Was Jesus executed on a cross or a stake? #2A: Linguistic

[See also Introduction #1; #2B, #2C; Historical #3A, #3B, #3C, #3D]

Continuing from part #1 Introduction of this series on whether Jesus was executed on a stake, as the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society has maintained since 1936 (Rutherford, 1936; Watchman Expositor, 2007), or on a cross as the Christian Church maintains.

[Above (click to enlarge): Jesus crucified on a cross as depicted in the late Watchtower President Judge Rutherford's book, "Creation," 1927, p.209, i.e. "Jesus was crucified ... upon the cross." (pp.246-247. My emphasis bold)]

This part #2: Linguistic, will examine the Watchtower Society's evidence and arguments, that Jesus was not executed on a cross but on a stake, based mainly on the meaning of the Greek words which are usually translated "cross" (stauros), and its Latin equivalent crux, "crucify" (stauroo) and "tree" (xylon) in mainstream English Bible translations, but are respectively translated "torture stake," "impale" and "stake" in the Society's New World Translation.

My method in this series of posts is to quote in bold from the Society's own publications - mainly from "The Kingdom Interlinear Translation" (1985), "Reasoning from the Scriptures" (1989) and "What Does the Bible Really Teach?" (2005), and then comment on that quote. Where a different major topic (i.e. #3 Historical, #4 Patristic, #5 Archaeological, #6 Pagan or #7 Biblical ) arises from the one under consideration, it will either be briefly commented on, or excised with ellipses, or otherwise ignored, for separate consideration on its merits in the post for that topic. References are hyperlinked to its respective `tagline' quote below.

3C "Torture Stake" Gr. stau·ros' (stau·ros'); Lat., crux. "Torture stake" in Matthew 27:40 is used in connection with the execution of Jesus at Calvary, that is, Skull Place. (KIT, 1985, p.1149) .The word "torture" is not in the original Greek

[Above(click to enlarge): Matthew 27:40 in the 1985 Kingdom Interlinear Translation (KIT), showing that "torture" is not in the original Greek but has been added by the Watchtower Society]

There are in fact two Gk. words for "torture": basanizo (Mt 8:29; 18:34; Mk 5:7; Lk 8:28; Rev 9:5; 18:7 NIV); and tumpanizo (Heb 11:35 NIV) that the New Testament (NT) writers could have used, but did not, in any of the 27 times that stauros appears in the NT: Mt 10:38; 16:24; 27:32,40,42; Mk 8:34; 15:21,30,32; Lk 9:23; 14:27; 23:26; Jn 19:17,19,25,31; 1Cor 1:17,18; Gal 5:11; 6:12,14; Eph 2:16; Php 2:8; 3:18; Col 1:20; 2:14; Heb 12:2. So the Watchtower Society is guilty of adding a word "torture" to Scripture 27 times that isn't there in the original Greek!

There is no evidence that the Greek word stau·ros' here meant a cross Since the Watchtower makes an absolute claim, i.e. "There is no evidence that the Greek word stau·ros' here" in Mt 27:40 (and by extension all the other 26 times stauros occurs in the NT "in connection with the execution of Jesus"), all that needs to be done is show that there is some "evidence that the Greek word stau·ros' here meant a cross" and the Society loses its case! In fact we will not just show there is some evidence that stauros means "cross" here and elsewhere in the NT, but that there is overwhelming and conclusive evidence that it does!

such as the pagans used as a religious symbol for many centuries before Christ. As we shall see under #6 Pagan, the Watchtower here `shoots itself in the foot' by admitting that "pagans used [a cross] as a religious symbol for many centuries before Christ"! So then, why would not those pagans for all those "many centuries before Christ" at some point start to execute their enemies on an apparatus patterned after that "religious symbol"? Especially given that not even the Watchtower denies that those same pagans did at some "later" point start doing it!

In the classical Greek the word stau·ros' meant merely an upright stake, or pale, or a pile such as is used for a foundation. This is false, dishonest and fallacious. First, it is false that, "In classical Greek the word stau·ros' meant merely an upright stake ..." Liddell and Scott's ,"A Greek-English Lexicon", a classical Greek lexicon, states: "stauros ... upright pale or stake,... cross, as the instrument of crucifixion ... its form was represented by the Greek letter T..." (Liddell & Scott, 1883, p.1635. My emphasis). Second, it is dishonest because the Society quotes from "A Greek-English Lexicon, by Liddell and Scott" in its Reasoning from the Scriptures (1982, 1989) about the meaning of, xylon, one of those other Greek words relating to the cross, as we shall see, so the Society must know that even "In the classical Greek the word stau·ros'" did not mean "merely an upright stake, or pale" but it also meant a "cross" with "its form ... represented by the Greek letter T" (my emphasis). Third, it is fallacious, because even if "In the classical Greek the word stau·ros' meant merely an upright stake," "The New Testament was not written in classical Greek, the form of Greek spoken between 1000 and 330 B.C." but "in Koine Greek" (Evert, 2001, p.99). And this Koine (or Hellenistic, or New Testament) Greek had a "completely different vocabulary" and "many peculiarities of its own" compared to Classical Greek, such that a book, "Teach Yourself [Classical] Greek ... was useless after the first few lessons" in teaching New Testament Greek (Hudson, 1960, p.v).

The verb stau·ro'o meant to fence with pales, to form a stockade, or palisade. Again the Watchtower Society does not tell the whole truth. As can be seen in the same `tagline' quote below from Liddell & Scott, 1883, p.1635, the verb "staur-oo" in classical Greek meant not only to "fence with pales" but also to "crucify" (emphasis original).

The inspired writers of the Christian Greek Scriptures wrote in the common (koi·ne') Greek Indeed! And Koine Greek was "spoken and written from the 4th century BC" ("Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1984, Vol. v, p.871. My emphasis).

and used the word stau·ros' to mean the same thing as in the classical Greek, namely, a simple stake, or pale, without a crossbeam of any kind at any angle. So the Watchtower's claim is that the original meaning of stauros in classical Greek, which was indeed "an upright stake, or pale, or a pile such as is used for a foundation," never changed into a secondary meaning of a cross, where "a crossbeam" was added to the original upright stake? Despite the major transition from classical Greek to Koine and the four centuries from the time that Koine Greek began to be "spoken and written" in "the 4th century BC" to the time of Christ. But this is false. The following leading New Testament Greek Lexicons, all say that "the word stau·ros'" which originally meant "a simple stake, or pale" by the time of Jesus secondarily came to mean with "a crossbeam" forming a "cross," "shaped like a T or ... †" :

"stauros ... an upright pale or stake ... the Roman instrument of crucifixion, the Cross ..." (Abbott-Smith, 1937, pp.415-416).

"stauros ... a stake sunk into the earth in an upright position; a cross-piece was oft. ...attached to its upper part, so that it was shaped like a T or thus †." (Arndt & Gingrich, 1957, p.772).

"stauros ... an upright stake. ... an instrument of torture for serious offences, .... The cross was a vertical, pointed stake ... or it consisted of an upright with a cross-beam above it ..." (Kittel & Friedrich, 1971, p.572).

"stauros ... 1. an upright stake, esp. a pointed one ... 2. a cross; ... borrowed by the Greeks and Romans from the Phoenicians ... This horrible punishment the innocent Jesus also suffered" (Thayer, 1901, p.586).

There is no proof to the contrary. There can be no "proof" in an absolute sense, of any ancient historical event, including that Jesus was executed on a cross, not a stake. But as ex-JW Professor Jim Penton points out, "Although there is no conclusive proof, there is evidence that Christ died on a cross" (Penton, 1997, p.372).

[...]

Regarding the meaning of stau·ros', W. E. Vine, in his work An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words (1966 reprint), Vol. I, p. 256, states: ... The blurb on the front cover of my copy of the late Plymouth Brethren schoolmaster William Edwy Vine's (1873-1949) English-New Testament Greek dictionary states that. "It is at once a concordance, a dictionary and a commentary." I will respond later under #3 Historical and #6 Pagan to Vine's "commentary" on the pagan and alleged ecclesiastical-historical origin of the Cross in this quote , and only comment here on its"dictionary" aspects. Here is what the quote says when Vine's "commentary" is removed, leaving only the "dictionary" meaning of the Greek word stauros:

"CROSS, CRUCIFY A. Noun. STAUROS (σταυροσ) denotes, primarily, an upright pale or stake. .... Both the noun and the verb σταυροο, to fasten to a stake or pale, are originally to be distinguished from the ecclesiastical form of a two beamed cross. ... The σταυροσ denotes (a) the cross, or stake itself, e.g., Matt. 27:32 ; (b) the crucifixion suffered, e.g., 1 Cor. 1:17, 18 ..." (Vine, W.E., "An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words: With Their Precise Meanings for English Readers," [1940], Oliphants: London, Nineteenth impression, 1969, Vol. I., pp.256-257)

Note that Vine included stauros under "Cross," and he says that "stauros denotes (a) the cross .... " Vine also used the verb "crucify," not the Watchtower's "impale." And Vine's does not actually deny that Jesus died on a "two beamed cross," just that "originally" the word meant "a stake or pale," which no one denies. However, if Vine did believe that Jesus did not die on a "two beamed cross" (presumably due to Vine's repugnance of the cross' pagan origin, and therefore it must have been the "3rd cent. A.D." introduction into an alleged "apostate ecclesiastical system"), then as we shall see after we consider the #3 Historical, #4 Patristic, and #5 Archaeological evidence, Vine would have been "flat wrong" Bowman, 1991, p.144!

This post is will be too long if I include my comments on what the Society wrote about the meaning of the other two words, crux the Latin equivalent of stauros, and xylon, which the NWT translates "stake" and all other mainstream English translations render "tree," in those verses where the structure upon which Jesus was executed is meant. So I have made this part #2A and will continue in part #2B.

Stephen E. Jones.
My other blogs: CreationEvolutionDesign & TheShroudofTurin

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" Despite the fact that Rutherford depicted Jesus on the cross in several of his books, he would in 1936 begin to change his position to what would become the current Watchtower Society position - that of the torture stake theory. This theory says that Jesus did not die on a cross but rather on a single upright post, hand over hand with a single nail through both hands. In his book Riches, Rutherford wrote, `The death of the perfect man Jesus would, in any manner inflicted, meet the requirements of the law, because death was the penalty inflicted upon Adam. Why, then, was Jesus crucified? Jesus was crucified, not on a cross of wood, such as is exhibited in many images and pictures, and which images are made and exhibited by men; Jesus was crucified by nailing his body to a tree' (p. 27). This torture stake theory, started by Rutherford, would be clarified over the next several decades. In 1972, the Watchtower wrote an article discussing Christian cross came to be accepted by professed Christians. After being led to adopt the cross as a sacred symbol, professed Christians began depicting the body of one crucified thereon.' They continue with `No Biblical evidence even intimates that Jesus died on a cross." (Awake!, 8 November 1972, p. 28)." ("Jehovah's Witnesses and the Cross," Watchman Expositor, 23 May 2007).

"The Watchtower's use of the phrase `classical Greek' will sound scholarly to the unsuspecting reader, who will assume that the Watchtower has again provided him with the ancient truths of the Bible that apostate Christendom has lost. But one significant fact is omitted here: The New Testament was not written in classical Greek, the form of Greek spoken between 1000 and 330 B.C., so it does not matter what stauros meant in that dialect. The manuscripts of the New Testament are in Koine Greek-which is Hellenistic rather than classical Greek-in which stauros can be translated as (1) an upright stake with a cross-beam above it, (2) two intersecting beams of equal length, or (3) a vertical, pointed stake. [Kittel, G. & Friedrich, G., eds., "Theological Dictionary of the New Testament," Eerdmans: Grand Rapids MI, 1971, p.7:572]" (Evert, J., 2001, "Answering Jehovah's Witnesses," Catholic Answers: El Cajon CA, p.99).

See Appendix 5C of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures with References (1984) under `Torture Stake,' 1977-8. The society has, of course, pointed out something useful by noting that stauros does not necessarily mean `cross' but simply a pale or timber. But nothing demonstrates so clearly how much their scholarship is affected by dogmatism than does this issue. There is a great deal of evidence from early church fathers such as Justin Martyr that Christians in his day believed that Christ was put to death on a cross, Roman writers such as Cicero state that Roman criminals were often executed on a cross, and modern archaeology supports the theory that Jews in Jesus' day were crucified on a cross. (See Time, 18 January 1971, 64, 65.) Finally, by showing but one illustration from Justus Lipsius' De cruce libri tres - a picture of a man impaled on a crux simplex or upright pale - on page 1578 of The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures with References, Watch Tower scholars falsely leave the impression that Lipsius thought that Jesus was put to death in that way. In fact, Lipsius gives sixteen illustrations of impalement, thirteen of which show stakes with some sort of cross member. Although there is no conclusive proof, there is evidence that Christ died on a cross." (Penton, M.J. , 1997, "Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses," [1985], University of Toronto Press: Toronto ON, Second edition, p.372. Emphasis original).

"At this point, most Jehovah's Witnesses will probably appeal to W. E. Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, or to similar works, as Jehovah's Witnesses invariably do when this question comes up. ["The Truth that Leads to Eternal Life," WB&TS, 1968, pp.142-143; "Aid to Bible Understanding," WB&TS, 1971, pp.824-825.; "Reasoning from the Scriptures," WB&TS, 1985, pp.90-91] However, neither Vine nor any of the other authors who deny that Jesus died on a cross and are cited by the Watchtower publications, so far as I can tell, have dealt with the historical and archaeological evidence …. Moreover, none of them appear to have dealt with the matter of John 20:25. Despite the fact that Vine's work is generally well respected among evangelical Christians, on this matter he is flat wrong." (Bowman, R.M., Jr., 1991, "Understanding Jehovah's Witnesses: Why They Read the Bible the Way They Do," Baker: Grand Rapids MI, p.144)

"It is noteworthy that the Bible also uses the word xy'lon to identify the device used. A Greek-English Lexicon, by Liddell and Scott, defines this as meaning: `Wood cut and ready for use, firewood, timber, etc.... piece of wood, log, beam, post ... cudgel, club ... stake on which criminals were impaled ... of live wood, tree.' It also says `in NT, of the cross,' and cites Acts 5:30 and 10:39 as examples. (Oxford, 1968, pp. 1191, 1192) However, in those verses KJ, RS, JB, and Dy translate xy'lon as `tree.' (Compare this rendering with Galatians 3:13; Deuteronomy 21:22, 23.)" ("Reasoning from the Scriptures," [1985], Watchtower Bible & Tract Society: Brooklyn NY, Second edition, 1989, p.89. Ellipses original).

"Koine (from Greek koine, `common language'), the fairly uniform Hellenistic Greek spoken and written from the 4th century BC until the time of Justinian (mid-6th century AD) in Greece, Macedonia, and the parts of Africa and the Near East that had come under the influence or control of Greeks or of Hellenized rulers. Based chiefly on the Attic dialect, the Koine superseded the other ancient Greek dialects by the 2nd century AD. Koine is the language of the Greek translation of the Old Testament (the Septuagint), of the New Testament, and of the writings of the historian Polybius and the philosopher Epictetus. It forms the basis of Modern Greek. The divergences of the Koine from the classical norms gave rise in the 1st century an to a purist movement known as Atticism, which had little effect on the everyday spoken language although it influenced the written language, causing it to have archaizing tendencies." ("Koine," 1984, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Benton: Chicago IL, 15th edition, Vol. v, p.871).

"stauros ... I. The meaning of the Word. 1. stauros is an upright stake. 2 stauroi' oi katapepegotes skolopes, charakes, kai panta ta estota eula, apo tou estanai, Hesych., IV, 72. This is used for fencing, Hom. Od.. 14, 11; Il., 24, 453; Thuc., IV, 90, 2; Xenoph. An., V, 2, 21; Plut. Artaxerxes, 17, 7 (I, 1019e). Posts serve as foundations, Thuc., VII, 25, 5, cf. Philo Agric., 11, where we find the sense of "palisade." 2. The stauros is an instrument of torture for serious offences, Plut. Ser. Num. Vind., 9 (II, 554a); Artemid. Onirocr., II, 53 (p. 152, 4 ff.); Diod. S., 2, 18 (-->; III, 411., n.4). In shape we find three basic forms. The cross was a vertical, pointed stake (skolops). -->; 409, 4 ff.), or it consisted of an upright with a cross-beam above it (T, crux commissa), or it consisted of two intersecting beams of equal length (+ crux immissa). ..." (Kittel, G. & Friedrich, G., 1971, eds., "Theological Dictionary of the New Testament: Volume VII," Bromiley, G.W., transl., Eerdmans: Grand Rapids MI, pp.572-573. My transliteration).

"The present writer made a few experiments with exercises in modern English, but these were not very successful, and it was the discovery of the companion book in this series, Teach Yourself Greek, which brought a great hope that something similar might be done for New Testament Greek. The Classical book was useless after the first few lessons because of its completely different vocabulary, and because Hellenistic Greek has many peculiarities of its own, but a very sincere debt of gratitude must be recorded to the earlier book, which has provided the basic method of the present one, and also quite a number of illustrations. " (Hudson, D.F., 1960, "Teach Yourself New Testament Greek," English Universities Press: London, Reprinted, 1967, p.v).

"stauros, ou, o, the cross (Hom. + in the sense `upright, pointed stake' or `pale') in our lit. of the instrument by which the capital punishment of crucifixion was carried out (Diod. S. 2, 18; Plut. et al.; Philo, In Flacc. 84; Jos., Ant. 11, 261; 266f. S. also CSchneider, TW III 414, 4 and JJCollins, The Archeology of the Crucifixion, CBQ 1, '39, 154-9), a stake sunk into the earth in an upright position; a cross-piece was oft. (Artem. 2, 53) attached to its upper part, so that it was shaped like a T or thus †. 1. lit., w. other means of execution (Diogenes, Ep. 28, 3) I Ro 5:3; Hw 3, 2, 1. Used in the case of Jesus Mt 27:40, 42; Mk 15:30, 32; J 19:25, 31; Phil 2:8; GP 4:11; 10:39, 42. upomenein staurou submit to the cross Hb 12:2. The condemned man himself carried his cross to the place of execution (Plut., Mor. 554A ekastos kakourgon ekpherei ton autou stauron; Charito 4, 2, 7 ekastos t. stauron ephere; Artem. 2, 56.-Pauly-W. IV 1731) J 19:17; in the synoptics Simon of Cyrene was made to carry the cross for Jesus (Simon 4) Mt 27:32; Mk 15:21; Lk 23:26. An inscription on the cross indicated the reason for the execution J 19:19 (s. titlos). ... B seeks to show in several passages that ace. to the scriptures it was necessary for the Messiah to die on the cross: 8:1 (the xulon that plays a part in connection w. the red heifer, Num 19:6, is o tupos o tou staurou; 9:8 (in the case of the 318 servants of Abraham Gen 14:14 the number 300 represented by the numerical value of the letter T) points to the cross; cf. Lucian, Jud. Voc. 12: the letter tau has the form of the stauros); 11:1, 8a (the xulon Ps 1:3); 12:1 (scripture quot. of uncertain origin).-WWoodSeymour, The Cross in Tradition, History and Art '98 (here, p. xx-xxx, lit.); HFulda, D. Kreuz u. d. Kreuzigung 79; VSchultze, RE XI 90ff; HFHitzig, Pauly-W. IV '01, 1728-31; PW-Schmidt, Die Geschichte Jesu II '04, 386ff; 409ff; UHolzmeister, Crux Domini '34; G.Wiencke, Pls uber Jesu Tod '39; HWSchmidt, D. Kreuz Christi bei Paulus: ZaystTh 21,'50,145-59. M.M. B. 902f." (Arndt, W.F. & Gingrich, F.W., 1957, "A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian literature," University of Chicago Press: Chicago IL, Fourth editionW, 1952, Revised, p.772. My transliteration).

"The death of the perfect man Jesus would, in any manner inflicted, meet the requirements of the law, because death was the penalty inflicted upon Adam. Why, then, was Jesus crucified? Jesus was crucified, not on a cross of wood, such as is exhibited in many images and pictures, and which images are made and exhibited by men; Jesus was crucified by nailing his body to a tree. His being put to death in this manner symbolically said: `This man is cursed of God.' Dying as a sinner was an ignominious death, and being crucified upon a tree in effect said: `The one here dying is put to death as a vile sinner.' Such was a provision that Gad had made in his law. (Deuteronomy 21:22, 23) The curse of God was upon Adam because of Adam's willful sin. To become the ransomer or redeemer Jesus must die as though he were accursed of God, a vile sinner, yet without sin in fact; and for this reason Jehovah suffered his Beloved Son to be put to death by nailing him to a tree. `Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.' (Galatians 3:13) `The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. ` - Acts 5:30. The crucifixion of Jesus upon a tree is a testimony to all creation that he willingly suffered the most ignominious death in order that he might prove himself entirely obedient to the will of God under the most adverse conditions and thereby meet all the requirements of God's law as pertains to a sinful man." (Rutherford, J.F., 1936, "Riches," Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, Brooklyn NY, p.27).

"stauros, -ou, o, l. an upright pale or stake (Hom., Hdt., Thuc., al.). 2. In late writers (Diod., Plut., al.) of the Roman instrument of crucifixion, the Cross: of the Cross on which Christ suffered, Mt 27:32, 40, 42, Mk 15:21, 30, 32, Lk 23:26, Jo 19:17, 19, 25, 31, Col 2:14, He 12:2; thanatos staurou, Phl 2:8; t. aima tou s.., Col 1:20. Metaph., in proverbial sayings: airein (lambanein, bastaizein) ton s., Mt 10:38; 16:24, Mk 8:34 10:21 15:21, Lk 9:23 14:27 (for an interesting ex. of metaph, use in p., v. MM, xxiii). By meton., for Christ's death on the Cross: I Co 1:17, Ga 5:11; 6:12, 14, Eph 2:16, Phl 3:18; o logos o tou s., I Col 1:18. ... stauroo, -o (< stauropos), [in LXX : Es 7:9 (`ets) 1. to fence wath pales, impalisade (Thuc.). 2. In late writers (Polyb., F1J; but anastauroo is more common) to crucify : c. ace. pers., Mt 20:19; 23:34; 26:2; 27:22 ff. 28:5; Mk 15:13 ff. 16:6, Lk 23:21; 23, 33; 24:7, 20; Jo 19:6 ff., Ac 2:36; 4:10; I Co 1:13, 23; 2:2, 8; II Co 13:4, Ga 3:1, Re 11:8; metaph., Ga 5:24; 6:14." (Abbott-Smith, G., 1937, "A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament," [1921], T. & T. Clark: Edinburgh, Third edition, Reprinted, 1956, pp.415-416. My transliteration).

"In the eyes of the Jews a man was a sinner and accursed in the sight of God if he died upon the cross, because it was written in the law: `Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.' (Deuteronomy 21:23; Galatians 3:13) ... Suffering opposition from sinners, the representatives of the enemy, pictured as outside the camp, was the great cross of suffering which was actually fulfilled and completed when Jesus was crucified as a sinner. The things which Jesus suffered therefore were these, to wit: the reproach cast upon his Father's name; the reproach of himself because of his faithful service to his Father; the contradiction of himself by sinners; and being denounced as a sinner and then dying as a sinner upon the cross." (Rutherford, J.F., 1927, "Creation," International Bible Students Association: Brooklyn NY, pp.246-247).

"stauros, -ou, o, [fr. istemi (root sta) ; cf. Lat. stauro, Eng. staff (see Skeat, Etym. Dict. s. v.); Curtius § 216; Vanicek p.1126]; 1. an upright stake, esp. a pointed one, (Hom., Hdt., Thuc., Xen.). 2. a cross; a. the well-known instrument of most cruel and ignominious punishment, borrowed by the Greeks and Romans from the Phoenicians; to it were affixed among the Romans, down to the time of Constantine the Great, the guiltiest criminals, particularly the basest slaves, robbers, the authors and abetters of insurrections, and occasionally in the provinces, at the arbitrary pleasure of the governors, upright and peaceable men also, and even Roman citizens themselves; cf. Win. RWB. s. v. Kreuzigung; Merz in Herzog ed. 1 [(cf. Schaff-Herzog) also Schultze in Herzog ed. 2], s. v. Kreuz ; Keim iii. p. 409 sqq. [Eng. trans. vi. 138; BB.DD. s. vv. Cross, Crucifixion O. Zockler, Das Kreuz Christi (Gütersloh, 1875) ; Eng. trans. Lond. 1878; Fulda, Das Kreuz u. d. Kreuzigung (Bresl. 1878); Edersheim, Jesus the Messiah, ii. 582 sqq.], This horrible punishment the innocent Jesus also suffered: Mt. xxvii. 32, 40, 42; Mk. xv. 21, 30, 32 ; Lk. xxiii. 26; Jn. xix. 17, 19, 25, 31 ; Col. ii. 14; Heb. xii. 2 ; thanatos stautou, Phil. ii. 8 ; to aima tou stautou, blood shed on the cross., Col. i. 20. b. i. q. the crucifixion which Christ underwent: Gal. v. 11 (on which see skandalon, sub fin.) ; Eph. ii. 16 ; with the addition of tou Christou, 1 Co. i. 17; the saving power of his crucifixion, Phil. iii. 18 (on which see echthros, fin.) ; Gal. vi. 14; to stauro tou Christou diokesthai, to encounter persecution on account of one's avowed belief in the saving efficacy of Christ's crucifixion, Gal. vi. 12; o logos o tou staurou the doctrine concerning the saving power of the death on the cross endured by Christ, 1 Co. i. 18. The judicial usage which compelled those condemned to crucifixion themselves to carry the cross to the place of punishment (Plut. de sera numinis vindict. c. 9; Artem. oneir. 2, 56, cf. Jn. xix. 17), gave rise to the proverbial expression airein or lambanein or bastazein ton stauron autou, which was wont to be used of those who on behalf of God's cause do not hesitate cheerfully and manfully to bear persecutions, troubles, distresses,-thus recalling the fate of Christ and the spirit in which he encountered it (cf. Bleek, Synop. Erkl. der drei ersten Evangg. i. p. 439 sq.) : Mt. x. 38; xvi. 24 ; Mk. viii. 34; x. 21 [R L in br.] ; xv. 21 ; Lk. ix. 23; xiv. 27." (Thayer, J.H., 1901, "A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Being Grimm's Wilke's Clovis Novi Testamenti Translated Revised and Enlarged," T & T. Clark: Edinburgh, Fourth edition, Reprinted, 1961, p.586. My transliteration).

"stauros, o, upright pale or stake, staurous ektos elasse diamperes entha kai entha puknous kai thameos Od. 14.11, cf. Il. 24.4.53, Th.. 4.90, X., An. 5.2.21; of piles driven in to serve as a foundation, Hdt. 5.16,. Th. 7.25. II. cross, as the instrument of crucifixion, D.S. 2.18, Eu. Matt. 27.40, Plu. 2.554a; epi ton s. apagesthai Luc. Peregr. 34; s. lambanein, aria, bastazein, metaph, of voluntary suffering, Eu. Matt. 10.38, Eu. Luc. 9.23, 14.27: its form was represented by the Greek letter T, Luc. Jud. Voc. 12, b., pale for impaling a corpse, Plu. Art. 17. ... staur-oo, (stauros) fence with pales, Th. 7.25; s. ta bathe xulois D.S. 24.1: - Pass., Th. 6.100. II. crucify, PIb. 1.86.4, Eu. Matt. 20.19, Critodem. in Cat. Cod. Astr. 8(4), 200: metaph., s. ton sarka crucify it, destroy its power, Ep. Gal. 5.24. cf. 6.14: elos estauramenos nail from a cross, as amulet, Asclep. Jun. ap. Alex. Trall. I.15. -oma, atos, to, palisade or stockade, Th. 5.10, 6.64, 74, X. HG 3.2.3, etc. -simos, on, deserving crucifixion, Hsch. s.v. skoloponumon. -osis, eos, e, stockade, Th. 7.25." (Liddell, H.G., Scott, R. & Jones, H.S., 1883, "A Greek-English Lexicon," Clarendon Press: Oxford, Seventh edition, p.1635. My transliteration).

Was Jesus executed on a cross or a stake? #1: Introduction

Note: This uncompleted series became too `long-winded' and is now superseded by my new series: Jesus was executed on a cross, not a stake! #1: Introduction.

[See also Linguistic #2A, #2B, #2C; Historical #3A, #3B, #3C, #3D]

Many years ago, when I was still a relatively new Christian, a Jehovah's Witness told me that Jesus did not die on a cross but on an upright stake, because the Greek word translated "cross" in the New Testament primarily means "stake." I was taken aback by this,

[Above: Jesus `crucifixion' as depicted in Watchtower Bible & Tract Society publications, e.g. "Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life," 1995, p.67. Note Jesus' arms: 1. above His head; 2. transfixed by a single nail; and 3. the inscription above Jesus' hands.]

which I assume is the reason JWs do it: to shake a non-, new, or weak Christian's faith in the Church and so make the Watchtower Society seem to be a more reliable authority. And also to make JWs feel superior to ordinary Christians in having (apparently) deeper Bible knowledge.

However, I responded off the top of my head (which I assume was from the Holy Spirit-Lk 21:13-15) that it would not matter to me whether Jesus was executed on an upright pole, or on a cross: the important thing was that Jesus, who was God in human flesh (Jn 1:1,14; Col 2:9; Php 2:5-11), was executed in my place to pay the price of my sin (2 Cor 5:21; Gal 2:20; 1Pet 3:18).

Indeed the various evangelical Protestant churches that I have been a member of for the past 40 years have never made a big deal about the physical Cross nor its shape. The Church of Christ I have been a member of since 1994 does not have a cross atop its building and it has only a simple wooden cross in its chapel. Neither my wife nor I wear a cross, nor do we have one in our home.

So while the Christian Church would not have a major problem if it turned out that Jesus was not executed on a cross but on a stake, it would be a major problem for the Watchtower Society if the reverse was the case. This is because Christianity has never made a big deal about the physical shape of the wooden structure that Jesus was executed on, but the Watchtower has made a big deal about it.

But was Jesus crucified on a cross as the Christian Church has always maintained, or on a stake as the Watchtower Society claims? (emphasis bold mine):

"Jesus Christ did not die on a cross. ... [but] an upright pale or stake." ("What Does the Bible Really Teach?," 2005, p.205).

"Pontius Pilate then sentenced him to death on a torture stake. He was nailed to a wooden pole and hung there upright." ("Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life," 1995, p.66).

"Jesus was not executed on a conventional cross at all but, rather, on a simple stake" (Watchtower, November 15, 1992. p.7)

"No Biblical evidence even intimates that Jesus died on a cross." (Awake!, 8 November 1972, p. 28).

"The evidence is, therefore, completely lacking that Jesus Christ was crucified on two pieces of timber placed at a right angle" ("New World translation," 1950, p.771).

That this a major teaching of the Watchtower Society is evident in that: 1) it is about Jesus; 2) it is in its latest home study aid book for prospective new members, "What Does the Bible Really Teach?" (2005), and 3) it has been in the Society's publications since at least 1936, i.e. for more than seventy years. So if the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society is wrong on this teaching then, in addition to being a false prophet, the Society would also be a false teacher:

2Pet 2:1 NWT. However, there also came to be false prophets among the people, as there will also be false teachers among YOU. These very ones will quietly bring in destructive sects and will disown even the owner that bought them, bringing speedy destruction upon themselves.

This series of post will comprehensively examine that Watchtower Society's claim that Jesus was executed not on a cross but on a stake or pole, quoting from its own publications, in successive posts under the following sub-headings: #1 Introduction (this post), #2 Linguistic, #3 Historical, #4 Patristic, #5 Archaeological, #6 Pagan, #7 Biblical and #8 Conclusion.

To avoid unnecessary complexity, I do not plan at this stage to examine whether Christians should wear a cross or use a cross in worship. Not only is this a separate question from whether Jesus was executed on a cross or a stake, but also Christians who agree that Jesus was executed on a cross, can and do disagree on whether a cross should be worn and/or used in worship.

References cited will be hyperlinked to `tagline' quotes at the end of each post (emphasis italics original, emphasis bold mine). I hope to finish this series, appropriately, by Easter (Friday, 21 March).

Stephen E. Jones.
My other blogs: CreationEvolutionDesign & TheShroudofTurin

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"Despite the fact that Rutherford depicted Jesus on the cross in several of his books, he would in 1936 begin to change his position to what would become the current Watchtower Society position - that of the torture stake theory. This theory says that Jesus did not die on a cross but rather on a single upright post, hand over hand with a single nail through both hands. In his book Riches, Rutherford wrote, `The death of the perfect man Jesus would, in any manner inflicted, meet the requirements of the law, because death was the penalty inflicted upon Adam. Why, then, was Jesus crucified? Jesus was crucified, not on a cross of wood, such as is exhibited in many images and pictures, and which images are made and exhibited by men; Jesus was crucified by nailing his body to a tree' (p. 27). This torture stake theory, started by Rutherford, would be clarified over the next several decades. In 1972, the Watchtower wrote an article discussing Christian cross came to be accepted by professed Christians. After being led to adopt the cross as a sacred symbol, professed Christians began depicting the body of one crucified thereon.' They continue with `No Biblical evidence even intimates that Jesus died on a cross." (Awake!, 8 November 1972, p. 28)." ("Jehovah's Witnesses and the Cross," Watchman Expositor, 23 May 2007).

"THE cross is loved and respected by millions of people. The Encyclopaedia Britannica calls the cross `the principal symbol of the Christian religion.' Nevertheless, true Christians do not use the cross in worship. Why not? An important reason is that Jesus Christ did not die on a cross. The Greek word generally translated `cross' is stau-ros'. It basically means `an upright pale or stake.' The Companion Bible points out: `[Stau-ros'] never means two pieces of timber placed across one another at any angle ... There is nothing in the Greek of the [New Testament] even to imply two pieces of timber.' In several texts, Bible writers use another word for the instrument of Jesus' death. It is the Greek word xy'lon. (Acts 5: 30; 10:39; 13:29; Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 2:24) This word simply means `timber' or `a stick, club, or tree.''" ("What Does the Bible Really Teach?" Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of New York: Brooklyn NY, 2005, p.205. Ellipses original).

"Jesus courageously exposed the hypocrisy of the religious leaders, and they sought his death. They eventually hatched an ugly plot that involved betrayal, improper arrest, an illegal trial, and a false charge of sedition. Jesus was struck, spat upon, ridiculed, and beaten with a whip designed to tear his flesh. The Roman governor Pontius Pilate then sentenced him to death on a torture stake. He was nailed to a wooden pole and hung there upright. Each breath was excruciating, and it took hours for him to die. Throughout that ordeal, Jesus maintained perfect integrity to God." ("Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life," [1984], Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of New York: Brooklyn NY, Second edition, 1995, p.66).

"Cross ... `No biblical evidence even intimates that Jesus died on a cross.' A 11/8/1972, p. 28 ... ... `So, the evidence indicates that Jesus did not die on the traditional cross.' A 9/22/1974, p. 28 ... `Jesus most likely was executed on an upright stake without any crossbeam. No man today can know with certainty even how many nails were used in Jesus' case.' WT 8/15/1987, p. 29 ... " (Reed, D.A., ed., "Index of Watchtower Errors, 1879 to 1989," Compiled by Steve Huntoon and John Cornell, Baker: Grand Rapids MI, 1990, pp.73-74. Emphasis original).

"FOR centuries multitudes have accepted the cross as a symbol of Christianity. But is it really? Many who have sincerely believed so are quite surprised to learn that the cross is not at all unique to Christendom. On the contrary, it has been widely used in non-Christian religions all over the world. ... The Bible shows that Jesus was not executed on a conventional cross at all but, rather, on a simple stake, or stau·ros'. This Greek word, appearing at Matthew 27:40, basically means a simple upright beam or pole, such as those used in building foundations.." ("The Cross-Symbol of Christianity?," The Watchtower, November 15, 1992. p.7).

""No Biblical evidence even intimates that Jesus died on a cross. Regarding the Greek word stau·ros' (translated `cross' in numerous translations), A Comprehensive Dictionary of the Original Greek Words with their Precise Meanings for English Readers states: `STAUROS .... . denotes, primarily, an upright pale or stake. On such malefactors were nailed for execution.' Similarly, the book The Non-Christian Cross observes: `There is not a single sentence in any of the numerous writings forming the New Testament, which, in the original Greek, bears even indirect evidence to the effect that the stauros used in the case of Jesus was other than an ordinary stauros [pole or stake]; much less to the effect that it consisted, not of one piece of timber, but of two pieces nailed together in the form of a cross.'" ("Use of the Cross," Awake!, 8 November 1972, p. 28).

"Matthew 10:38 - `torture stake' ... stau·ros', Greek; ... This is the expression used in connection with the execution of Jesus at Calvary. There is no evidence that the Greek word stau·ros' meant here a `cross' such as the pagans used as a religious symbol for many centuries before Christ .... In the classical Greek the word stau·ros' meant merely an upright stake or pale .... To such a stake or pale the person to be punished was fastened ... The inspired writers of the Christian Greek Scriptures wrote in the common (koi·ne') Greek and used the word stau·ros' to mean the same thing as in the classical Greek, namely, a stake or pale, a simple one without a crossbeam of any kind or at any angle. There is no proof to the contrary. .... The fact that stau·ros' is translated crux in the Latin versions furnishes no argument against this. ... A cross is only a later meaning of crux. .... The evidence is, therefore, completely lacking that Jesus Christ was crucified on two pieces of timber placed at a right angle. .... This is a revolutionary translation, we admit .... The passing of time and further archaeological discoveries will be certain to prove its correctness. ..." ("New World translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures," [1950], Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of New York: Brooklyn NY, Second edition, 1951, pp.768-769, 771).

1914: The Generation That Will Not Pass Away? #2

To summarise from part #1: 1) The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society accepts the Biblical criteria of a false prophet being one

[Above (click image to enlarge): The Watchtower Society's claim to be prophet, in the Biblical sense, in "They shall know that a Prophet was among them," The Watchtower, April 1, 1972, p.197]

who "speaks in the name of Jehovah" a "word [that] does not occur or come true" then "that is the word that Jehovah did not speak" (Dt 18:20-22 NWT. My emphasis); 2) The Society has claimed to be a "prophet" in the same sense that the Biblical prophets were, such as Ezekiel, from at least 1914, including being the only "ones commissioned to speak for God ... to declare things to come;" and 3) The Society spoke "in the name of Jehovah" the following words that were to "occur or come true" (my emphases below):

• 1958: "Many are the people alive since 1914 who will still be living when it is time for Armageddon to begin" ("From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained," 1958, p.205);
• 1967: Of "the generation ... who saw with understanding the developing sign of the `last days' from their start in 1914," that is "the adult generation of that time," "The end of this wicked system ... will come before all members of that generation pass away." And since "the youngest" of that generation " was then "well over sixty years of age," "The time left" was "very short" ("Did Man Get Here by Evolution or by Creation?," 1967, pp.171-172);
• 1968: Those "people still living who were alive in 1914 and saw what was happening then and who were old enough that they still remember those events," not "many" but only "Some of them will still be alive to see the end of this wicked system" ("The Truth that Leads to Eternal Life," 1968, p.95);
• 1968: Of "those who were old enough to witness with understanding what took place when the `last days' began" in 1914, i..e. "15 years of age," to "be perceptive enough to realize the import of what happened in 1914," again not "many" but only "some of those persons ... would still be alive when God brought this system to its end," but they were "approaching old age" and so "the years left before the foretold end comes cannot be many." ("What will the 1970's Bring?," Awake!, October 8, 1968, p.13-14);
• 1982: Of "the generation of people who were living in 1914 " still only "some of them will still be alive to see the end of this wicked system," but now "Those persons yet remaining of that generation are now very old," and so "Shortly now there will be a sudden end to all wickedness and wicked people at Armageddon" ("You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth," 1982, p.154);
• 1989: "Before the last members of the generation that was alive in 1914 will have passed off the scene ...the present wicked world will end ...: "The present wicked system of things ... entered its last days in 1914, and some of the generation alive then will also be on hand to witness its complete end ..."; "The `generation' that was alive ... in 1914 is now well along in years. The time remaining must be very short. " ("Reasoning from the Scriptures," 1989, pp.97, 234, 239).

Again, Bible references are to the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society's New World Translation (NWT), unless otherwise indicated.

By 1995, of "the last members of the generation that was alive in 1914," were "old enough to witness with understanding what took place"and "still remember those events," i.e. being "15 years of age" in 1914, the youngest would have been born in 1899, which made them 95 year-olds, had nearly "passed off the scene." The Society, having in the 31 years from 1958 to 1989, progressively modified its prophecy from "Many are the people alive since 1914 who will still be living when it is time for Armageddon to begin," to "Before the last members of the generation that was alive in 1914 will have passed off the scene ...the present wicked world will end" in 1989, they thereby tacitly admitted that it was a false prophecy, and then the Society abandoned all reference to the 1914 generation and substituted for it indefinite terms like "near":

"The Bible reliably helps us to see where we are in the stream of time. It shows us that we are in `the last days' of the present system of things. ... the Christian apostles Paul, Peter, and John provide us with further details concerning the last days. True, most features of the sign and of the last days involve distressing situations. Yet, the fulfillment of these prophecies should convince us that this wicked system is near its end." ("Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life ," Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of New York: Brooklyn NY, Second edition, 1995, pp.98-99).

and "soon":

"By themselves, some features of the prophecies describing the last days might seem to apply to other periods of history. But when combined, the prophesied evidences pinpoint our day. To illustrate: The lines making up a person's fingerprint form a pattern that cannot belong to any other individual. Similarly, the last days have their own pattern of marks, or happenings. These form a `finger print' that cannot belong to any other time period. When ' considered along with Bible indications that God's heavenly Kingdom is now ruling, the evidence provides a solid basis for concluding that these are indeed the last days. Moreover, there is clear Scriptural proof that the present wicked system will soon be destroyed." (Ibid., 1995, pp.106-107)

"As shown earlier, Jehovah God will soon destroy the present wicked system of things. The world is rapidly approaching what the Bible calls Har-Magedon, or Armageddon. ... `the war of the great day of God the Almighty.' .... Jehovah God's Son, the appointed King, will soon ride forth into battle. " (Ibid., 1995, pp.182-183).

"When Jesus told his followers to pray, `Let your kingdom come,' it was clear that the Kingdom had not come at that time. ... There was a waiting period. ... For how long? During the 19th century, sincere Bible students calculated that the waiting period would end in 1914. ... World events that began in 1914 confirm that the calculation of these sincere Bible students was correct. The fulfillment of Bible prophecy shows that in 1914, Christ became King and God's heavenly Kingdom began to rule. Hence, we are living in the `short period of time' that Satan has left. (Revelation 12:12; Psalm 110:2) We can also say with certainty that soon God's Kingdom will act to cause God's will to be done on earth." ("What Does the Bible Really Teach?" Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of New York: Brooklyn NY, 2005, pp.84-85. Italics original).

Which as former Governing Body member Ray Franz pointed out, "simply moved Watch Tower teachings closer to understandings presented long ago by those the organization disdains as `Christendom's scholars'":

"The inevitable signs of yet further `adjustment of understanding' began to appear with the February 15, 1994, Watchtower. In it the beginning of the application of Jesus' statement about `signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of nations' was moved up from the year-1914 to a point following the start of the yet future `great tribulation.' Likewise, the foretold `gathering of the chosen ones from the four winds,' previously taught as running from 1919 onward, was now also moved to the future, following the start of the `great tribulation' and subsequent to the appearance of the celestial phenomena. Each of the now-abandoned positions had been taught for some fifty years. (See, as but one of numerous examples, the Watchtower of July 15, 1946.) Though heralded as `new light,' the changes simply moved Watch Tower teachings closer to understandings presented long ago by those the organization disdains as `Christendom's scholars.'" (Franz, R., "Crisis of Conscience," Commentary Press: Atlanta GA, Fourth edition, 2002, pp.265-266).

But just because the Watchtower has abandoned its 1914 generation prophecy, the fact is that it made it, and what's more, repeated it, for nearly a third of a century from 1958 to 1989.

The relevance of the deaths of those two soldiers mentioned in part #1,who fought in World War I, aged 107 and 110 is that, having been born in 1901 and 1898 respectively, they in fact were members of that generation that was "old enough to witness with understanding what took place when the `last days' began" in 1914 and of whom the Watchtower prophesied that "Many" would "still be living when it is time for Armageddon to begin." They are therefore a concrete example of how extremely old that generation is today.

So how "many" are there of that generation alive today? Since the youngest of that generation would have had to be born in 1899, they would be 109, or over, this year. According to the Gerontology Research Group at UCLA, a global authority on the super-elderly, in 2005 the world population of persons aged 110 years or over, was estimated to be only 250 (Malcolm, A.H., "Hitting the Big Eleven-O," Los Angeles Times, June 23, 2005). Although Wikipedia states that of "the total number of supercentenarians [age 110+ years], this [was] an estimated 300 to 450 worldwide, of which only approximately 80 are validated."

Whether 250 or 450, clearly that is not "many" as a percentage of a world population of ~6.64 billion. And that the Watchtower itself has said that, "When the term `generation' is used with reference to the people living at a particular time ... the time would fall within reasonable limits" and "These limits would be determined by the life expectancy of the people of that time or of that population," i.e. "the general rule," which for "people living under favorable conditions may reach seventy or eighty years of age":

"When the term `generation' is used with reference to the people living at a particular time, the exact length of that time cannot be stated, except that the time would fall within reasonable limits. These limits would be determined by the life expectancy of the people of that time or of that population. ... Today, much as it was in the time of Moses, people living under favorable conditions may reach seventy or eighty years of age. Moses wrote: `In themselves the days of our years are seventy years; and if because of special mightiness they are eighty years, yet their insistence is on trouble and hurtful things; for it must quickly pass by, and away we fly.' (Ps. 90:10) However, some few may live longer, but Moses stated the general rule. ... When Bible prophecy speaks of `this generation,' it is necessary to consider the context to determine what generation is meant. Jesus Christ, when denouncing the Jewish religious leaders, concluded by saying: `Truly I say to you, All these things will come upon this generation.' History recounts that about thirty-seven years later (in 70 C.E.) that contemporary generation personally experienced the destruction of Jerusalem, as foretold.-Matt. 23:36. Later that same day, Jesus again used practically the same words, saying: `Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.' (Matt. 24:34) In this instance, however, Jesus was not speaking only of the things that would befall natural Israel. He was answering a question as to what `sign' would mark his `presence' and `the conclusion of the system of things.' ... In both instances Jesus was using the word `generation' in a literal sense, not in a symbolic or figurative sense, for the events Jesus described in the context were literal.-Matt. chap. 24." ("Aid to Bible Understanding," [1969], Watchtower Bible & Tract Society: Brooklyn NY, Second edition, 1971, pp.641-642).

In other words,"'many" in the Watchtower's 1958 prophecy ,"Many are the people alive since 1914 who will still be living when it is time for Armageddon to begin," meant, not the last few hundred of that generation who lived to over 110, far beyond "the general rule" of the life expectancy of the people of that time," which in 1914 would presumably have been no more than "seventy or eighty years of age." And since "Jesus was using the word `generation' in a literal sense, not in a symbolic or figurative sense," then "many" meant in the ordinary dictionary definition of "many ... a large but indefinite number" (Merriam-Webster Dictionary); "constituting or forming a large number ... a large or considerable number of persons or things" (Dictionary.com) and "used mainly ... to mean 'a large number of'" (Cambridge Dictionary).

So the estimated 250-450 remaining of that generation of "those who were old enough to witness with understanding what took place when the `last days' began" in 1914, i..e. were "15 years of age" in 1914, and so were born in 1899, cannot, in any reasonable, "literal sense" of the word, be regarded as "a large number." So the Watchtower's 1958 prophecy that "Many are the people alive since 1914 who will still be living when it is time for Armageddon to begin," has failed.

Moreover, given Jehovah's Witnesses' very small numbers in 1914, with only "about 5,100 that participated in the work":

"What a remarkable, intensive, global witness was given during those early decades of the modern-day history of Jehovah's Witnesses! But, really, the work was just beginning. Only a few hundred had actively shared in spreading Bible truth during the early 1880's. By 1914, according to available reports, there were about 5,100 that participated in the work. Others may occasionally have distributed some tracts. The workers were relatively few. This small band of evangelizers had, in various ways, already spread their proclamation of God's Kingdom into 68 lands by the latter part of 1914. And their work as preachers and teachers of God's Word was established on a fairly consistent basis in 30 of these lands." ("Jehovah's Witnesses, Proclaimers of God's Kingdom," Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, Brooklyn NY, 1993, p.422)

there almost certainly are no Jehovah's Witnesses alive today, who are among that generation of 109+ year-olds. Indeed A.H. Macmillan (1877-1966) who joined the Watchtower Society in 1900 and died at the age of 89 in 1966, may well have been the last of that generation who were Jehovah's Witnesses.

Therefore, despite the Society's attempt to prevent their prophecy from failing by changing, "Many are the people alive since 1914 who will still be living when it is time for Armageddon to begin"in 1958 to "Before the last members" of the generation that was alive in 1914 will have passed off the scene," in 1989, according to the Bible's false prophecy test, Dt 18:20-22 NWT:

"However, the prophet who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded him to speak or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die. And in case you should say in your heart: `How shall we know the word that Jehovah has not spoken?' when the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that Jehovah did not speak. With presumptuousness the prophet spoke it. You must not get frightened at him."

the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society is a false prophet!

Jehovah Himself said of "the prophet who presumes to speak in my name a word" and if that "word does not occur or come true" then "that is the word that Jehovah did not speak." Now a word that "Jehovah did not speak" cannot then become a word that Jehovah did speak, by changing it as subsequent events threaten to falsify it! So a prophet only has to get one prophecy wrong, to be a false prophet, and in ancient Israel, that false prophet would "die," i.e. be executed, so he would not live long enough to adjust his prophecy to fit the actual events as they unfolded!

And what is more, the Watchtower Society knows it is a false prophet. This is evident in that the Society once used to have, Dt 18:21-22, "... and the word does not occur or come true ..." as its primary criterion for distinguishing a false prophecy (and thus a false prophet) in its 1965 Watchtower field service manual:

"Distinguishing Between True Prophecy and False Deut. 18:21, 22 `In case you should say in your heart: "How shall we know the word that Jehovah has not spoken?"when the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that Jehovah did not speak. With presumptuousness the prophet spoke it. You must not get frightened at him.'" ("Make Sure of All Things, Hold Fast to What Is Fine," Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of New York: Brooklyn NY, 1965, p.394. Emphasis original).

But in its 1989 replacement of that same manual, the Society did not even mention that criterion, and quoted only Dt 18:18-20:

"How can true prophets and false ones be identified? ... True prophets speak in the name of God, but merely claiming to represent him is not enough Deut. 18:18-20: `A prophet I shall raise up for them from the midst of their brothers, like you [like Moses]; and I shall indeed put my words in his mouth, and he will certainly speak to them all that I shall command him. And it must occur that the man who will not listen to my words that he will speak in my name, I shall myself require an account from him. However, the prophet who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded him to speak or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die.' " ("Reasoning from the Scriptures," Watchtower Bible & Tract Society: Brooklyn NY, Second edition, 1989, p.133. Emphasis original).

stopping just before verses 21 & 22, which contain the "when prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true" test, which the Watchtower fails:

Dt 18:21-22 And in case you should say in your heart: "how shall we know the word that Jehovah has not spoken? "when the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that Jehovah did not speak. With presumptuousness the prophet spoke it. You must not get frightened at him.

Presumably the main reason for this omission of what the Watchtower once recognised as the primary criterion for distinguishing a false prophet, is because in the same 1989 manual the Society has the following suggested response to a householder who says, "My minister said that Jehovah's Witnesses are the false prophets," which includes "May I show you how the Bible describes false prophets?" and "Then use one or more of the points outlined on pages 132-136":

"If Someone Says `My minister said that Jehovah's Witnesses are the false prophets' You might reply: May I ask, Did he show you anything in the Bible that describes what we believe or do and that says people of that sort would be false prophets? ... May I show you how the Bible describes false prophets? (Then use one or more of the points outlined on pages 132-136.)'" ("Reasoning from the Scriptures," 1989, p.137. Emphasis original)

But the "points outlined on pages 132-136" do not contain the primary false prophet test, "when prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true." The Watchtower here trades on the fact that most householders would not know where the false prophet test is, or what it is in full, so this is deliberate dishonesty on the Society's part. It also shows that the Society knows that it fails the primary false prophet test, and therefore that it is a false prophet! Otherwise it would include that primary false prophet test criterion in its section on "Distinguishing Between True Prophecy and False," and then be prepared to defend itself from the charge that it is a false prophet.

Indeed, in the same 1989 book, in the same "pages 132-136" that the Watchtower suggests its field workers offer to show householders, "how the Bible describes false prophets," the Society virtually admits it is a false prophet by pleading guilty to "the Witnesses" having "made mistakes in their understanding of what would occur at the end of certain time periods," but then arguing that "Jehovah's Witnesses do not claim to be inspired prophets" (my emphasis):

"FALSE PROPHETS ... Jehovah's Witnesses do not claim to be inspired prophets. They have made mistakes. ... 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 ..." ("Reasoning from the Scriptures," 1989, p.136. Emphasis original).

But this defence also fails. First, the Watchtower has effectively claimed to be an inspired prophet, in the same sense as the Biblical prophets, such as Ezekiel (see above), from at least 1914. Second, Dt 18:21-22 says nothing about whether the prophet claims to be "inspired," or not. It simply says: 1) "when the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah," which the Jehovah's Witnesses certainly do; and 2) "the word" spoken "does not occur or come true," which the Watchtower now admits to, having "made mistakes in their understanding of what would occur at the end of certain time periods;" then 3) "that is the word that Jehovah did not speak."

So again, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is a false prophet. And individual Jehovah's Witnesses who promulgate the Watchtower's false prophecies share in its guilt before God. The Biblical principle is that anyone who helps spread a false teacher's doctrines, "is a sharer in his wicked works" (2Jn 10-11). As former JW elder, David Reed urges, "the individual Jehovah's Witness," Rather than remain fearfully obedient to Watchtower leaders," should "start following the true Prophet, Jesus Christ":

"A JW may try to defend the Watchtower Society, saying that those false prophecies were all `mistakes' and that the organization has learned from these mistakes and no longer makes prophetic statements about when the end will come. In that case, ask the Witness to take out a copy of his latest Awake! magazine. Inside the front cover, on the page listing the contents of the magazine, there is a statement of purpose telling why Awake! is published. Ask the Witness to read it. As of this writing (1986), each issue still says: `Most importantly, this magazine builds confidence in the Creator's promise of a peaceful and secure New Order before the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away.' Another prophecy! ... The facts are inescapable: The Watchtower Society spoke as a prophet, in the name of God, and what was prophesied did not come true. What does this mean for the individual Jehovah's Witness? Invite one to read what God's Word says about false prophets-and then ask what God would have him or her do. The Bible contains these warnings from Jesus Christ: `Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.' `For false Christs and false prophets will arise ... ` (Matt. 7:15, and 24:24, RSV). And the strong words quoted above from Deuteronomy 18:20-22, besides expressing God's judgment that the false prophet `must die,' also tell listeners, `You must not get frightened at him.' Rather than remain fearfully obedient to Watchtower leaders, the individual Jehovah's Witness who recognizes the organization as a false prophet should quit following it and start following the true Prophet, Jesus Christ." (Reed, D.A., "Jehovah's Witnesses Answered Verse by Verse," [1986], Baker: Grand Rapids MI, Thirty-first printing, 2006, pp.32-33).

PS: See more `tagline' quotes below (my emphasis bold, original emphasis italics) from non-JW literature about this particular false prophecy, which is only one among many, of the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society.

Stephen E. Jones.
My other blogs: CreationEvolutionDesign & TheShroudofTurin

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"Matthew 24:34- The 1914 Generation ... The New World Translation renders Matthew 24:34, `Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur' (emphasis added). The Watchtower Society teaches Jehovah's Witnesses that `this generation' is the 1914 generation. It is this group of people that will not pass away, they say, until all these things (prophecies, including Armageddon) come to pass. Now, it is an enlightening experience to study how the Watchtower Society has dealt with this verse throughout its history. Back in 1968, the Society was teaching its followers that Jehovah's Witnesses who were 15 years of age in 1914 would be alive to see the consummation of all things. Indeed, a 1968 issue of Awake! magazine said of `this generation': `Jesus was obviously speaking about those who were old enough to witness with understanding what took place when the `last days' began.... Even if we presume that youngsters 15 years of age would be perceptive enough to realize the import of what happened in 1914, it would still make the youngest of `this generation' nearly 70 years old today... . Jesus said that the end of this wicked world would come before that generation passed away in death (emphasis added). [Awake!, 8 October 1968, p.13]" (Rhodes, R., 1993, "Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Jehovah's Witnesses," Harvest House: Eugene OR, Reprinted, 2006, pp.363-364).

"Some ten years later, a 1978 issue of The Watchtower magazine said: `Thus, when it comes to the application in our time, the `generation' logically would not apply to babies born during World War I' [The Watchtower, 1 October 1978, p.31] (emphasis added). It is clear that at this time, the Watchtower Society was still holding out to the view that those who were teenagers during 1914 would see the culmination of all things. However, as David Reed points out, `one need only calculate that someone fifteen years old in 1914 would be twenty-five years old in 1924, thirty-five years old in 1934-and eighty-five years old in 1984-to realize that the Watchtower's `generation that will not pass away' was almost gone by the mid-1980s. The prophecy was about to fail. But, rather than change the prophecy, [Watchtower] leaders simply stretched the generation. [Reed, D., "Jehovah's Witnesses Answered Verse by Verse," Baker: Grand Rapids MI, 1986, p.57]" (Rhodes, 1993, p.364).

"A 1980 issue of The Watchtower magazine said of `this generation': `It is the generation of people who saw the catastrophic events that broke forth in connection with World War I from 1914 onward.... If you assume that 10 is the age at which an event creates a lasting impression' [The Watchtower, 15 October 1980, p.31] (emphasis added). The Watchtower leaders reduced the age from 15 to 10 in order to allow for five more years for a `generation' that was quickly dying off. The 1980 solution didn't alleviate the problem. Another step had to be taken. So, in a 1984 issue of The Watchtower magazine, we read, `If Jesus used `generation' in that sense and we apply it to 1914, then the babies of that generation are now 70 years old or older... . Some of them `will by no means pass away until all these things occur' [The Watchtower, 15 May 1984, p.5] (emphasis added). Along these same lines, a 1985 issue of The Watchtower said, `Before the 1914 generation completely dies out, God's judgment must be executed.' [The Watchtower, 1 May 1985, p.4] More recently, a 1988 issue of Awake! magazine said, `Most of the generation of 1914 has passed away. However, there are still millions on earth who were born in that year or prior to it.... Jesus' words will come true, `this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.' [Awake!, 8 April 1988, p.14] Reasoning from the Scriptures (1989) tells us that time is running short: `The "generation" that was alive at the beginning of the fulfillment of the sign in 1914 is now well along in years. The time remaining must be very short. World conditions give every indication that this is the case.' [Reasoning from the Scriptures, p.239]" (Rhodes, 1993, pp.364-365).

"Before getting into the specifics, invite him [a Jehovah's Witness] to turn in his own Bible to Deuteronomy 18:20-22, to see what God's Word says about true and false prophets. The true ones are highly esteemed as men of God, but false ones are judged to be worthy of death: `However, the prophet who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded him to speak or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die. And in case you should say in your heart: `How shall we know the word that Jehovah has spoken?' when the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that Jehovah did not speak. With presumptuousness the prophet spoke it... (NWT).' So, God himself has established the criteria for judging true and false prophets: (1) Is the utterance spoken in his name or in the name of other gods; and (2) does the word spoken occur or come true? Now it is simply a matter of comparing the Watchtower prophecies to this divinely inspired standard of judgment. Obviously the Jehovah's Witness organization has spoken in the name of Jehovah, so it is okay on point number one. But have the messages spoken occurred or come true? If not, then the condemnation of God is on the organization and it is worthy of death, because it has presumptuously pretended to speak for God. In the case of ancient Israel, where the standard of Deuteronomy 18:20-22 was first applied, prophets usually communicated their pronouncements by means of the spoken word. At times they addressed kings in private, and at other times, large gatherings of people in public places. In order to determine whether what was prophesied actually occurred or came true, hearers would have to testify as to what they had heard the prophet speak. But in the case of the Watchtower Society, most of its prophetic statements have been made in the pages of its books and magazines. Thus, they are preserved in black and white, and it becomes a simple matter of comparing what was said with what actually occurred. ... The things prophesied to take place in 1914, 1918, 1925, and 1975 did not happen, of course, so the Watchtower Society has proved to be a false prophet many times over. This should be discussed as dispassionately as possible. Let the Witness grasp the point without trying to hammer it in with an I-told-you-so! remark that would only get in the way of his admitting the facts. A better approach might be to conclude the discussion with a rereading of Deuteronomy 18:20-22, quoted above, perhaps adding also Jesus' words at Matthew 7:15, `Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves' [KJV]." (Reed, D.A., "How to Rescue Your Loved One from the Watchtower," [1989], Baker: Grand Rapids MI, Second printing, 1990, p.57-58,60).

"Note that most if not all of the major events expected by Russell, Rutherford. and the Watch Tower Society since Rutherford's day have not happened. Russell first believed that the rapture of the church would take place in 1878 and then in 1881. When that event did not occur as he had expected, he reinterpreted the significance of those years. He felt that a time of trouble would begin about 1910 and would end in 1914 or 1915: `But bear in mind that the end for 1914 is not the beginning, but the end of the time of trouble.' [WT, 1894] `The culmination of the trouble in October 1914 is clearly marked in the Scriptures and we are bound therefore to expect a beginning of that severe trouble not later than 1910; - with severe spasms between now and then. [WT, 1901] As noted earlier, Rutherford was equally certain about 1925, and for nearly a decade prior to 1975, the society pointed to that year. But all these prophecies have failed, and the society has been forced to reinterpret much of its eschatology. In a number of instances it has reinterpreted the significance of certain dates, while it no longer says anything about others. The year 1914 is now seen as having marked the beginning of the time of trouble rather than the end, while Jehovah's Witnesses no longer believe that dates which were important to Russell such as 1799, 1846, 1874, 1878, 1881, or 1910 have any special meaning. They have abandoned as wrong much of the system of prophetic calculation used by Russell and for a time by Rutherford." (Penton, M.J., 1997, "Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses," [1985], University of Toronto Press: Toronto ON, Second edition, p.166)

"The society therefore does not claim to be `inspired.' Like Pastor Russell, Jehovah's Witnesses today do admit that they can and do make mistakes. ... But there is another side to the matter of Witness attitudes with respect to chronology and prophetic speculation. In fact, it would be either a serious mistake or quite dishonest to argue that the restrained and undogmatic position just outlined has been the dominant one of Jehovah's Witnesses or Witness leaders over the years. In general, what has been the case, especially since Pastor Russell's death, has been that the Watch Tower Society has been extremely doctrinaire whenever it has held to a particular position, whether relating to prophetic speculation or otherwise. Then, later, when it became obvious that the doctrine in question was untenable, it would retreat to the assertion that Watch Tower leaders are not infallible and must progress with the light." (Penton, 1997, pp.168-169).

"For years the Watch Tower Society had proclaimed that Christ had returned invisibly in 1914 and the generation who had witnessed that year would see the `final end' of the system of things. Following the debacle of 1975, this doctrine began to become more and more of an embarrassment. Carl Olof Jonsson's The Gentile Times Reconsidered raised seriously damaging questions about the society's so-called biblical chronology that is used to support the 1914 date. The society has largely been able to discount that work, however, by disfellowshipping Jonsson and ignoring the most damning aspects of his work in an area which is far too complex for the average Jehovah's Witness to understand. Still, as year followed year and the generation of 1914 began to die off, it became obvious that, if Armageddon was again delayed, something would have to be done to avert another impending crisis in Witness date-setting. Consequently, beginning with the 15 February 1994 issue of The Watchtower, the society began to revise its eschatology. ... On 1 November 1995, the society came to grips with its greatest immediate eschatological problem by reinterpreting the meaning of the term `this generation' as used by Jesus at Matthew 24:34. As indicated above, the Watch Tower Society had long continued to teach that those who were alive in 1914 would see the end of the present world or system of things. Accordingly, `this generation' was understood to mean people living contemporaneously, in this case with the grand event of Christ's invisible presence and enthronement in 1914. Until a week after the society changed its `this generation doctrine,' Awake! was still making this proclamation about itself on its masthead: `Most important, this magazine builds confidence in the Creator's promise of a peaceful and secure new world before the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away.' Thus, because of this longstanding doctrine, Jehovah's Witnesses had speculated time and again over the years about the length of a biblical generation. In the 1 November 1995 Watchtower, however, the Society decided that it was wrong to hold that the term `this generation' could be linked to a specific date. It quoted with approval history professor Robert Wohl's statement in The Generation of 1914: `A historical generation is not defined by its chronological limits ... It is not a zone of dates.' Then it asserted that `in the final fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy [at Matthew 24 and 25] today, `this generation' apparently refers to the peoples of the earth who see the sign of Christ's presence but fail to mend their ways.' [WT, 1 November 1995, pp.18-19] What this means is that the Watch Tower Society, acting for the governing body of Jehovah's Witnesses, has created a situation whereby it can go on arguing that Christ came invisibly in 1914 and that the `final end' is near at hand, but the society can say, with some equivocation, as is noted below, that it no longer preaches even an approximate date for the apocalyptic events of the great tribulation. So now Jehovah's Witnesses are not so likely to be disappointed if the old system of things is not finally destroyed or the millennium does not begin by the year 2000." (Penton, 1997, pp.316-317).

1914: The Generation That Will Not Pass Away? #1

In January there were two separate news items about the deaths of two soldiers who had each fought in World War I (1914-18),

[Above: The Watchtower, May 15, 1984, cover. Comments from the Friends]

The older of the two was 110 and fought on the side of France, leaving only one other French World War I soldier, also aged 110, remaining:

"France's oldest WWI veteran dies," BBC, 20 January 2008 ... One of the last two surviving French veterans of World War I has died at the age of 110. Louis de Cazenave, who fought in the Battle of the Somme in 1916, died in his sleep at his home in Brioude, central France, his son Louis said. Mr de Cazenave's death leaves Lazare Ponticelli, also 110, as the last "poilu", or French WWI veteran. ...

The other was 107 and was the last known soldier to fight in the first World War on the side of Germany:

"Germany's 'last' WWI veteran dies," BBC, 26 January 2008 ... The man believed to have been Germany's last World War I veteran has died peacefully at the age of 107. Erich Kaestner, who at 18 was sent to the Western Front but served only four months in the army, died in a Cologne nursing home, his son said. ...

This highlights again the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society's "1914 The Generation That Will Not Pass Away" false prophecy, according to the Biblical standard in Deuteronomy 18:20-22 "when the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that Jehovah did not speak" (my emphasis):

"However, the prophet who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded him to speak or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die. And in case you should say in your heart: `How shall we know the word that Jehovah has not spoken?' when the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that Jehovah did not speak. With presumptuousness the prophet spoke it. You must not get frightened at him."

Again I have had to split this post into two-parts because it grew too long. Bible references are to the Society's New World Translation (NWT) unless otherwise indicated.

The Watchtower Society admitted in 1971 that the criteria for a true prophet included: "the true prophet would speak in Jehovah's name" and "the things foretold would come to pass" (my emphasis):

"In some cases, such as that of Moses, Elijah, Elisha, and Jesus, God's prophets performed miraculous works that attested the genuineness of their message and office. Not all, however, are recorded as performing such powerful works. The three essentials for establishing the credentials of the true prophet, as given through Moses, were: the true prophet would speak in Jehovah's name; the things foretold would come to pass (Deut. 18:20-22); and his prophesying must promote true worship, being in harmony with God's revealed word and commandments. (Deut. 13:1-4) ... Jesus' later warning concerning false prophets paralleled that of Moses. Though using his name, and giving `signs and wonders to lead astray,' their fruits would prove them `workers of lawlessness.' - Matt. 7:15-23; Mark 13:21-23; compare 2 Peter 2:1-3; 1 John 4:1-3. ... All such false prophets were to be put to death.-Zech. 13:2, 3; Deut. 13:5." ("Aid to Bible Understanding," Watchtower Bible & Tract Society: Brooklyn NY, Second edition, 1971, p.1348).

Indeed, in 1968, it admitted that, "those ... who predicted an `end to the world,' even announcing a specific date" but "The `end' did not come. ... were guilty of false prophesying" (my emphasis):

"True, there have been those in times past who predicted an `end to the world,' even announcing a specific date. The `end' did not come. They were guilty of false prophesying." ("A Time to `Lift Up Your Head' in Confident Hope," Awake! , October 8, 1968, p.23).

Since at least 1972 the Watchtower Society has claimed to be a "prophet" in the same sense that the Biblical prophets, such as Ezekiel were (the title of the article, "They shall know that a Prophet was among them," The Watchtower, April 1, 1972, p.197, is based on Jehovah's words to Ezekiel in Eze 2:5 & 33:33, distinguishing him from false prophets by his predictions coming true). In that article, the Society claims to be Jehovah's "special messengers, "the ones commissioned to speak for God," "to declare things to come" (my emphasis), and that from at least the time they were "known ... as International Bible Students" (which was founded in 1914 by the Society's founder Charles Taze Russell):

"A third way of coming to know Jehovah God is through his representatives. In ancient times he sent prophets as his special messengers. While these men foretold things to come, they also served the people by telling them of God's will for them at that time, often also warning them of dangers and calamities. People today can view the creative works. They have at hand the Bible, but it is little read or understood. So, does Jehovah have a prophet to help them, to warn them of dangers and to declare things to come? ... These questions can be answered in the affirmative. Who is this prophet? The clergy of the so-called `Christian' nations hold themselves before the people as being the ones commissioned to speak for God. But ... they have failed God and failed as proclaimers of his kingdom ... However, Jehovah did not let the people of Christendom, as led by the clergy, go without being warned ... He had a `prophet' to warn them. This `prophet' was not one man, but was a body of men and women. It was the small group of footstep followers of Jesus Christ, known at that time as International Bible Students. Today they are known as Jehovah's Christian witnesses." ("They shall know that a Prophet was among them," The Watchtower, April 1, 1972, p.197). [Click here for page image]

Here are quotes (all from Watchtower literature that I own, or have downloaded actual image copies from the Internet), so that I may show the originals to the JW elder named Charlie who is conducting a home `Bible' study with me (however see PS). The quotes are generally in descending chronological order (oldest first). They document that: 1) the Watchtower Society's original prophecy that "many," i.e. a "great crowd," of the generation that was "old enough to witness with understanding what took place when the `last days' began" in 1914," "would not pass away before Armageddon breaks out"; and 2) the Society then progressively modified its prophecy as it became apparent that it was nearing failure, thereby showing that the Society itself tacitly admitted it was a false prophecy, and therefore it was a false prophet, according to Dt 18:20-22 above. But the Watchtower Bible & Tracy Society may be able deceive its followers, and even itself (2Tim 3:13 NIV), but it cannot deceive God. He knows that if a prophecy needs to be changed to avoid it being shown to be false, then it always was false!

At least as early as 1955 (i.e. over half a century ago), the Watchtower Society predicted that "there is a great crowd of people of good will today living who will survive the world catastrophe of Armageddon," that "Armageddon is so near at hand it will strike the generation now living" (my emphasis):

"Because there is a great crowd of people of good will today living who will survive the world catastrophe of Armageddon and enter the world of new heavens and new earth without going down into the grave or ever afterward having the need to die and cease to exist. That means that Armageddon is so near at hand it will strike the generation now living." ("You May Survive Armageddon into God's New World," Watchtower Bible & Tract Society: Brooklyn NY, 1955, p.11).

and that "what is to happen inside this generation ... living since A.D. 1914" is that "Christendom and her religious organization" (i.e. everything but JWs) would be destroyed "in the opening phase of the `war of the great day of God the Almighty,"or Armageddon (my emphasis):

"The remnant of Jews who had called upon Jehovah's name through faith in his Son Jesus Christ escaped the frightful destruction upon earthly Jerusalem and Mount Zion at that climax of the `great and illustrious day of Jehovah.' This is not without solemn meaning for this generation living since A.D. 1914. For what happened back there to literal Jerusalem and Judea was a prophetic pattern of what is to happen inside this generation to their modern counterparts, Christendom and her religious organization, in the opening phase of the `war of the great day of God the Almighty.' ... the larger and final fulfillment of Joel's prophecy is within this generation .... That leaves Joel's prophecy ... to be fulfilled completely in all its details down here within this generation." (Ibid., 1955, pp.191-192).

However, I cannot see where the Society specified how many of this "great crowd" were from the "generation living since A.D. 1914," so I will not include the above prediction in my false prophecy test.

In 1958 the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society prophesied that, "Many are the people alive since 1914 who will still be living when it is time for Armageddon to begin" (my emphasis):

"We know Armageddon is near for another reason. Jesus said that the generation of people living when the `time of the end' began would not pass away before Armageddon breaks out. When did Jesus say this? When he told us about the many parts of the sign of the `time of the end.' That sign is made up of different happenings. All these happenings must come upon one generation to make up the sign. Since 1914 they have come. What does this mean? Jesus answers: `When you see all these things, know that he is near at the doors. Truly 1 say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.' (Matthew 24: 33, 34) Many are the people alive since 1914 who will still be living when it is time for Armageddon to begin." ("From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained ," Watchtower Bible & Tract Society: Brooklyn NY, 1958, p.205).

Nine years later, in 1967, the Watchtower Society added that it was of "the generation ... who saw with understanding the developing sign of the `last days' from their start in 1914," i.e. "the adult generation of that time," that "The end of this wicked system ... will come before all members of that generation pass away." And since then "the youngest" of that generation were "well over sixty years of age ... The time left" was "very short" (my emphasis):

"The end of all the chaotic conditions in this system of things will not be delayed. But when will it come? After enumerating the many unpleasant conditions marking this `time of the end,' Jesus added the key thought: `This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.' (Matthew 24:34) Which generation did he mean? The one that would see the beginning of the woes he mentioned. Thus the generation living in 1914 can expect to see the end of this wicked system of things. It is to be carefully noted that the youngest of those who saw with understanding the developing sign of the `last days' from their start in 1914 are now well over sixty years of age. The greater part of the adult generation of that time is now well along toward its complete passing away. The time left, then, is definitely limited. It is very short. Note, too, that Jesus pointedly said: `This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.' The end of this wicked system and of all wickedness will come before all members of that generation pass away. So in answer to the question: `How much longer will it be?' the Bible replies, `Not long, for the end of wickedness is near." ("Did Man Get Here by Evolution or by Creation?," Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of New York: Brooklyn NY, 1967, pp.171-172. Emphasis original).

So in 1958, with the youngest of the generation born in 1899 approaching sixty, the Society had shrunk "the great crowd" down to "many" and nine years later, in 1967, with that generation now "well over sixty," the "many" had been shrunk down to one, i.e. "before all members of that generation pass away"!

However, a year later in 1968, the "many" had shrunk down only to "some", i.e. "people still living who were alive in 1914 and saw what was happening then and who were old enough that they still remember those events ... Some of them will still be alive to see the end of this wicked system" (my emphasis):

"The Last Days of This Wicked System of Things THE Bible speaks of the time in which we are living as the `last days' or the `time of the end.' (2 Timothy 3:1; Daniel 11:40) The facts show that this is a limited period that has a definite beginning and a definite end. It began in 1914 when Jesus Christ was enthroned as king in the heavens. It will end when God destroys this present wicked system of things. What a relief it will be when the organizations and persons that cheat and oppress, and all who endanger the security of their fellowmen, are gone! ... How soon will that be? God's own Son, Jesus Christ, gives the answer. After drawing attention to the many things that mark the period from 1914 onward as the `time of the end,' Jesus said: `This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.' (Matthew 24:34) Which generation did he mean? ... Jesus had just referred to persons who would `see all these things.' `These things' are the events that have taken place since 1914 and those yet to occur down to the end of this wicked system. (Matthew 24:33) Persons born even as much as fifty years ago could not see `all these things,' They came on the scene after the foretold events were already under way. But there are people still living who were alive in 1914 and saw what was happening then and who were old enough that they still remember those events. This generation is getting up in years now. A great number of them have already passed away in death. Yet Jesus very pointedly said: `This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.' Some of them will still be alive to see the end of this wicked system. This means that only a short time is left before the end comes! (Psalm 90:10 ...) So now is the time to take urgent action if you do not want to be swept away with this wicked system." ("The Truth that Leads to Eternal Life," Watchtower Bible & Tract Society: Brooklyn NY, 1968, pp.94-95. Italics original).

Note also that the above prophecy specifically stated that "Persons born even as much as fifty years ago" , i.e. in 1918, "could not see `all these things.'" Moreover, in 1914 they had to "old enough that they still remember those events."

In the Awake! of October 8, 1968, the Society further defined how old they had to be in 1914 to "witness with understanding what took place" (italics original), i.e. they had to be at least "15 years of age" in 1914 (i.e. born in 1899), and it admitted that "The remaining ones are approaching old age" (my emphasis):

"THE fact that fifty-four years of the period called the `last days' have already gone by is highly significant. It means that only a few years, at most, remain before the corrupt system of things dominating the earth is destroyed by God. How can we be certain of this? One way is by noting what Jesus said when he gave his great prophecy about the `last days'. After he listed the many events that would mark this period, he also stated, `Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.' - Matt. 24:34. `Jesus was obviously speaking about those who were old enough to witness with understanding what took place when the `last days' began. Jesus was saying that some of those persons who were alive at the appearance of the `sign of the last days' would still be alive when God brought this system to its end. Even if we presume that youngsters 15 years of age would be perceptive enough to realize the import of what happened in 1914, it would still make the youngest of `this generation' nearly 70 years old today. So the great majority of the generation to which Jesus was referring has already passed away in death. The remaining ones are approaching old age. And remember, Jesus said that the end of this wicked world would come before that generation passed away in death. This, of itself, tells us that the years left before the foretold end comes cannot be many." ("What will the 1970's Bring?," Awake!, October 8, 1968, p.13-14. Italics original). [Click here for page image]

Fourteen years later, in 1982, the Society continued to prophesy that of "the generation of people who were living in 1914 ... some of them will still be alive to see the end of this wicked system." But whereas in 1968 they were "approaching old age," in 1972, "Those persons yet remaining of that generation are now very old," and so, if the prophecy was to be true, then "Shortly now there will be a sudden end to all wickedness and wicked people at Armageddon" (my emphasis):

"After considering the foregoing, is it not clear that `the sign' Christ gave and the evidences foretold by his disciples are now being fulfilled? Although there are many other proofs, those listed here should be enough to show that we really are living in the time the Bible foretold as the `last days.' ... Yet some persons may say: `Such things as wars, famines, pestilences and earthquakes have occurred often throughout history. So it would not be hard to foretell that they would occur again.' But think: The Bible not only foretold these things, but indicated that they would occur on a worldwide scale. Also, the Bible said that all these things would happen upon the generation that was alive in 1914. ... After drawing attention to the many things that have marked the period from 1914 onward, Jesus said: `This generation will by no means pass away until all these things [including the end of this system] occur.' (Matthew 24:34, 14) Which generation did Jesus mean? He meant the generation of people who were living in 1914. Those persons yet remaining of that generation are now very old. However, some of them will still be alive to see the end of this wicked system. So of this we can be certain: Shortly now there will be a sudden end to all wickedness and wicked people at Armageddon." ("You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth," Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of New York: Brooklyn NY, 1982, p.154).

By 1989, the Watchtower was still saying of "The present wicked system of things" that "some of the generation alive then will also be on hand to witness its complete end" (my emphasis):

"Last Days Definition: The Bible uses the expression `last days' to refer to the concluding time period leading up to a divinely appointed execution that marks the end of a system of things. The Jewish system with its worship built around the temple in Jerusalem experienced its last days from 33 to 70 C.E. What occurred then was pictorial of what would be experienced in a greatly intensified way and on a global scale at a time when all nations would be facing the execution of judgment decreed by God. The present wicked system of things, which extends worldwide, entered its last days in 1914, and some of the generation alive then will also be on hand to witness its complete end in the `great tribulation.'" ("Reasoning from the Scriptures," Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of New York: Brooklyn NY, Second edition, 1989, p.234).

And as "The `generation' that was alive at the beginning of fulfillment of the sign in 1914 is now well along in years," therefore "The time remaining must be very short" (my emphasis):

"To what do all these events of `the last days' point? Luke 21:31, 32: `When you see these things occurring, know that the kingdom of God is near [that is, the time when it will destroy the present wicked world and itself take full charge of earth's affairs]. Truly I say to you, This generation will by no means pass away until all things occur.' (The `generation' that was alive at the beginning of fulfillment of the sign in 1914 is now well along in years. The time remaining must be very short. World conditions give every indication that this is the case.)" (Ibid, 1989, p.239).

But the "some" had now shrunk down to, "Before the last members of the generation that was alive in 1914 will have passed off the scene" will "the end of this wicked world come":

"Before the last members of the generation that was alive in 1914 will have passed off the scene, all the things foretold will occur, including the `great tribulation' in which the present wicked world will end.- Matt. 24:21, 22, 34. When will the end of this wicked world come? Jesus answered: `Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father.' However, he also stated: `Truly I say to you that this generation [that was alive when `the sign' of `the last days' began its fulfillment] will by no means pass away until all these things occur.'-Matt. 24:36, 34. Also, after telling of events that would follow the establishment of the Kingdom in the hands of Jesus Christ in 1914, Revelation 12:12 adds: `Be glad, you heavens and you who reside in them! Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing he has a short period of time." (Ibid., 1989, pp.97-98. Emphasis original).

Continued in part #2.

PS: Charlie came yesterday, but in the midst of a friendly discussion, said he was not coming again, except to drop off a copy of "Should You Believe in the Trinity?" and the Watchtower Library CD. We parted on friendly terms and I will continue to pray for him. I may report on my meetings with him in the near future.

See `tagline' quotes below (my emphasis bold and original emphasis italics) from non-JW literature about this particular 1914 false prophecy of the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society.

Stephen E. Jones.
My other blogs: CreationEvolutionDesign & TheShroudofTurin

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"Matthew 24:34 "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things are fulfilled." (NKJV) Which generation? The subject is a matter of debate among Christian Bible readers-but not among Jehovah's Witnesses, because their organization has told them specifically that `the evidence points to the 1914 generation as the generation spoken of by Jesus. Thus, "this generation will by no means pass away until all these things (including the apocalypse) occur"' (The Watchtower, 2/15/86, p. 5). For many years, each issue of their Awake! magazine has featured this statement of purpose on page 2: `Most importantly, this magazine builds confidence in the Creator's promise of a peaceful and secure New Order before the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away.' The Awake! issue of October 8, 1968, defined the generation even more precisely by saying, `Jesus was obviously speaking about those who were old enough to witness with understanding what took place,' suggesting that these would be `youngsters 15 years of age' (p. 13, italics theirs). They said most definitely that `the `generation' logically would not apply to babies born during World War I' (The Watchtower, 10/1/78, p. 31). One need only calculate that someone fifteen years old in 1914 would be twenty-five years old in 1924, thirty-five years old in 1934-and eighty-five years old in 1984-to realize that the Watchtower's `generation that will not pass away' was almost gone by the mid-1980s. The prophecy was about to fail. But, rather than change the prophecy, JW leaders simply stretched the generation. Instead of fifteen-year-olds, who could witness `with understanding' what took place in 1914, they began to indicate instead that the generation would be made up of `those born around the time' (the very babies that they had earlier excluded!), saying: `If Jesus used `generation' in that sense and we apply it to 1914, then the babies of that generation are now 70 years old or older' (The Watchtower, 5/15/84, p. 5). ... persons who make false prophecies fall into the categories of those the Lord warned us to watch out for: `For false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect' (Matt. 24:24, NKJV). For information on the Watchtower organization's hundred-year history of false prophesying, see our discussion of Deuteronomy 18:20-22." (Reed, D.A., 1986, "Jehovah's Witnesses Answered Verse by Verse," Baker: Grand Rapids MI, Thirty-first printing, 2006, pp.56-57).

"Deuteronomy 18:20-22 `However, the prophet who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded him to speak or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die. And in case you should say in your heart: `How shall we know the word that Jehovah has not spoken?' when the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that Jehovah did not speak. With presumptuousness the prophet spoke it. You must not get frightened at him.' (NWT). The Watchtower organization identifies itself as `The Prophet,' saying: `This `prophet' was not one man, but was a body of men and women. It was the small group of footstep followers of Jesus Christ, known at that time as International Bible Students. Today they are known as Jehovah's Christian witnesses. They are still proclaiming a warning...' (The Watchtower, 4/1/72, p. 197). The added claim is made that: `Unless we are in touch with this channel of communication that God is using, we will not progress along the road to life, no matter how much Bible reading we do' (The Watchtower, 12/1/81, p. 27)." (Reed, 1986, pp.30-31).

"Are these claims true? Is the Watchtower organization really the Prophet, the channel of communication from God? Or, is it a false prophet, fitting the description of Deuteronomy 18:20-22? The test is simple: Step #1-We know the organization `spoke in the name of Jehovah'; Step #2-We must determine whether or not the prophecies actually did occur or come true. Let's examine the facts: Throughout half of its hundred-year history, the Watchtower Society taught the belief of its founder and first president, Charles Taze Russell, that the Great Pyramid of Egypt was `inspired' of God just like the Bible (see the Watchtower's book Thy Kingdom Come, 1903 edition, p. 362). The Society's publications translated inches of pyramid measurements into calendar years, in attempts to foretell future events. Thus, they predicted that the Battle of Armageddon `will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth's present rulership' (The Time Is at Hand, 1904 edition, p. 101). Obviously, this did not occur or come true. Still determined to act as a prophet, the Watchtower Society went on to predict an earthly resurrection for the year 1925: `They are to be resurrected as perfect men and constitute the princes or rulers in the earth, according to his promise.... Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old' (Watchtower's book Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920, pp. 89-90). Did this occur or come true? No! More recently, the organization misled millions into believing that `the end' would come in 1975. They asked: `Why Are You Looking Forward to 1975?' (title of article in The Watchtower, 8/15/68, p. 494): Are we to assume from this study that the battle of Armageddon will be all over by the autumn of 1975, and the long-looked-for thousand-year reign of Christ will begin by then? Possibly, but we wait to see how closely the seventh thousand-year period of man's existence coincides with the sabbathlike thousand-year reign of Christ. If these two periods run parallel with each other as to the calendar year, it will not be by mere chance or accident but will be according to Jehovah's loving and timely purposes... . It may involve only a difference of weeks or months, not years [p. 499]. Certainly, by now, enough weeks, months, and years have passed to prove that this prophecy concerning 1975 did not occur or come true." (Reed, 1986, pp.31-32).

"A JW may try to defend the Watchtower Society, saying that those false prophecies were all `mistakes' and that the organization has learned from these mistakes and no longer makes prophetic statements about when the end will come. In that case, ask the Witness to take out a copy of his latest Awake! magazine. Inside the front cover, on the page listing the contents of the magazine, there is a statement of purpose telling why Awake! is published. Ask the Witness to read it. As of this writing (1986), each issue still says: `Most importantly, this magazine builds confidence in the Creator's promise of a peaceful and secure New Order before the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away.' Another prophecy! ... The facts are inescapable: The Watchtower Society spoke as a prophet, in the name of God, and what was prophesied did not come true. What does this mean for the individual Jehovah's Witness? Invite one to read what God's Word says about false prophets-and then ask what God would have him or her do. The Bible contains these warnings from Jesus Christ: `Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.' `For false Christs and false prophets will arise ... ` (Matt. 7:15, and 24:24, RSV). And the strong words quoted above from Deuteronomy 18:20-22, besides expressing God's judgment that the false prophet `must die,' also tell listeners, `You must not get frightened at him.' Rather than remain fearfully obedient to Watchtower leaders, the individual Jehovah's Witness who recognizes the organization as a false prophet should quit following it and start following the true Prophet, Jesus Christ." (Reed, 1986, pp.32-33).

"'Jesus was obviously speaking about those who were old enough to witness with understanding what took place when the `last days' began.... Even if we presume that youngsters 15 years of age would be perceptive enough to realize the import of what happened in 1914, it would still make the youngest of `this generation' nearly 70 years old today... . Jesus said that the end of this wicked world would come before that generation passed away in death.' A 10/8/1968, p. 13. `Thus, when it comes to the application in our time, the `generation' logically would not apply to babies-born during World War I' WT 10/1/1978, p. 31. `It is the generation of people who saw the catastrophic events that broke forth in connection with World War I from 1914 onward.... If you assume that 10 is the age at which an event creates a lasting impression ...' WT 10/15/1980, p. 31. `If Jesus used `generation' in that sense and we apply it to 1914, then the babies of that generation are now 70 years old or older.... Some of them `will by no means pass away until all things occur.' WT 5/15/1984, p.5." (Reed, D.A., ed., 1990, "Index of Watchtower Errors, 1879 to 1989," Compiled by Steve Huntoon and John Cornell, Baker: Grand Rapids MI, p.102. Emphasis Reed's).

"'This Generation' `Jesus was obviously speaking about those who were old enough to witness with understanding what took place when the `last days' began.... Even if we presume that youngsters 15 years of age would be perceptive enough to realize the import of what happened in 1914, it would still make the youngest of `this generation' nearly 70 years old today... . Jesus said that the end of this wicked world would come before that generation passed away in death.' A 10/8/1968, p.13.... the generation alive in 1914, some will see the major fulfillment of Christ Jesus' prophecy and the destruction... .' A 10/8/1973, p.19.`Thus, when it comes to the application in our time, the `generation' logically would not apply to babies born during World War I' WT 10/1/1978, p.31.`It is the generation of people who saw the catastrophic events that broke forth in connection with World War I from 1914 onward.... If you assume that 10 is the age at which an event creates a lasting impression...... WT 10/15/1980, p.31.`If Jesus used `generation' in that sense and we apply it to 1914, then the babies of that generation are now 70 years old or older.... Some of them `will by no means pass away until all things occur.' WT 5/15/1984, p.5.`Before the 1914 generation completely dies out, God's judgment must be executed.' WT 5/1/1985, p.4. Awake! magazine discontinues statements in masthead about the generation that saw 1914. A 1/8/1987, p.4. Awake! magazine resumes statements in masthead about the generation that saw 1914. A 3/8/1988, p.4.`The Hebrews ... reckon seventy-five years as one generation... .' A 4/8/1988, p.14.`Most of the generation of 1914 has passed away. However, there are still millions on earth who were born in that year or prior to it.... Jesus' words will come true, `this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.' A 4/8/1988, p.14.`He [the apostle Paul] was also laying a foundation for a work that would be completed in our 20th century.' WT 1/1/1989, original magazine, p.12.`He [the apostle Paul] was also laying a foundation for a work that would be completed in our day.' WT 1/1/1989, bound volume, p.12." (Reed, 1990, pp.110-111).