Is Deuteronomy 18:20 being overlooked re the JW org being a false prophet.

by Island Man 7 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

  • Island Man
    Island Man

    Note what Deuteronomy 18:20 says:

    “‘However, the prophet who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded him to speak . . . that prophet must die."

    Yes, the term false prophet is not limited to one who makes false predictions in God's name. A person can also be a false prophet if he presumptuously presents his own instructions or teachings as coming from God.

    How often has the JW organization in its literature, made statements to the effect that the instructions coming from the organization are coming from Jehovah? How often have you heard a speaker say of some new organizational directive: "Jehovah is telling us . . .", "this is Jehovah's direction" or similar words used to clothe the human-originated, organizational directive as coming from Jehovah himself? No doubt we have all seen statements in the literature about 'obeying Jehovah's direction given through his word and organization'. But there are even more damning examples in some of the older publications. Take this for example:

    "The Lord breaks down our organization instructions further and makes them more practicable by further instructing us through his `faithful and wise servant'. He says, `Let us assign the field, the world, to special pioneers, regular pioneers and companies of Jehovah's witnesses in an orderly way, sufficient for everyone to thoroughly witness therein, and let us place upon each one the responsibility of caring for the New World interests in these respective assignments.' He says the requirements for special pioneers shall be 175 hours and 50 back-calls per month, which should develop into a reasonable number of studies; and for regular pioneers 150 hours and as many back-calls and studies as can be properly developed during that time. And for company publishers he says, `Let us make a quota of 60 hours and 12 back-calls and at least one study a week for each publisher.' These directions come to us from the Lord through his established agency directing what is required of us; and, for those who really love the Lord and are guided by his counsel, that is a reasonable service requirement. This expression of the Lord's will should be the end of all controversy." ("Righteous Requirements," The Watchtower, July 1, 1943, pp.204-205, p.205).

    I don't think many JWs are cognizant of this kind of false prophetry. It might be good to point it out to them as (1) they may not have given it much thought and (2) it continues at present.

    https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20140423101822AAyX2Qh

  • Aroq
    Aroq

    Good point Island Man, it is NOT just predictions.

  • BU2B
    BU2B

    Great point! I always thought of it as just being prediction oriented, but its really saying that if you say ANYTHING God did not command you to speak, if you say it is from him but it really isnt, the prophet should die.. Boy dont I wish God was real and would carry out this Judgenment on the GB!

  • defender of truth
    defender of truth

    The term Prophet certainly isn't limited to making predictions, quite true. You might find this commentary on Deuteronomy 18 interesting..
    "Pulpit Commentary
    "A Prophet. The Hebrew word so rendered (נָבִיא) is a derivative from a verb (נָבָא), which signifies to tell, to announce; hence the primary concept of the word is that of announcer, or forth-speaker; and to this the word "prophet" (Greek προφήτης from πρόφημι, I speak before or in place of) closely corresponds; the prophet is one who speaks in the place of God, who conveys God's word to men, who is an interpreter of God to men. (As illustrative of the meaning of the word, cf. Exodus 7:1; Exodus 4:16.)
    Hence Abraham is called a prophet ( Genesis 20:7), and the term is applied to the patriarchs generally (Psalm105:15); God conveyed his mind to them, and they spoke it forth to others. "

    http://biblehub.com/commentaries/deuteronomy/18-15.htm

  • BluesBrother
    BluesBrother

    On that point the WTS agrees with us.

    Insight 2 p 694

    The Greek pro·phe′tes literally means “a speaker out [Gr., pro, “before” or “in front of,” and phe·mi′, “say”]” and thus describes a proclaimer, one who makes known messages attributed to a divine source. (Compare Tit 1:12.) Though this includes the thought of a predictor of the future, the fundamental meaning of the word is not that of prediction.

    Deaut. 18 .20 places a heavy responsibility upon those who dare to speak in God's name . That does not stop the WTS and it's reps using God's name liberally to support their viewpoints. This struck me when I read this post on J W Talk.

    I was at my circuit assembly this weekend. Several parts were on Dress, Grooming and Shoes . The brother (our last C.O. till September 2014) said the information is not from him but from the F&D S, they got it from Christ Jesus and he got it from Jehovah. The scripture he used was based on Zeph 1:8. So later after I got back, I researched that scripture. Here is what I found from the WT's and one awake. Also research on the web on the origin of these kinds of shoes , which a large majority wore at the circuit assembly.

    Shoes??? What else do they mean to control?

  • Aroq
    Aroq

    So, like it has been said before, the WT is a false prophet proven by both the Bible and by their own teachings.

  • AndDontCallMeShirley
    AndDontCallMeShirley

    "These directions come to us from the Lord through his established agency directing what is required of us"

    .

    So, if these "requirements" came from god as his explicit directives, why did:

    > "back calls" become "return visits"?

    > Pioneer hours go from 150/month to 70/month? (now less than half of what god said he required for those who "love the Lord")

    .

    "and let us place upon each one the responsibility of caring for the New World interests"

    .

    'Evidently' WT has taken god's 'instructions' and pared them down beyond recognition....maybe god isn't interested in "New World interests" anymore either...

  • AndDontCallMeShirley
    AndDontCallMeShirley

    The Watchtower, June 1, 1955 Issue, Page 333:

    "....today the power of appointment of all servants in congregations rightfully rests with the governing body of the "faithful and discreet slave" class, which is under the direct supervision of Christ Jesus at the temple."

    .

    So we can safely conclude Jesus directly supervises the appointment of pedophiles ???

Share this

Google+
Pinterest
Reddit