The Anointed's Inescapable False Prophecy

James Stewart

The following is a summary of the article.  There is only one organization claiming to fill the righteous requirements of Jehovah. That organization which is represented by the Watchtower, Bible, and Tract Society is the Anointed.  Jesus the King commissions the Anointed as his faithful and wise servant who, “...brings forth “meat in due season...” Then it further states that if you love the Lord, you will answer the call of the Anointed.  This call is the organizational instructions.  It goes on to give the chain of authority as Jehovah speaking to us through his son, and the Anointed is the visible mouthpiece of the son.  Now, the mouthpiece gives the instructions:

“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...” Then there are details given on hours and back-calls for pioneers per month.  The mouthpiece continues, “These directions come to us from the Lord through his established agency directing what is required of us...This expression of the Lord’s will should be the end of all controversy...These directions from the Lord...” Now, more details are given for individuals and companies dealing with territories.  The Anointed then say, “...there is absolutely no excuse for anyone, man or woman, to claim to be unable to accept an individual territory assignment and assume full responsibility for it.  Those who really love the Lord and are fighters for the New World will not try to excuse themselves on that or any other ground, but will hear the Word of the Lord when he says, Let us do thus and so...The Lord through his “faithful and wise servant” now states to us, “Let us cover our territory four times in six months.”  That becomes our organization instructions and has the same binding force on us that his statement to the Logos had when he said, Let us make man in our image.”  It is our duty to accept this additional instruction and obey it”

Notice the Anointed quoting God.  This is a ‘thus says the Lord.’  The question is, did the Lord say this?  You will look in vain in the Old and New Testaments to find these organizational instructions.  So this is a new word of the Lord from the Anointed.  Here is an important scripture to keep in mind while reading this Watchtower article:

"Therefore," declares the LORD, "I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me.  31 Yes," declares the LORD, "I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, `The LORD declares.'  32 Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams," declares the LORD. "They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least," declares the LORD.  33  "When these people, or a prophet or a priest, ask you, `What is the oracle of the LORD?' say to them, `What oracle? I will forsake you, declares the LORD.'  34  If a prophet or a priest or anyone else claims, `This is the oracle of the LORD,' I will punish that man and his household.  35  This is what each of you keeps on saying to his friend or relative: `What is the LORD's answer?' or `What has the LORD spoken?'  36  But you must not mention `the oracle of the LORD' again, because every man's own word becomes his oracle and so you distort the words of the living God, the LORD Almighty, our God.  37  This is what you keep saying to a prophet: `What is the LORD's answer to you?' or `What has the LORD spoken?'  38  Although you claim, `This is the oracle of the LORD,' this is what the LORD says: You used the words, `This is the oracle of the LORD,' even though I told you that you must not claim, `This is the oracle of the LORD.'  39  Therefore, I will surely forget you and cast you out of my presence along with the city I gave to you and your fathers.  40  I will bring upon you everlasting disgrace--everlasting shame that will not be forgotten." (Jeremiah 23: 30)

Here is a list of questions regarding this article:

1. Are the Anointed really appointed by the Christ that returned in 1914 and entered into his temple in 1918?
2. Are the Anointed really God’s mouthpiece on Earth today and how can this be proven?
3. Did the Lord really say, “Let us...?”  If he did, then Jehovah inspires these commandments.
4. Are the requirements today for a special pioneer 175 hours and 50 back-calls per month?  What about the requirements for just a regular pioneer today?  Did Jehovah change his mind?
5. Is the “Let us” for the publisher’s quota of 60 hours changed?  Remember, these are the directions that come to us from the Lord and should be the end of all controversy!  How about the integrity of the individual Jehovah’s Witness out there, are they going to follow what the Lord said here in this Watchtower article?  If it is not true, will they renounce it as false prophecy?
6. Once again, do these directions come from the Lord that came back in 1914?
7. When the Watchtower receives these messages from the Lord who entered his secret temple in 1918, do they, ‘do thus and so?”
8. “The Lord through his ‘faithful and wise servant’ now state to us, “Let us cover our territory four times in six months.”  If this last statement is not from the Lord that entered his temple in 1918, who gave this message and the others in this article?  Here are four possibilities: a. It is Yahweh through Jesus Christ through the mouthpiece (the Anointed); b. The Anointed lied and cannot be trusted; c. The Anointed gave a false prophecy and cannot be trusted; d. The Anointed receive messages from fallen angels and cannot be trusted.
9. Is this commandment, “Let us cover our territory four time is six months” really as binding as when Jehovah said to the Logos in Gen.1:26  “Let us make man in our image?”  I see an equivalency here between the Word of God and the word of the Anointed!  How much stronger can they say it?   Think about this statement for a moment.  Heaven and Earth will pass away, but God’s word will never pass away.  It is timeless. 
10. “It is our duty to accept this additional instruction and obey it.”  Since the hours for special pioneers, regular pioneers, and publishers are not the same today, can they show any inspired revelations from the Lord of this secret temple that relieve them from the additional instruction that they are to obey in this prophecy?
11. Why weren’t these organizational requirements added to the NWT canon?

Is this article by the Anointed an aberration, or is it consistent with what the Anointed has taught through the years?  I will show through statements by the Anointed through the years that this article is consistent.

1. Watchtower, 1910-9-15, page 4685, “Furthermore, not only do we find that people cannot see the divine plan in studying the Bible by itself, but we see, also, that if anyone lays the Scripture Studies aside, even after he has used them, after he has become familiar with them, after he has read them for ten years--if he then lays them aside and ignores them and goes to the Bible alone, though he has under-stood his Bible for ten years, our experience shows that within two years he goes into darkness. On the other hand, if he had merely read the Scripture Studies with their references, and had not read a page of the Bible, as such, he would be in the light at the end of the two years, because he would have the light of the Scriptures.” 
2.  Watchtower, 1919-4-1, page 6414, “Is not the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society the one and only channel which the Lord has used in dispensing his truth continually since the beginning of the harvest period?”
3. Preparation, 1933, pages 36-37, “Certain duties and kingdom interests have been committed by the Lord to his angels, which include the transmission of information to God’s anointed people on the earth for their aid and comfort.  Even though we cannot understand how the angels transmit this information, we know that they do it;”
4. Watchtower, 1931-11-1, page 327, “The Watchtower is not the instrument of any man or set of men, nor is it published according to the whims of men.  No man’s opinion is expressed in the Watchtower.”
5. 1936 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses, page 63, “No human creature is entitled to any credit for what appears in the Watchtower.  All honor and credit is due to the Lord.  Jehovah God and Christ Jesus are our teachers, and every one who read the Watchtower rejoices in the fact that the Lord is pleased to use that magazine to aid his people in understanding the Truth.”
6. Watchtower, 1938-2-1, page 35, “As far back as 1880, the Watchtower pointed to A.D. 1914 as the date marking the end of the world, ...all this information came not from or by man, but by the Lord God, being given to his people gathered under Christ at the temple, and these things learned by them in the secret place or temple the Lord commanded should be told by them from the housetops, that is to say, publicly.”
7. 1941 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Sept. 19, “The Watchtower Society is acting orderly under the direction of the Lord Jesus Christ and s....visible part of God’s organization.  The command orders to that organization come from the Lord and not from any man, although men are used to have part in transmitting these to others of the organization.  The Lord directs the minutest details, even selection of the year text as used by his people.”
8. Watchtower, 1957, page 274, “If we are to walk in the light of truth, we must recognize not only Jehovah God as our Father, but his organization as our mother.”
9. Watchtower, 1965-6-1, page 352, “Jehovah’s organization must henceforth be guided and directed by Jehovah’s spirit through the visible governing body made up of those servants whom Jehovah himself would appoint...but it is all a part of the advancement of Jehovah’s theocratically controlled organization under the immediate direction of Jehovah God himself.”
10. Qualified to be Ministers, 1967, page 156, “...as the Bible says, “believe all things,” all the things that the Watchtower brings out,...”
11. 795, Fred W. Franz-For Defts-Direct, Line 2384, “Q: Who became the editor when this was discontinued?  A: Jehovah God.”
12. Watchtower, 1972, pages 198-199, “Thus this group of anointed followers of Jesus Christ, doing a work in Christendom paralleling Ezekiel’s work among the Jews, were manifestly the modern-day Ezekiel, the ‘prophet’ commissioned by Jehovah to declare the good news of God’s Messianic kingdom and to give warning to Christendom.”
13. Watchtower, 1981-12-1, page 27, “Unless we are in touch with this channel of communication that God is using, we will not progress along the road to life, no matter how much Bible reading we do.”

What attitude does the Anointed expect from the great crowd?

A.     Watchtower, 1952-2-1, page 80, “We should meekly go along with the Lord’s theocratic organization and wait for further clarification, rather than balk at the first mention of a thought unpalatable to us and proceed to quibble and mouth our criticisms and opinions as though they were worth more than the slave’s provision of spiritual food.  Theocratic ones will appreciate the Lord’s visible organization and not be so foolish as to pit against Jehovah’s channel their own human reasoning and sentiment and personal feelings.”

B.     Watchtower, 1957-6-15, page 370, “Let us now unmistakably identify Jehovah’s channel of communication for our day, that we may continue in his favor...It is vital that we appreciate this fact and respond to the directions of the “slave” as we would  to the voice of God, because it is his provision.”

C.     Watchtower, 1983-1-15, page 22, 27, “Avoid Independent Thinking...Satan called into question God’s way of doing things.  He promoted independent thinking...How is such independent thinking manifested?  A common way is by questioning the counsel that is provided by God’s visible organization...Yet there are some who point out that the organization has had to make adjustments before, and so they argue: “this shows that we have to make up our own mind on what to believe.”  This is independent thinking.  Why is it so dangerous?  Such thinking is an evidence of pride.  And the Bible says: “Pride is before a crash, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.”  If we get to thinking that we know better than the organization, we should ask ourselves: “Where did we learn Bible truth in the first place?  Would we know the way of the truth if it had not been for the guidance from the organization?”  Really, can we get along without the direction of God’s organization?”  No, we cannot!”

D.     Watchtower, 1979-11-15, page 27, “To keep in relationship with “our Savior, God,” the “great crowd” needs t remain united with the remnant of spiritual Israelites.”

E.      Watchtower, 1981-8-1, page 26, “Your attitude toward the wheat like anointed “brother” of Christ and the treatment you accord them will be the determining factor as to whether you go into “everlasting cutting off” or receive “everlasting life.”  Prove yourself to be a loyal companion of the anointed “wheat” class, the “faithful and discreet slave, “ whom Christ has appointed to provide spiritual “food at the proper time.”

F.      Watchtower, 1992-11-15, page 21, “...a long time Witness of Jehovah said, “If one thing has been most important to me, it has been the matter of keeping close to Jehovah’s visible organization.  My early experience taught me how unsound it is to rely on human reasoning.  Once my mind had been resolved on that point, I determined to stay by the faithful organization.  How else can one get Jehovah’s favor and blessing?”  There is nowhere else to go for divine favor and life eternal.”

G.     Watchtower, 2001-8-1, page 14, “A mature Christian must be in unity and full harmony with fellow believers as far as faith and knowledge are concerned.  He does not advocate or insist on personal opinions or harbor private ideas when it comes to Bible understanding.  Rather, he has complete confidence in the truth as it is revealed by Jehovah God through his Son, Jesus Christ, and ‘the faithful and discreet slave.”

The next issue is, how are we to handle the Bible according to the Anointed?

1. I want to direct your attention to a. and m. above.
2. Watchtower, 1951-6-15, page 375,  “But if each of us were left to himself just because he has a copy of the Bible and were to direct his movements independently as he thought he understood that Word, what? It is likely, or possible, that there would be a great deal of confusion or working in competition among us.  Hence, besides individually possessing God’s Word, we need a theocratic organization. Yes, besides having God’s spirit of illumination, a Christian needs Jehovah’s theocratic organization in order to understand the Bible. He needs to attend the meetings arranged for by that organization and to study with fellow Christians. He needs the organization, too, in order to work in harmony with God’s purposes and to be directed aright in his movements. The reason is that Jehovah God is dealing with his organization, and does not deal with individuals who are outside of his organization or who defiantly try to act independently of it.”
3.  Watchtower, 1957-5-1, page 274, “The world is full of Bibles, which Book contains the commandments of God. Why, then, do the people not know which way to go? Because they do not also have the teaching or law of the mother, which is light. Jehovah God has provided his holy written Word for all mankind and it contains all the information that is needed for men in taking a course leading to life. But God has not arranged for that Word to speak independently or to shine forth life-giving truths by itself. His Word says: “Light is sown for the righteous.” (Ps. 97:11) It is through his organization that God provides this light that the proverb says is the teaching or law of the mother. If we are to walk in the light of truth we must recognize not only Jehovah God as our Father but his organization as our mother.”
4. Watchtower, 1967-10-1, page 587, “Thus the Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization, not to individuals, regardless of how sincerely they may believe that they can interpret the Bible.  For this reason the Bible cannot be properly understood without Jehovah’s visible organization in mind.”
5. Watchtower, 1973-7-1, page 402, “Only this organization functions for Jehovah’s purpose and to his praise.  To it alone God’s Sacred Word, the Bible, is not a sealed book.”
6. Watchtower, 1990-12-1, page 19, “We have the opportunity to show love for our brother who take the lead in the congregation or in connection with Jehovah’s visible organization worldwide.  This includes being loyal to “the faithful and discreet slave.” (Matthew 24:45-47) Let us face the fact that no matter how much Bible reading we have done, we would never have learned the truth on our own.”

As can be seen from the preceding quotes, the teaching of the Anointed has been consistent through the years.  They are the prophet of God, mediator of salvation, and interpreter of the scripture.  What are some of the arguments Jehovah’s Witnesses have used in order to rid themselves of these dilemmas? 

One: These are just mistakes.  If you accuse us, you have to accuse the Apostles also.  

In Luke 24:19-24, John 21:20-23, and Acts 1:6-7, the Apostles had mistaken prophetic beliefs.  There is no comparison between Luke 24:19-24, John 21:20-23, and Acts 1:6-7and statements made by the Anointed.  Misunderstanding prophecy does not make one a false prophet.  When the Anointed class claims that they are Jesus’ mouthpiece and the message they received is as binding as Gen. 1:26, this makes them a false prophet.  They said ‘Thus says the Lord,’ but the Lord did not say!  If the Anointed claims that by association with them and the way you treat them will be the determining factor of whether you will receive eternal life or not, they must be inspired.  The disciples and other followers of Jesus had wrong expectations but they were not making prophetic statements.  When they were being prophetic, they were inerrant.  Where in the above passages did the apostles say anything like Jehovah is their editor or no man’s opinion is expressed in what they said?  Acts 1:6-7 is a question and not a statement.  Jesus did not address their understanding.  He addressed their desire to know something that was not for them to know (the time and season).  In Luke 24, the disciples were not teaching anything.  They were having a discussion with Jesus.  In John 21, there was no teaching or prophecy being done.  It states in the text that a rumor was going around (verse 23).  Compare these verses to what was stated in the Watchtower, 1931-11-1, page 327, “The Watchtower is not the instrument of any man or set of men, nor is it published according to the whims of men.  No man’s opinion is expressed in the Watchtower.”  

Two: Some people within historic Christianity have given false prophecy.

This is true, and they are just as much a false prophet as the anointed if they say ‘thus says the Lord” but the Lord did not say.

Three: This article in the 1943 Watchtower is just an interpretation of the scriptures.  

I would then ask the rhetorical question, ‘where would you interpret in the Bible to get ‘175 hours and 50 back-calls per month,’ ‘publisher’s quota of 60 hours,’ or ‘Let us cover out territory four time in six months?’

Four: Greg Stafford (The author of Jehovah’s Witnesses Defended) in his book Three Dissertations on the Teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the chapter on the First Dissertation tries to remove himself from the dilemma.  In a private e-mail to me, he told me that he was a Jehovah’s Witness because the Anointed think like him, not because he thinks like the Anointed.  

Mr. Stafford makes an assertion of independent thinking.  And as can be read above, the Anointed take a very dim view of such thinking.  I find it incredible for Mr. Stafford to have written this book.  Even though he says he is not questioning the Anointed, he is.  What he has done is to take away the authority of the Anointed.  They are just a religious group of men giving their opinions of what they think the Bible teaches.  Mr. Stafford believes he has the right to reprove the Anointed just like Paul reproved Peter, or to call them on the carpet in light of Gal. 1:8.  Of course, he has to water down the meaning of Gal. 1:8: But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! (NIV)  This verse is teaching more that just going beyond what the scriptures proclaim.  It is referring to teaching a false Gospel.  And, he can’t do that because he came from them.  On page 13 of his book, he quotes from a 1952 Watchtower that states that the ‘other sheep’ have the holy spirit also and can understand the Bible.  It is my opinion based on the above statements of the Anointed through the early 1900s till now, that question and answer is an anomaly. If fact, that question and answer is in conflict from the above statements of the Anointed.  Who does Mr. Stafford think he is?  It is the Anointed that give out meat in due season, not him.  The Anointed already put out the Awake and Watchtower that come out twice a month.  They also publish books every now and then.  What need is there for Mr. Stafford and his fellow mavericks?  Does he think he knows better than the Anointed?  Does Jesus from the secret chamber put his words in Mr. Stafford’s mouth instead of the Anointed?  From the above statements by the Anointed, it sounds like change is suppose to come from the top down, not from the bottom up.  I think that what Mr. Stafford is noticing is his writings are ten times better than what the Anointed are writing and, he is not one of the Anointed.  So what does Mr. Stafford do when he runs across this 1943 Watchtower article?  He can’t admit to the Anointed being a false prophet, for they are his people (religious community).  He could never admit to being a part of a pseudo-Christian group.  That would call into question most of his beliefs.  Basically he has to (and does) water down the powerful statements that the Anointed claim in the 1943 article by calling them “extremely inappropriate” (page 43) and “as a form of manipulation.” (Page 43)  In other words, he cannot deal with this article.  He cannot get out of the dilemma of false prophecy in this article.

Five: This is old light.  

The article does not give this as an option.  Remember, the Anointed said this requirement is as binding as Gen. 1:26.