Please go to the following site and read the challenge before reading my own response.
http://www.jehovah.to/xlation/fp.html
The above site consists of apologia to Ex-JW's and refuting their criticism of the Watchtower and GB.
On the basis of the above, critics of Jehovah's Witnesses have some questions to answer :
(1) Do they think it is truthful and fair to focus on a minute selection of the Watch Tower’s published material - the most negative part - and ignore everything else?
If we are thirsty and somebody offers us a tall, clear glass filled with 99% pure water with only 1% rat feces, SHOULD WE DRINK IT and NOT COMPLAIN?
(2) Can they cite the Watch Tower publication where the Society claims to be an “inspired prophet” (their expression, not ours). On what do they base that conclusion, and how do they explain the dozens of quotations I have presented from the Society’s literature - from all periods of its history - where the Society denies that?
Let the Watchtower tell us:
"All True Christians ARE Prophets. The New American Bible correctly states: "Prophet means 'one who speaks for another,' especially for God. It does not necessarily mean that he predicts the future!" You will be interested to learn that God has on earth a people, all of whom are prophets, or witnesses for God. In fact, they are known throughout the world as Jehovah's Witnesses." Awake! 1986 Jun 8 p. 9
"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. Why? What was missing? Missing from such people were God's truths and the evidence that he was guiding and using them." Awake! 1968 Oct 8 p.23
"This was the test - the coming down of fire; and the fulfillment exactly on time has proved that Pastor Russell was one of God's great reformers and prophets." Watchtower 1919 Oct 1 p.297
IDENTIFYING THE "PROPHET"
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. Watchtower 1972 Apr 1 pp.197-199 'They Shall Know that a Prophet Was Among Them'
(3) Why do they present the Watchtower’s statements about future events as prophetic statements, rather than what they really were - interpretations?
What did J.F.Rutherford say in his book, Vindication about Russell's work compared to his own?
"... the faithful had waited, expecting the 1914 to mark the complete fulfilment of the prophecy. They had expected Armageddon to follow immediately after 1914 and the church to be glorified. Of course it was not due time until after 1918 to have a clearer vision of the prophecy. There were some curious speculations indulged in by them, which were mere guesses, of course, and therefore not true, because it was not God's time for them to understand. It was after 1914 that 'the vision spoke and did not lie', to wit, after the coming of the Lord to his temple in 1918" Vindication p.24
(4) Do they believe that others who have had mistaken expectations, including Martin Luther, John Wesley and Billy Graham, are false prophets, and if not, why not?
The Watchtower doesn't hesitate to point their finger at others!
"Some believed that the earth would end on October 21, 2011. It did not. Thus, the prophecy of U.S. radio broadcaster Harold Camping rang hollow. He predicted that Judgement Day would come on May 21, 2011 …" Watchtower 2012 Feb 1 p.25
Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe that they should be above honest criticism and have not hidden the fact that they have made errors in their interpretations. But honest criticism implies respect for truth - the whole truth, not just extracts taken out of context and twisted to give an impression that they were never intended to give.
I'd love to read an example of the Watchtower ever accepting "honest criticism" or bothering to define what critics they find acceptable.
Compare these statements for HONESTY:
"Jehovah's Witnesses, in their eagerness for Jesus' second coming, have suggested dates that turned out to be incorrect. Because of this, some have called them false prophets. Never in these instances, however, did they presume to originate predictions 'in the name of Jehovah.' Never did they say, 'These are the words of Jehovah.'" Awake! 1993 Mar 22 p.4
"commissioned to serve as the mouthpiece and active agent of Jehovah commission to speak as a prophet in the name of Jehovah" The Nations Shall Know that I am Jehovah" - How? pp.58,62
" commission to speak as a "prophet" in His name" Watchtower 1972 Mar 15 p.189
Beware of half truths. You might end up believing the wrong half!
Tell us which half you have presented, will you?