Q: I came in the truth hearing that ‘millions now living will never die’. I went through the 1975 thing. Now, I’m continually told that the 1914 generation has not passed away. ???  I’m wondering, are you aware of any prophecies made by the WTS that have come true?
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A: We should not be perturbed, or even surprised, by the fact that the various prophecies of the Watch Tower Society failed to come true in the way that they had at one time preached, at great disappointment to themselves and most of us. The record does not inspire confidence! And there is no need to relate here all of their failed expectations! Of course, not all of their predictions will fail to come true. God's prophecies, such as the coming judgment of his house, the destruction of Babylon the Great, and the approaching great tribulation with a great crowd surviving it, will still come true for these are Jehovah’s promises.

We must keep in mind that the failed fulfillment of the WTS predictions is part of God’s revealing of the man of lawlessness, for if they had come true then would that not have indicated that Jehovah was with them and they had his holy spirit?! Instead, Jehovah has shown them to be the “stupid prophets” in the “intimate group of my people” who “have visioned what is untrue,” and “they have waited to have a word come true.” (Ezek. 13:3, 6-10) The fact that their words did not come true is compelling evidence that they were not sent by Jehovah, in the same way that had their predictions come true it would have proven them to be from God. (Deut. 18:21,22; Jer. 28:9) Yet, instead of being humbled, they still insist that we must put our faith in them and follow them as our Leaders. (Jer. 6:14,15) They don’t hesitate to disfellowship anyone who may now question their leadership. They have lost sight of the fact that the sheep belong to Jehovah. (Rom. 14:8) This reveals them to be wicked, and Jehovah expects all of us to have the insight to understand that. None of this should stumble us! Rather we should be encouraged by the present revealing for it was prophesied regarding the wicked and evil slave, the “son of destruction” who is set in opposition to true worship. (Luke 12:45,46; 2 Thess. 2:3-12; 2 Cor. 11:13-15) Seeing its fulfillment is a sure indication of how close we are to Christ's return; his settling accounts with his slaves; and the judgment upon his house. (Matt. 24:32,33; 25:13-30; 2 Thess. 2:8; 1 Peter 4:17,18) This will quickly be followed by the destruction of Babylon the Great; and following that the destruction of an ungodly world at Jehovah's great day at Armageddon. (Zeph. 1:14-18; Rev. 16:14, 16; 17:15-17; 19:19-21)

The issue that all of Jehovah’s people face at the present time is this: Do we continue to obey and worship Jehovah, rendering him alone “sacred service” within his temple to the extent possible, in spite of present developments—including our suffering—as was foretold; or are we stumbled into leaving his household, perhaps having come to the conclusion that God doesn't have a household, nor a people? (Dan. 11:35; Luke 4:8; Heb. 9:14) Or, the third possibility: Do we love things the way they are, and continue to follow men simply because of who they profess to be, putting our faith in them and their promises, and therefore turn our backs on Jehovah who has definitely told us not to do that? (Psalms 146:3; 2 Thess. 2:11,12) Such a person would be no different from the Jews in Jesus' day who refused to listen to Jesus, but followed their leaders blindly; or like people today who attend the “church of their choice.” (Matt. 15:14)

Many of us who have worshipped Jehovah for many decades may sometimes reflect on the "good ol' days" when we were still serving him in blissful ignorance, not realizing that the Leaders within his temple, and who were guiding us, were not put there by Jehovah. We found great joy in attending the Assemblies, especially the International Conventions, and they would be over all too quickly. We paid close attention to anything new in the way of the truth, especially watching for any indication they might give as to when the end would come. In those days we did not need to know that there was a wicked element present at the very top within God's house, in fulfillment of God’s word; for the emphasis at that time—from God's standpoint—was on the preaching of the good news of the kingdom, which we all shared in with enthusiasm. (Mark 13:10; Acts 10:42)

Looking back over the past three decades or so helps us to understand that the foretold time has arrived for Jehovah to shift his emphasis from the declaring of the good news to the revealing of the presence of this lawless one within his house, whose “presence is according to the operation of Satan.” (Matt. 7:23; 24:12; 2 Thess. 2:3, 9; 2 Tim. 3:1-7) This revealing is essential before God’s day of judgment arrives! (Acts 17:31; Matt. 25:31-46) While the suffering of God’s people, on account of the wicked ones among us, serves to refine us (helps us to make necessary adjustments in our attitude and personality), at the same time it also reveals the distinction between a righteous one and a wicked one, between the one who listens to Jehovah and is loyal to him, and the one who couldn’t care less what God has to say in his Word, for he is guided by the WTS publications, even when these differ from what God tells us. (Isa. 26:13; 48:10,11; Mal. 3:17,18; Matt. 24:10-13; ) Yet, in spite of present developments, we still have the privilege of helping people who are “rightly disposed for everlasting life” to come to know Jehovah and direct them to his household. (Dan. 12:3; Acts 13:48; 1 Tim. 3:15) Some of them may become genuine worshippers and be among the ones who “come out of the great tribulation,” while many others who now associate with God's people will eventually be discarded as unsuitable and collected out from the kingdom, just as Jesus foretold. (Matt. 13:40-42, 47-50; Rev. 7:14)

One day soon we will be able to look back and properly understand our present situation as to why things developed as they did. We will then fully comprehend why God allowed a man of lawlessness to exercise such far reaching authority over his people within his temple. We will then also appreciate to what extent our hearts were involved in having remained loyal to Jehovah. (Jer. 11:20; 1 Thess. 2:4) How grateful his faithful worshippers will be when the wicked one is no more and they will be able to render sacred service to God without hindrance. (Psalms 37:37,38; Rev. 7:15) While for the present we must be "cautious as serpents and yet innocent as doves," very soon now “the righteous ones” within God’s house will “shine as brightly as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” (Matt. 10:16; 13:43) Those trusting in Jehovah do not separate themselves on account of the ones in their congregation who "have the name that [they] are alive, but [they] are dead." (Matt. 13:43; Rev. 3:1, 4) Jehovah is refining his people. That includes all of us! Those who are bearing fruit he cleans, that they may bear more fruit; while anyone not bearing fruit he takes away. (John 15:1-6) The prophet Daniel foretold: “Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined by these trials. But the wicked will continue in their wickedness, and none of them will understand [“the wicked will just keep on being wicked, without a clue about what is happening,” -Message Bible]. Only those who are wise will know what it means.” (Ezek. 9:4,6; Daniel 12:3, 10; NLT)

Loyal worshippers of Jehovah have his approval and are “marked for survival,” while at the same time they may be marked as apostate by the ones who loyally continue to follow the governing body as Leader. Your insight into present developments—without being stumbled; your steadfast loyalty to Jehovah—resisting the pressure to follow the course of the wicked ones within God’s household; is evidence of you having God’s approval and his holy spirit. “Keep yourselves in God’s love with everlasting life in view.” (Jude 21)

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