Jehovah’s Witnesses Failed Prophecies

Jehovah’s Witnesses have made numerous failed predictions regarding the end of the world, the resurrection of patriarchs and Christ’s return. Major unfulfilled expectations, often cited as renewed understanding rather than failures by the organisation, occurred in 1874, 1878, 1914, 1918, 1925, and 1975.  They were often followed by adjustments cited as “invisible” fulfilments or re-calculations. 

Key failed prophecies from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society:

1874 / 1878: Charles Taze Russell originally predicted/taught that Christ’s invisible presence began in 1874 and that the resurrection of saints, “the end of the harvest”, occurred in 1878.

1914: Long predicted as the end of “Gentile Times” and the dates for total destruction of worldly governments and the full establishment of God’s Kingdom and the foundation of the Jehovah’s Witness religion.   This was later adjusted to say that Christ was enthroned as King in heaven invisibly and Satan was hurled down to earth from heaven. Christ’s “invisible” reign began in October 1914 and this enthronement marked the beginning of what the Bible terms ‘the last days’. It was also the year that marked the start of the generation that would supposedly not pass away before the end came. The whole JW religion collapses without this theology.

1915: When the claimed destruction of 1914 did not come to pass, Russell stated that it would happen in 1915. Of course it didn’t.

1918: Predicted to the time (the new terminus) when God would destroy churches and church members by the millions. Of course, again, it didn’t.

1919: The year that Christ identified Jehovah’s Witnesses as his chosen people -‘the faithful and discreet slave’.

1925: Watchtower predicted that the faithful patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) would be resurrected to life on earth, leading to the building of the “Beth Sarim” mansion in San Diego for them, and the start of the Millenium.

1941: The Watchtower magazine suggested only “months” remained before Armageddon.

1975: Heavily implied by the organisation that 6,000 years of human history ended in 1975, setting the stage for the Millennium, causing many to expect that Armageddon would arrive by that year.  Members were encouraged to live simply and focus on preaching rather than study, careers, pensions or property.

1984/20^th Century:  Expectations were often reiterated that Armageddon would arrive before the end of the 20^th Century.

1994: Some expectations were built around this date being 80 years after 1914.

These predictions, often documented in early Watchtower publications, caused significant disappointment and confusion, financial hardship, abandoned careers and other acute factors resulting from these, particularly in 1917, 1918, and 1925. The organisation later argued that many of these events took place “invisibly” or were misunderstandings of the timing.

Further response to Failed Predictions:

The Watchtower has generally characterised these as “unrealised expectations” or “wrong premises”.

They often describe these periods as a “sifting” process for followers and assert that their understanding of bible prophecy continues to improve, or that the light is “getting brighter”.

Many followers of course saw the failings of the organisation in respect of the failed prophecies, particularly after 1925 and 1975 and rightly left.

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What is a false prophet or Teacher according to scripture?

The primary Watchtower premise is that mainstream Christianity has been formed through false prophets and teachers going out from amongst it thereby distorting the truth of God’s word. This is the very premise that the Watchtower uses to set itself up as Jehovah’s true Christian faith.

The Watchtower states that mainstream Christians are reading a text of the Bible that has been created as distorted and untrue. The Watchtower claim that this was the reason for devising their own (mis)translation. Mainstream Christianity’s version of scripture has supposedly been rewritten to be in line with its preconceived heretical theological beliefs, such as the Trinity. -This is of course is classic projection/the pot calling the kettle black.

Jehovah’s Witnesses would agree on scriptural passages which show us that when someone says something is going to happen in the name of the Lord and it doesn’t happen, that is a false prophecy.

Deuteronomy 18:18 – 22 provides us with a test of what a false prophet is and what is a true prophet.

Deuteronomy 18:18 - 22 
18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. 19 I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name. 20 But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.”

21 You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?” 22 If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed.

The Bible consistently warns believers about false prophets and teachers who disguise themselves as righteous but twist the truth for selfish gain. It urges Christians to be on high alert, to test teachings against the scriptures, and guard their faith against those who prioritise flattery and worldly desires.

Key Warnings and Descriptions

• Matthew 7:15-20: Jesus warns that false prophets come in “sheep’s clothing” but are inwardly “ferocious wolves”. He advises that they can be recognized by their “fruit”—meaning their genuine character and the true, lasting outcomes of their lives.
• 2 Peter 2:1-3: The Apostle Peter warns that false teachers will secretly introduce “destructive heresies”. Driven by greed, they exploit believers with fabricated stories, but their ultimate destruction is assured.
• 2 Timothy 4:3-4: Paul warns of a time when people will not endure sound doctrine. Instead, they will gather teachers who tell them exactly what they want to hear to satisfy their own desires.
• Romans 16:17-18: Paul advises the church to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to sound teaching. He notes that they are driven by their own appetites and use smooth, flattering speech to deceive the naive.

True Prophecy

In scripture we clearly see that when God says something’s going to happen, it IS going to happen. Without God’s word and direction, men speak in error or deception and their prophecies are not going to happen. (at least, it is certainly unlikely that it is, or coincidence or the enemy’s deception at best if it does).

So when someone says that God is going to do something and He doesn’t do it, that means God is not using that person as a mouthpiece/as a vessel through which he’s going to make Himself known. That person is therefore clearly a false prophet.

Where the Watchtower’s false prophecies and teaching started

Charles Taze Russell, the Watchtower’s founder stated that he was God’s mouthpiece and agreed when his followers called him Bible’s ‘faithful and wise servant’. Quoting Russell: -“No, the truths I present, as God’s mouthpiece, were not revealed in visions or dreams, nor by God’s audible voice, nor all at once, but gradually, especially since 1870, and particularly since 1880.” Zion’s Watch Tower 1906 Jul 15 pp.230, 234

The Watchtower today essentially says Russell’s claims and claims of others, such as Russell’s successor George Rutherford, were not correct, it is actually the current governing body that is the faithful and discreet/wise slave. -God’s mouthpiece/the sole earthly channel of God’s communication.

Since 2012 (July 2013) the Governing Body has formally identified themselves as the “faithful and discreet slave” mentioned in the Bible (Matthew 24:45). They teach that Jesus appointed them to dispense “spiritual food” and direct the global congregation.

The Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses does not explicitly use the term “God’s mouthpiece,” they instead use a different term, they claim to be ‘Christ’s sole earthly channel of communication’. Furthermore, strict obedience to their teachings is required as the way to gain God’s approval.

They present their collective leadership as being spirit-guided. Witnesses are taught that they must follow the organisation’s interpretations of Scripture, and that independent thinking or questioning the leadership’s teachings is viewed as questioning God’s arrangements.

Interestingly, the Governing Body is also quick to clarify that they are neither inspired by God directly, nor infallible. Primarily because they are wriggling and altering elements of their belief and practices as time progresses. They say that their understanding of the Bible can change and that “adjustments” to their doctrines are simply God clarifying matters over time. Also that Witnesses should obey them even if what they say makes no sense/doesn’t stand up to critical thinking/examination.

It all begs some questioning:- Russell stated that he did not receive any dreams and visions or audible voice from God telling him that he was His mouthpiece. The Governing Body, although supposedly spirit led, currently claim to be God’s earthly channel only on the basis of their understanding of the Bible, no dreams, visions or audible messaging either. So why are they correct about this? They state that they can make mistakes. Of course one thing the can’t admit is that they might have made a mistake about being God’s earthly channel as well. The multiple failed prophecies surely prove that severe doubt can be cast on their authority.

Or is the Governing Body formation on the 1st of October 1971 nothing other than a reset, and perhaps another reset in 2012, that in essence a new religion (although using the name of the Watchtower and some of the precepts that they wanted to keep) was formed as they agree that many of the organisation’s previous claims were false? It surely isn’t honest or wise to build on something that is obviously built on falsehood in any arena? The issue is that this has very serious life or death consequences for Jehovah’s Witnesses. Thousands have died because of the organisation’s blood policies, shunning, abuse etc.

How does the Watchtower explain away changes to their prophetic claims doctrines?

To try and paste over failed prophetic claims, spiritual beliefs and lifestyle/behaviour doctrines of the organisation, the Watchtower Governing Body continually wriggles and conjures up obscure explanations for their changes: -Failed mathematical timelines on reaching the numerical Biblical 144,000 (the supposed literal number of faithful Christians who would go to heaven) led to a fabricated ‘overlapping generation’ and two classes of JW’s (one elect group that would go to heaven, and one that is not even seen as born again and is to remain on earth).

Early in the Watchtower’s formation, failed prophetic timelines for Jesus’ return led to them fabricating the ‘Jesus returned invisibly’ claim. The list of such prophetic and teaching claims goes on but we won’t detail them all here right now.

Global legal challenges have been directly affecting the Watchtower’s doctrines and have caused the organisation to change them

It is quite easy to see the Watchtower’s responses to legal challenges and dwindling congregations. Some of the Watchtower’s various rules have had to be relaxed to get them out of legal and financial difficulty and congregation loss. The Watchtower simply cities the changes as ‘New Light’ having arisen through their studies. The means of announcement of these changes is a notably blase, bare faced cheek/patronising, arrogant, no humility and defiant, non compassionate line taken (although it is all presented very nicely -[remniscent of Jesus’ warning of ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’]) that the Governing Body are not infallible.

There is no apology or consideration for lives destroyed or lost through the previous extreme Watchtower rules once a rule relaxation or abandonment is announced. There does appear to be no genuine love or compassion at play, even though they couch quite severe doctrines etc. in a pretext of love. Clearly they are wilfully never going to admit that they got everything wrong, or deliberately deceived Witnesses and step aside!