Expert: Brenton Hepburn - 11/6/2005

Question
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Followup To
Question -
Hello Brenton,

I am sending this same question to Andrew to see what you both say

Are Jehovah Witnesses (the organisation) prophets?


Gordon
Answer -
Hello Gordon,

First I must apologize for the delay.  Pressures of every day life sometimes mean that I can not answer as quickly as I should and would like to

You have asked a question that will give you different answers depending on who you ask.

Most anti JW people will say that JW's are false prophets because they have made predictions that have not come true and will proceed to partly quote a lot of Watchtower publications to prove their point.  When one reads these it will give the impression that they are indeed false prophets.  Whoever their view is based on the generally accepted definition for the word “prophet" in the English language.  Most people will understand the English word prophet to mean "a person who predicts future events". or as  "a religious teacher or leader regarded as, or claiming to be, divinely inspired"  (definitions taken from Webster's New World Dictionary and Thesaurus software).

The leaders of JW's claim none of the above. They have not predicted future events nor do they claim to be "divinely inspired"

Have you ever heard of Nostradarmus?.  He was a 16th century "prophet" that some people believe he foretold events in the  20 th. century and of recent events such as the death of J F Kennedy, The rise of Hitler even the destruction of the Twin Towers.  He is considered a prophet because he was the "originator" of ideas to do with future events.   Over the centuries many have tried to decipher his writings trying to work out what they mean.

Based on the modern understanding and usage of the word "prophet" would those that tried to understand his writings, and publish their findings be classed as "prophets"?  Well, no they would not. Nostradarmus was the prophet and those that have tried in interpret his works are just interested people wanting to know what he said.

However according to the Biblical usage and meanings  of the word "prophet" those that have tried to understand and then publish their findings for others to see could also be classed as "prophets"�.

So what are the Biblical meanings of the word "prophet"? I will use the definitions from Vines Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words.


"The second occurance of nabi (the English equivalent of the Hebrew word with out the accent marks) establishes it's meaning: "And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I will make thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet" (Exodus 7:1 [KJV]) The background of this statement is Exod. 4:10-16, where Moses argued his inability to speak clearly. Hence, he could not go before Pharaoh as God's spokesman. God promised to appoint Aaron (Moses' brother) to be the speaker: "And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God" (Exod. 4:16 [KJV]). Exod. &:1 expresses the same idea in different words. It is clear that the word "prophet" is equal to one who speaks for another, or his mouth."

GREEK WORD SECTION

"one who speaks forth or openly"  "a proclaimer of a divine message" "

Strongs Concordance Definitions. 5012  to prophesy, i.e. speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse):- prophesy (-ing) make self a prohet". 5030  from 5012; a prophet or (gen.) inspired man:- prophecy, that prophesy, prophet." [italics and brackets ( ) original].

Please note what Vines Composite Expository Dictionary says on page 190 under the Hebrew verb "To Prophesy".
"To prophesy is much more than the prediction of future events. Indeed, the first concern of the prophet is to speak God's word to the people of his own time, calling them to covenant faithfulness. The prophets message is conditional, dependant upon the response of the people. Thus by their response to this word, the people determine in a large part what the future holds"

Originally, the word that we now use to mean "one who foretells the future" meant "one who speaks for another.

Generally, the prophets of the Bible that issued "prophecies" for the future, spoke on behalf of the one that did the "prophecying". So the prophets of Jehovah were spokes persons for himself.

This is backed up by some of the other definitions as per Webster's New World Dictionary and Thesaurus software.  Please take notice of point 3

prophet
n.
5ME prophete < OFr < LL propheta, soothsayer, in LL(Ec), prophet < Gr prophctcs, interpreter of a god‘s will (in LXX, a Hebrew prophet; in N.T., an inspired preacher) < pro3, before + phanai, to speak: see BAN16
1 a person who speaks for God or a god, or as though under divine guidance

2 a religious teacher or leader regarded as, or claiming to be, divinely inspired

3 a spokesman for some cause, group, movement, etc.

4 a person who predicts future events in any way

The Watchtower society is acting like a "spokesman for some cause, group, movement", in this case it is the Bible and the warnings given therein.

The organization behind the JW's, do not in anyway claim to be inspired, nor do they claim to predict the future.  They would come close to the definition of being a spokesman (organisatiion) for Gods the word the Bible. They have endeavored to understand the prophecies already written down before by inspired Bible writers to see how the apply to our time. This is in line with the advise and council given by Jesus to stay awake (Luke 21:36 "But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man." [RSV]     compare with WEY version    "But beware of slumbering; and every moment pray that you may be fully strengthened to escape from all these coming evils, and to take your stand in the presence of the Son of Man.")

Both those renderings give us the idea that we as humans must be vigilant (staying awake, not slumbering in a spiritual sense) as to the times we live in Peter also emphasized this in his first letter chapter 4 and verse 7  "But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers."  (RSV)  Even back there the Christians were told that the end had drawn near.  Jesus also warned of this  

Matt 24:42 "Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming." (RSV)

Matt 25:13 "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour."  (RSV)

Mark 13 :32-37 ""But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33  Take heed, watch; for you do not know when the time will come. 34  It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. 35  Watch therefore for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morningâ€� 36  lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37  And what I say to you I say to all: Watch."  (RSV)

The explanations of prophecy are just that explanations designed to help us keep on the watch as to times and seasons and events so that we do not fall asleep spiritually and get caught up with the affairs of this world.

JWs are not prophets in the moderns sense of the word of but prophets in the sense of telling others what some one else has already prophecied about as recorded in the Bible


For a more in depth look at some of the so called prophecies and what JWs believe about them see my old web page
http://homepages.picknowl.com.au/hepburn/prophecy.htm

Please feel free to ask any more questions.


Said in peace

Brenton


I just wanted to ask you about some of the strange fonts that appeared on your reply.  What are they?  

Answer
Hello Gordon,

Sorry about those strange fonts showing up on the answer.  I prepare most of my answers in Word, then cut and past here.  In doing so certain characters used in Word such as '(eg God's) and  " " (as showing a quote) for some reason do not come through to this page and I have to go through the document and change them.  Unfortunately it appears as if i missed a few. The strange marks are are what this site puts there instead of the ' or " " as used in Word

brenton