Practice What You Preach

I was sorting through some files and noticed a paragraph in one of the documents. The document was entitled The Golden Age - Calendar Of Jehovah God. The paragraph in particular originally appeared in the May 1, 1935 Watchtower.

The Golden Age, 1935

The section that caught my eye reads: "Avoid wild speculation as to at what time and in what manner things future will come to pass." But the full paragraph reads:

"TO HAVE a correct system of reckoning time is desirable. It is well known that the calendars heretofore used have been incorrect and unsatisfactory. For this reason The Golden Age published facts concerning a system of reckoning time, obtaining the important data from the Scriptures, and some from astronomy. Seeing there is a danger of giving importance to this and to the exclusion of weightier matters, this note of warning is here sounded. God's people should keep in mind the "pyramid" delusion and the speculations that accompanied the study of chronology, and the pitfalls into which these things led many. Do not fall into a similar trap. It is of far more importance to understand our commission and to perform it than to understand at just what time Adam was created. Be reasonable and moderate. Avoid wild speculation as to at what time and in what manner things future will come to pass. Be sure that you always are guided by the counsel of the Lord's Word. The statements in The Golden Age are not dogmatic, but are worthy of due and careful consideration." (The Golden Age, 1935) (Originally - Watchtower May 1, 1935, page 142)

My first thought was that it was 'damage control' seems the 1874, 1878, 1914, and 1925 dates had all been and passed. A 100% failure rate on prophesying the end times.

I continued sorting through files but I couldn't get the "Avoid wild speculation as to at what time and in what manner things future will come to pass." section out of my head.

As I thought on it the realization dawned on me. It was pure hypocrisy. Here was a publication telling the Jehovah's Witnesses not to speculate about things in the future yet from the very beginning Presidents, and the Governing Body, had been filling publication after publication with all these prophecies of what was going to happen towards the end times. And each time a prophecy fails the reason for the prophecy changes. 1914 as an example was often prophesied as the end of the present system. When it came and went it was changed to 1914 Jesus silently returned.

I'll end with a prophecy of my own. When October 2014 comes and goes and we are all still here, the Jehovah's Witnesses will start 'hardcore' preaching that 2034 is the end. It is only a guess, but back in 2003 they already started laying the foundations in the Watchtower magazine:

"Noah received the warning of the upcoming catastrophe decades in advance, and he wisely used the time to prepare for survival. "After being given divine warning of things not yet beheld," says the apostle Paul, "[Noah] showed godly fear and constructed an ark for the saving of his household." (Hebrews 11:7) What about us? Some 90 years have passed since the last days of this system of things began in 1914. We are certainly in "the time of the end." (Daniel 12:4) How should we respond to warnings we have been given? "He that does the will of God remains forever," states the Bible. (1 John 2:17) Now is therefore the time to do Jehovah's will with a keen sense of urgency." (Watchtower Magazine, December 15, 2003)

"Jehovah has kept these warnings in front of his people by means of timely reminders through the spiritual food provided by "the faithful and discreet slave." (Matthew 24:45-47) Moreover, every nation, tribe, tongue, and people are called upon to "fear God and give him glory, because the hour of the judgment by him has arrived." (Revelation 14:6, 7) An integral part of the Kingdom message preached earth wide by Jehovah's Witnesses is the warning that God's Kingdom will soon remove human rulership. (Daniel 2:44) This warning is not to be taken lightly. Almighty God always keeps his word. (Isaiah 55:10, 11) He did in Noah's day, and he will in our day.—2 Peter 3:3-7." (Watchtower Magazine, December 15, 2003)