By Andy Alexander
The warnings of Paul concerning false teachers have largely fallen on deaf cars. Most people for one reason or another tend, to think every religious group of people is going to be saved. Though this is contrary to the teaching of Christ and the Apostles, they still aimlessly wander along life’s pathway believing a lie (Matt. 7:21-23; Gal. 1:6-10; 2 Thess. 2:11-12). No better illustration could be given than the group who call themselves the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Their whole organization is based upon failed prophecies.
The prophecy that has caused the largest problem over their entire existence is that concerning the events they predicted would take place beginning in the year 1914. There is a way that we as humans can easily ascertain whether a man who calls himself a prophet is speaking from God or merely speaking as a man. In Deuteronomy 18:22 God instructs us,
When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.
With this in mind, consider what the Witnesses predicted would begin happening in the yea 1914:
1. Rule of imperfect men would cease.
2. Christ would then reign as earth’s new ruler.
3. Jerusalem not longer be trodden down by the Gentiles.
4. “New heaven and new earth” with peaceful blessings recognized by all humanity.
5. God’s kingdom, organized in power, would be in the earth.
Other things were prophesied for this date, but these are enough to prove to any honest inquiring soul that C.T. Russell was a false prophet and not to be feared by any who believe God’s word in Deuteronomy. These prophecies come from their own publication, The Time Is At Hand, published twenty-rive years prior to the year 1914.
Obviously, after making such grand errors they had to come up with an alternate plan. They did this by claiming that Christ did come and begin an invisible reign upon the earth. The magnificent events that were to take place before 1914 are now shifted to begin during the generation of people who were alive during 1914. This comes from their own publication, The Truth That Leads To Eternal Life, 1968. They are now in the process of working out new dates since that generation is just about all dead and their predictions have been proven utterly false. Why cannot men just believe the simple teaching of God in his word when he tells us concerning the second coming of Christ, “For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night” (1 Thess. 5:2)?
Pointing out these facts should help those in this religion to see the error of their own teaching. Many in the Witness Organization are blind to the facts surrounding the year 1914 and all the prophecies that have failed concerning that date.
Christ’s kingdom is in existence at this very time, but it did not begin in 1914. The New Testament plainly teaches that the kingdom is the church (Matt. 16:18-19). Those who are obedient to Christ are added to his church or kingdom (Acts 2:47). The Colossians were in the kingdom when Paul penned his letter to them (Col. 1:13). In Revelation 1:9, John informs us that he was in the kingdom at the time he was writing the last book of the Bible. Christ’s kingdom will last forever as he prophesied and those who believe in Christ, repent of their sins, confess Christ before men, and are baptized for the forgiveness of their past sins receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken (Mk. 16:16; Lk. 13:3; Matt. 10:32; Heb. 12:28). The reason this kingdom cannot be shaken is because it is a spiritual kingdom, not an earthly kingdom (Jn. 18:36; Rom. 14:17). Christ is at the right hand of God on his throne at this very moment and when he returns this earth will be completely destroyed and the Judgment will occur (Acts 2:32-36; 2 Pet. 3:10-12; Heb. 9:27). We need to follow the inspired instructions that Peter gave those early Christians, “Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by him in peace, spotless and blameless” (2 Pet. 3:14). This can only be done by obedience to the gospel of Christ (Heb. 5:9).
Guardian of Truth XXXIII: 7, p. 198
April 6, 1989