New definition of "prophesying" digs WT grave even deeper?

by hamsterbait 13 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  hamsterbait

  Not so long ago, the WTBTS redefined the word "prophesying". This was because to prophesy, means " to predict or speak by divine inspiration" - Oxford Dictionary. (see the Witchtower "Beware of False Prophets" )

  Since so many of their predictions have been exposed on the internet, and they claim nowadays not to be divinely inspired they have come up with this definition, found in this weeks Congregation BS:

  " Today, prophesying would apply to any Bible-based teaching that a Christian minister does."

  They hoped by doing this that people confronting them will swallow the excuse: "ah, but prophesy just means any bible based teaching a christian minister does, we don't predict the future, Jehovah's witnesses are not divinely inspired." (Zechariah 13: 3 -6)

  So it is even MORE the case that they fulfil the definition of a "False prophet" in Deut. 18 They have added to the word this extra meaning, thus casting the net to catch them even wider.

  Now that so many of the things the R & F were told to preach are no longer true (old light), not just the predictions of future events show them up but even the gofors preaching work and teaching at the Kingdumb Hell also shows they are not to be believed. (Luke 21: 8)

  HB
• 

  minimus

  But what is prophesying? I'm confused. Are you leaving something out of the "definition"?
• 

  Homerovah the Almighty

  Interesting is it not when a religion can make up its own defined rules to which it governs, changing at random as

  it sees fit, but then again this organization was always an orchestration of corruption so therefore its not all too surprising.
• 

  Gordy

  "Today, prophesying would apply to any Bible-based teaching that a Christian minister does"

  So what about the times, like back when in the 1920's they said that the return of the Prophets etc, woul happen in 1925.

  Which they said was "definitely in the scriptures."
• 

  minimus

  That's called "false prophesying".
• 

  blondie

  Long ago, the WTS has defined "prophesying" as preaching:

  *** w51 5/1 pp. 264-265 par. 14 Divine Healing for Perfect Life ***Moreover, when Jehovah God foretold that he would pour out his spirit upon all kinds of flesh, he did not put the healing gift to the front as the proof of that spirit upon his people. He said: "I shall pour some of my spirit out upon every kind of flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy and your young men will see visions and your old men will dream dreams; and even upon my men slaves and upon my women slaves I will pour out some of my spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. . . . And then anyone that calls upon the name of Jehovah will be saved." (Acts 2:16-21, NW; Joel 2:28-32, AS) Prophesying, or the preaching of the Word of Jehovah’s prophecy!

  *** w61 10/1 p. 595 par. 15 Prophesying with the Loyal Organization ***That organization for which we must look is the one that gives the proof of having God’s spirit poured out upon it in these "last days" by doing the foretold prophesying, the ‘preaching of this good news of God’s kingdom in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations.’ As foretold, this preaching or prophesying is being done by everysortofflesh in the organization, by male and female, by sons and daughters, by old men and young men, by the menservants and the maidservants, by all those on whom the spirit has been poured out.
• 

  Homerovah the Almighty

  The TRUE definition of " Prophesying " involving the WTS. is bullshitting to increase literature sales.

  They were the headlining act that started the proliferation of religious literature circulation in the States.

  Others have followed suite and have done well for themselves as well.
• 

  civicsi00

  Is that even Biblical? That preaching = prophesying?

  I thought prophesying meant predicting the future?
• 

  blondie

  Biblical??????????hahahahahahahahahah

  Here's their attempt:

  *** it-2 p. 697 Prophet ***Pentecost, 33 C.E., saw the foretold outpouring of God’s spirit on the disciples at Jerusalem, causing them to ‘prophesy and see visions.’ They did this by declaring "the magnificent things of God," and by inspired revelation of knowledge about God’s Son and what this meant for their listeners. (Ac 2:11-40) Again it should be remembered that prophesying does not mean solely or necessarily predicting the future. The apostle Paul stated that "he that prophesies upbuilds and encourages and consoles men by his speech," and he held prophesying forth as a proper and particularly desirable goal for all Christians to strive after. Whereas speaking foreign tongues was a sign for unbelievers, prophesying was for believers. Yet even the unbeliever attending a Christian meeting would benefit by prophesying, being reproved and closely examined by it so that "the secrets of his heart become manifest." (1Co 14:1-6, 22-25) This, too, indicates that Christian prophesying did not consist mainly of prediction but instead often dealt with things relating to the present, though clearly proceeding from a source beyond the ordinary, being inspired by God. Paul counseled on the need for good order and self-control in congregational prophesying, so that all could learn and be encouraged.—1Co 14:29-33.
• 

  WTWizard

  A prophet is one that predicts the future in the name of God. This is whether God has directly inspired them to pass on specific information, or whether they are using the Bible and trying to figure out what is ahead for mankind from that. Almost always, when someone tries to give specific dates or events for the whole earth, they are going to be wrong.