrighteous deception for those who are perishing, as a retribution because they did not accept the love of the truth that they might be saved."

  On the other hand, Moses performed miracles at Jehovah’s direction. (Ex. 4:1-9) Jehovah also empowered Jesus to perform miracles. (Acts 2:22) But more than the miracles gave evidence that God had truly sent them.

  Notice how they deliberately avoid the one scripture in Deuteronomy that plainly and simply identifies what constitutes a false prophet?

  (Deuteronomy 18:21-22) 21 And in case you should say in your heart: "How shall we know the word that Jehovah has not spoken?" 22when 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.’

  Must have been an oversight.
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  watson

  He said

  "The WTBS claims to be God's "tool" on earth!"

  Heh, heh, heh...
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  Woodsman

  There is so much semantics involved here on the WTS's part it is ridiculous.

  Here is how I see it.

  Obviously a false prophet is not inspired by God. The Watchtower admits they are not inspired.

  A false prophet would make false predictions. The Watchtower admits they have made false predictions.

  The Watchtower has called themselves prophets many times. The fact that they also say they are not prophets only strengthens the position that they are false and should not be listened to.

  If the Watchtower is adament that they are not prophets then who is fulfilling Acts 2:17,18?

  The Apostle Paul clearly stated that some would not preach the gospel he preached but would go beyond his message. His gospel was from revelation from Christ and was true.

  The others would preach a different gospel. Teachings of man.They would be false and these men would be accursed.

  There are only two gospels, Paul's gospel,( revelation from Christ, true ) and another gospel, (teachings of man, false, accursed, beyond Paul's)

  So was it a revelation of Christ that armageddon would come in 1914? Christ returned in an invisiblepresence in 1874? Faithful patriarchs would be resurrected in 1925? Sheep and goats were gathered and seperated after 1914? The generation that saw the events of 1914 would not all die before armageddon?

  Therefore these teachings are beyond Paul's, they are teachings of man and the people who taught them are accursed.