{Mild-mannered brother, J.W. Elderatyourdoor} "With certain prophetic pronouncements we just have to wait and see how Jehovah will work it out."
{Sleepy-eyed householder, Reasoning Human} "So, since the Bible doesn't say it represents God's Kingdom, and since the Bible says it represents Babylon's Kingdom, it is the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society that is issuing the prophetic pronouncement."
{Mild-mannered brother, J.W. Elderatyourdoor} "Now, wait a minute! I didn't say that. We don't claim to be prophets."
{Sleepy-eyed householder, Reasoning Human} "But you interpret fulfilled prophecies as having a future fulfillment that the Bible does not state. Isn't that prophesying?"
{Mild-mannered brother, J.W. Elderatyourdoor} "Well, yes. But only in the sense of telling forth what has already been prophesied."
{Sleepy-eyed householder, Reasoning Human} "But, the Bible doesn't say it means what you say it means, so the Bible isn't prophesying it. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is."
{Mild-mannered brother, J.W. Elderatyourdoor} "No. They never claim to be prophets."
{Sleepy-eyed householder, Reasoning Human} "Oh. So you are free to disagree?"
{Mild-mannered brother, J.W. Elderatyourdoor} "Oh, no! No. I couldn't do that."
{Sleepy-eyed householder, Reasoning Human} "Well, why not? If they aren't prophets, why can't you disagree?"
{Mild-mannered brother, J.W. Elderatyourdoor} "They are spirit-directed."
{Sleepy-eyed householder, Reasoning Human} "But ... if they are directed by the spirit to make utterance about things that haven't happened ... then they are prophets."
{Mild-mannered brother, J.W. Elderatyourdoor} "No. They don't claim to be prophets."
{Sleepy-eyed householder, Reasoning Human} "If they claim spirit-direction and they talk in advance of things they say will come, they are claiming to be prophets whether they use the word prophet or not. Can't you see that?"
{Uncomfortable brother, J.W. Elderatyourdoor} "No. They specifically say they are not prophets."
{Sleepy-eyed householder, Reasoning Human} "If they say that and they say the other they are lying to you."
{Disconcerted brother, J.W. Elderatyourdoor} "They wouldn't lie to me. Besides, it is obvious from the way Jehovah blesses the preaching work that they are God's only organization on earth today."
{Smirking householder, Reasoning Human} "And what Scripture do you use to prove that statement?"
{Flustered brother, J.W. Elderatyourdoor} Thumbs through Bible for ten minutes. "That's a good question. I will need to do some research on that and get back with you. How is next week about this same time?"
{Smirking householder, Reasoning Human} "That'll be just fine." Knows he will never see J.W. Elderatyourdoor again.