Watchtower, Embarrassing Jesus
Norman Hovland
Jesus must indeed have been extremely embarrassed in 1995, when the Watchtower Society withdrew the "Creators promise" about the 1914 generation. In many decades the Watchtower stated time after time in a bold and confident manner that Jesus himself had promised that everything should be fulfilled before the 1914 generation was gone.
Investigating all bold statements made in the Watchtower literature, must and indeed should be a source of extreme embarrassment for the Watchtower Society. And since the Watchtower Society claim to be appointed by Jesus as his only representative on earth today, this must be equally embarrassing to him. Going through the Watchtower CD-ROM reveals more than 20 A4 pages with totally unfounded claims. Claims, which time alone, have made null and void. Claims that now are proved to be lies and fantasy. This is of course no surprise to those who have made even the shallowest investigation of the history of the Watchtower organization. Of course all the current claims that is made in the Watchtower are just as insane and nonsensical.
But let us look at some of the outrageous claims made on behalf of God, Jesus and the Bible. Look at these quotes. The Watchtower must indeed be on very intimate terms with Jesus because they repeatedly tell us what Jesus MEANT:
"What does all this mean? Jesus' words, at the conclusion of telling his disciples of all these things, give us the answer. He says: "Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur." (Matt. 24:34, NW) He meant what he said. The generation that began to see these things in 1914 will witness the final accumulated judgments of Jehovah God, though some individuals who are part of this generation may die before the end of this world's system of things takes place." (The Watchtower, 1953, p. 124)
"The separating of earth's inhabitants by the good news of the Kingdom has been in progress for many years, but it will not continue beyond the lifetime of those who were living when it began shortly after 1914. Jesus made that clear when he said. "Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur." (Matt. 24:34) He meant the generation living when the world events that he foretold as marking the last days would be taking place." (The Watchtower, 1959, p. 158)
"The Sacred Bible and Our Problem of Survival
31 The foretold events having begun A.D. 1914, the generation of mankind that is still alive from that year is the generation meant by Jesus Christ." (The Watchtower, April 15, 1961, p. 236)"To what generation was Jesus referring? Not to the one living in his day but, rather, to the one that would experience the things he foretold, which, we have seen, began in 1914. They will come to a climax, Jesus tells us, in the "great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world's beginning until now, no, nor will occur again." -- Matt. 24:21." (The Watchtower, 1966, p. 325)
"And Jesus has told us to rejoice at seeing the dark storm clouds of Armageddon gathering since that time. He has told us that the "generation" of 1914 -- the year that the sign began to be fulfilled -- "will by no means pass away until all these things occur." (Matthew 24:34) Some of that "generation" could survive until the end of the century. But there are many indications that "the end" is much closer than that!" (The Watchtower, March 1, 1984, p. 18)
"However, that distress would not last forever. Jesus showed, in fact, that it would last for only a short time. He foretold concerning those living in 1914 who would see the fulfillment of the 'sign of his presence': "Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur." (Matthew 24:34) Among the things due to occur in the lifetime of this generation is the fulfillment of a prophecy from an older part of the Bible." (The Watchtower, May 1, 1984, p. 6)
Again we see the claim that Jesus "said" that the 1914 generation would "see all things occur", and that the Jehovah's Witnesses should have joy because they "knew". Well they didn't know squat, still don't:
"So while this doomed world is in spasms of fear and perplexity, Jesus' true followers lift up their heads with joy, knowing that this generation that is still alive from A.D. 1914 is the generation Jesus said would see "all things occur," including this world's end. Deliverance for Jesus' true followers into God's new world is due within this generation". (The Watchtower, 1962, p. 132)
The outrageous claims grow bolder and bolder. Here the Watchtower actually state Jesus "true meaning" and "true interpretation", about the 1914 generation, which as usual failed miserably.
"Jesus provided the true meaning, the true interpretation, for the events of our generation since 1914. His interpretation is that he became present in his promised heavenly kingdom in 1914, the year when this worldly system of things entered into its time of the end." (The Watchtower, 1962, p. 621)
Here the Watchtower even claim that Jesus "assures us" that within the 1914 generation a "righteous rule" would be reality on earth:
"Fulfillment of Bible prophecy shows that God's kingdom has been ruling in the midst of its enemies since 1914. Shortly now, within this generation Jesus assures us, God's kingdom will make an end of all opposition, both invisible and visible, and establish a righteous rule upon earth. It is therefore extremely urgent that all men of good will toward God be informed about His perfect government so that they can become reconciled to it before it is too late, before that perfect government destroys all enemies of God at Armageddon." (The Watchtower, 1960, p. 158)
In this next quote the Watchtower says it was Jesus who said that the 1914 generation wouldn't "pass away". Perhaps the "mature" Watchtower apologist You Know, could show us from the Bible where Jesus said this?:
"This cannot be very far off, for Jesus said that the generation that saw 1914 "will by no means pass away until all these things occur." -- Matt. 24:34, NW." (The Watchtower, 1956, p. 616)
In this quote we are told that 'God's Word has foretold the 1914 generation'. Maybe You Know can show us where in the Bible this is to be found:
"It is on its deathbed and the prophecies of God's Word foretell its end within the generation of men that has been living since 1914. (Matt. 24:33, 34)" (The Watchtower, 1957, p. 568)
Feast your eyes on this quote from the end of the 50s. It talks about "evidence" and uses the expression "We Know" which is of course totally meaningless:
"25 During our watch we have seen all the evidences that Jesus foretold to mark the time of the end of this world since 1914. We know that ours is the generation that began to see many of these predicted things come to pass. Ours is therefore the generation that must see all of them take place in fulfillment of Jesus' word. Hence it is the generation that will see the end of this old world, just as it was the case in the days of Noah." (The Watchtower, 1958, p. 240)
But don't worry, it gets worse in this next quote. Here they actually call printing this incredible tripe and drivel, "enlightening people". So serving insane speculations, pretending to know what Jesus meant, and actually saying that "Jesus" talked about the 1914 generation, is called "enlightening". Well, this kind of "enlightening" is just about as needed as an extra hole in the head:
"Ever since 1914 these anointed footstep followers of Jesus, using the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society as their legal and publishing instrument, have continued to enlighten people to the meaning of the momentous happenings of this generation. They show how these events have fulfilled Bible prophecy and that, therefore, Jesus did begin ruling in the heavens in 1914, and soon, within this generation, he will resume the tribulation on Satan's organization, completely destroying it in the war of Armageddon. -- Rev. 16:14-16." (The Watchtower, 1961, p. 631)
To those of you faithful Brooklyn apologists who now no doubt will try the old song and dance about us horrible apostates scorning Jesus and Jehovah, try for once to THINK a little and ask yourself these simple questions.
- Do you really believe that Jesus or Jehovah was behind all the above quoted claims?
- If you do, who is responsible for the scorn?
Well, I know this was probably too complicated for you, but at least we can have some laughs.
