Does anyone know how many members left the Watchtower organization after the...

S

Seeker

Member
...failed prophecies of 1975? I've read about an "unprecedented decrease" in the proselytizing members of the JW religion after 1975 came and went without the end coming as the Watchtower had said it would, but I was wondering if anyone has the statistics or can point me in the general direction of the total number of members that left.

Also, I am wondering how many current, active members are aware of what happened in 1975. Doesn't this make the Watchtower a "false prophet" according to Deut. 18?

Duet. 18:21-22 "And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him."

Matt. 24:11 "many false prophets will rise up and deceive many."

I John 4:1 "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world."
Thanks for the links. David Reed is cool. I loved his book, Blood on the Altar. I loved how he came to the realization that he could read the Bible for himself instead of accepting only what the Watchtower told him it said.
 
T

Tag23

Member
The Watchtower Society has a long history of making prophecies and then changing them after they proved false. Dozens of references could be quoted and documented, but a few will suffice to prove the point. Finally gave up on predictions

http://www.cftf.com/booklets/jwslisten/prophecies.htm
 
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JeffM

Member
I don't , but what I've seen, it's more like a cult. Do have to give credit, they still get out and attempt to preach. The Mormon's have taken over, is partly an issue, as also the Muslims have grown, but the largest growth has been in the atheist camp. Gee, when ya can't tell the difference between the "church" and the rest of the "world", what do ya think is going to happen???? The problem isn't the world, it's the Christians- - living like the world, when the Word tells us NOT to. There is NO intolerance to evil. No "the fear of The Lord". (Proverb 8: 13;). Folks, read your Bible!!! For yourself!!!
 
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ChristopherB

Member
Note to cults: make you prophecies obscure and overly generalized, like they are in the bible, so you never actually have to prove their fruition....
 
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WhoIAm

New member
Check out the wikipedia page for Jehovah's Witness demographics: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Jehovah's_Witnesses

Everyone knows about what happened in 1975 and here is the official statement from the Watchtower:

"Have not Jehovah’s Witnesses made errors in their teachings?

Jehovah’s Witnesses do not claim to be inspired prophets. They have made mistakes. Like the apostles of Jesus Christ, they have at times had some wrong expectations.—Luke 19:11; Acts 1:6.
The Scriptures provide time elements related to Christ’s presence, and Jehovah’s Witnesses have studied these with keen interest. (Luke 21:24; Dan. 4:10-17) Jesus also described a many-featured sign that would tie in with the fulfillment of time prophecies to identify the generation that would live to see the end of Satan’s wicked system of things. (Luke 21:7-36) Jehovah’s Witnesses have pointed to evidence in fulfillment of this sign. It is true that the Witnesses have made mistakes in their understanding of what would occur at the end of certain time periods, but they have not made the mistake of losing faith or ceasing to be watchful as to fulfillment of Jehovah’s purposes. They have continued to keep to the fore in their thinking the counsel given by Jesus: “Keep on the watch, therefore, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.”—Matt. 24:42.

Matters on which corrections of viewpoint have been needed have been relatively minor when compared with the vital Bible truths that they have discerned and publicized. Among these are the following: Jehovah is the only true God. Jesus Christ is not part of a Trinitarian godhead but is the only-begotten Son of God. Redemption from sin is possible only through faith in Christ’s ransom sacrifice. The holy spirit is not a person but is Jehovah’s active force, and its fruitage must be evident in the lives of true worshipers. The human soul is not immortal, as the ancient pagans claimed; it dies, and the hope for future life is in the resurrection. God’s permission of wickedness has been because of the issue of universal sovereignty. God’s Kingdom is the only hope for mankind. Since 1914 we have been living in the last days of the global wicked system of things. Only 144,000 faithful Christians will be kings and priests with Christ in heaven, whereas the rest of obedient mankind will receive eternal life on a paradise earth.

Another factor to consider regarding the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses is this: Have these truly uplifted people morally? Are those who adhere to these teachings outstanding in their communities because of their honesty? Is their family life beneficially influenced by applying these teachings? Jesus said that his disciples would be readily identified because of having love among themselves. (John 13:35) Is this quality outstanding among Jehovah’s Witnesses? We let the facts speak for themselves."
 
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