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Prophecy
blunders of Jehovah's Witnesses -
Part 1
Prophetic claims
of their "God directed" Organization
As
one reads the prophetic statements below, it is important to bear in mind just
how bold the Organization is in claiming direct inspiration of God in what it
publishes. Yet what you will observe is an ever-changing system of doctrine.
Take careful note at how they make bold claims of events to happen in a specific
year, then as soon as the date passed, they do an about face and say, "we
never said that". Because the organization that revolves around print, it
is simply a matter of "being more noble minded and searching the Watchtower
to see if these things are so." (Acts
17:11)
Reading the quotes below causes one to ask, not what the Organization got wrong,
but did the Organization get anything right? Currently the Organization rejects
the following prophecies:
-
1877 'The End Of This World; that is
the end of the gospel and the beginning of the millennial age is nearer than
most men suppose; indeed we have already entered the transition period, which is
to be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation Dan. 12:3."
(N.H. Barbour and C.T. Russell, Three Worlds, and the Harvest of This World, p.
17).
-
1879 "Christ came in the character of
a Bridegroom in 1874.... at the beginning of the Gospel harvest." (Watchtower,
Oct 1879, p. 4)
-
1880 "We need not here repeat the
evidences that the "seventh trump" began its sounding A.D., 1840, and will
continue until the end of the time of trouble, and the end of "The times of the
Gentiles," A.D., 1914, and that it is the trouble of this "Great day," which is
here symbolically called the voice of the Archangel when he begins the
deliverance of fleshly Israel. "At that time shall Michael stand up, the great
prince ( Archangel ) which standeth for the children of thy people and there
shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation." Dan.
xii. 1. Nor will we here, again present the conclusive Bible proof that our Lord
came for his Bride in 1874, and has an unseen work as Reaper of the first-fruits
of this Gospel Age. (Zion's Watchtower November, 1880 p. 1)
-
1886 "The outlook at the opening of
the New Year has some very encouraging features. The outward evidences are that
the marshaling of the hosts for the battle of the great day of God Almighty, is
in progress while the skirmishing is commencing. … The time is come for Messiah
to take the dominion of earth and to overthrow the oppressors and corrupters of
the earth, (Rev. 19:15 and 11:17 , 18) preparatory to the establishment of
everlasting peace upon the only firm foundation of righteousness and truth."
(Zion's Watchtower, January, 1886;Watchtower reprints I, p. 817)
-
1888 "In this chapter we present the
Bible evidence proving that the full end of the times of the gentiles, i.e., the
full end of their lease of dominion, will be reached in A.D. 1914; and that the
date will be the farthest limit of the rule of imperfect men. And be it
observed, that if this is shown to be a fact firmly established by the
Scriptures, it will prove; Firstly, that at that date the Kingdom of God, for
which our Lord taught us to pray, saying, Thy Kingdom come, will obtain full,
universal control, and that it will then be set up, or firmly established, in
the earth, on the ruins of present institutions." (The Time Is At Hand, 1888, p.
76, 77)
-
1889 "Be not surprised, then, when in
subsequent chapters we present proofs that the setting up of the Kingdom of God
is already begun, that it is pointed out in prophecy as due to begin the
exercise of power in A.D. 1878, and that the 'battle of the great day of God
Almighty (Rev. 16:14) which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of
earth's present rulership, is already commenced. The gathering of the armies is
plainly visible from the standpoint of God's word." (Studies in the Scriptures,
Vol. 2, The Time Is At Hand, 1889 Ed., p. 101. The 1915 Edition of this texts
changed "A.D. 1914" to read 'A.D. 1915')
-
1889 "Here we furnish the evidence
that from the creation of Adam to (but not including) A.D. 1873 was six thousand
years. And though the Bible contains no direct statement that the seventh
thousand will be the epoch of Christ's reign, the great Sabbath Day of
restitution to the world, yet the venerable tradition is not without a
reasonable foundation." (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 2, p. 39. 1889)
-
1889 "If, then, the seventh
thousand-year period of earth's history be an epoch specially noted as the
period of Christ's reign, we shall by showing that it began in 1873, be proving
that we are already in it." (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 2, p. 40. 1889)
-
1889 "In the coming 26 years, all
present governments will be overthrown and dissolved." (C.T. Russell, Studies in
the Scriptures, Vol. 2, p. 98-99, 1889)
-
1889 "In this chapter we present the
Bible evidence which indicates that six thousand years from the creation of Adam
were complete with A.D. 1872; and hence that, since A.D. 1872 are
chronologically entered upon the seventh thousand or the Millennium." (Studies
in the Scriptures, Vol. 2, p. 33, 1889)
-
1889 "Remember that the forty years'
Jewish Harvest ended October A.D. 69, and was followed by the complete overthrow
of that nation; and that likewise the forty years of the Gospel age harvest will
end October, 1914, and that likewise the overthrow of 'Christendom,' so-called,
must be expected to immediately follow." (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 2, p.
245)
-
1894 "Seventeen years ago people said,
concerning the time features presented in Millennial Dawn, They seem reasonable
in many respects, but surely no such radical changes could occur between now and
the close of 1914: if you had proved that they would come about in a century or
two, it would seem much more probable. What changes have since occurred, and
what velocity is gained daily? 'The old is quickly passing and the new is coming
in.' Now, in view of recent labor troubles and threatened anarchy, our readers
are writing to know if there may not be a mistake in the 1914 date. They say
that they do not see how present conditions can hold out so long under the
strain. We see no reason for changing the figures-nor could we change them if we
would. They are, we believe, God's dates, not ours. But bear in mind that the
end of 1914 is not the date for the beginning, but for the end of the time of
trouble." ( Zion 's Watchtower, Can It Be Delayed until 1914? C. T. Russell July
15, 1894 , Also in Watchtower Reprints, l894 p. 1677)
-
1894 "A few more years will wind up
the present order of things, and then the chastened world will stand face to
face with the actual conditions of the established Kingdom of God. And yet the
course of the Church is to be finished within the space of time that
intervenes." (Watchtower p. 56, 1894)
-
1894 "We see no reason for changing
the figures - nor could we change them if we would. They are, we believe, God's
dates, not ours. But bear in mind that the end of 1914 is not the date for the
beginning, but for the end of the time of trouble." (Watchtower July 15, 1894, p
266; p 1677 reprints)
-
1894 "We see no reason for changing
the figures nor could we change them if we would. They are, we believe, Gods
dates, not ours. But bear in mind that the end of 1914 is not the date for the
beginning, but for the end of the time of trouble." (Watchtower, July 15, 1894,
Reprints p. 1677)
-
1897 "...this measurement is 3416
inches, symbolizing 3416 years.... This calculation shows A.D. 1874 as marking
the beginning of the period of trouble...." (Russell, Studies in the Scriptures:
Thy Kingdom Come, Series III, p. 342, 1897 edition [1916 edition changed to
read: "We find it to be 3457 inches, symbolizing 3457 years.... Thus the Pyramid
witnesses that the close of 1914 will be the beginning of the time of
trouble...."] note: the measurement was the length of an interior passageway
discovered inside the Pyramids. It has no reference in Scripture.)
-
1897 "Complete destruction of the
'powers that be' of 'this present evil worlds - political, financial,
ecclesiastical - about the close of the Time of the Gentiles; October A.D.
1914." (C.T. Russell, Studies in the Scriptures, IV, p. 622, 1897)
-
1897 "Our Lord, the appointed King, is
now present, since October 1874, A.D....and the formal inauguration of his
kingly office dates from April 1878, A.D." (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol.4,
p.621, 1897)
-
1897 "The distillery, the brewery, the
saloon, the brothel, the pool-room, all time-killing and character-depraving
business will be stopped; and their servants will be given something to do that
will be beneficial to themselves and others. "Similarly, the building of
war-vessels, the manufacture of munitions of war and defense will cease, and
armies will be disbanded. The new Kingdom will have no need of these, but will
have abundant power to execute summary justice in the punishment of evil
doers... "The banking and brokerage business, and other like employment's, very
useful under present conditions, will no longer have a place; for under the new
conditions the human race will be required to treat each others as members of
one family, and private capital and money to loan and to be needed will be
things of the past. Landlords and renting agencies will find new employment
also, because the new King will not recognize as valid patents and deeds now on
record. "...namely, that with present conveniences, if the whole people were put
to work systematically and wisely, not more than three hours labor for each
individual would be necessary." (Studies, Vol. IV, pp. 633-635, 1897)
-
1902 "In view of this strong Bible
evidence concerning the Times of the Gentiles, we consider it an established
truth that the final end of the kingdoms of this world, and the full
establishment of the kingdom of God, will be accomplished by the end of A.D.
1914." (The Time Is At Hand, 1902 edition, p. 99)
-
1903 "When Uranus and Jupiter meet in
the humane sign of Aquarius in 1914, the long-promised era will have made a fair
start in the work of setting man free to work out his own salvation, and will
insure the ultimate realization of dreams and ideals of all poets and sages in
history." (Watchtower, May 1, 1903, p. 130-131; p3184 Reprints)
-
1904 "According to our expectations
the stress of the great time of trouble will be on us soon, somewhere between
1910 and 1912, culminating with the end of the 'Times of the Gentiles,' October,
1914." (The New Creation, Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 6, p. 579, 1904)
-
1908 "In view of this strong Bible
evidence concerning the Times of the Gentiles, we consider it an established
truth that the final end of the kingdoms of this world, and the full
establishment of the Kingdom of God, will be accomplished at the end of A. D.
1914." (The Time Is At Hand; 1889; 1908 ed.; p. 99)
-
1908 "True, it is expecting great
things to claim, as we do, that within the coming twenty-six years all present
governments will be overthrown and dissolved" (The Time Is At Hand; 1889; 1908
ed.; p. 99)
-
1914 "Even if the time of our change
should not come within ten years, what more should we ask? Are we not a blessed,
happy people? Is not our God faithful? If anyone knows anything better, let him
take it. If any of you ever find anything better, we hope you will tell us."
(Watchtower, Dec 15, 1914, p. 376.)
-
1914 "Studying God's Word, we have
measured the 2520 years, the seven symbolic times, from that year 606 B.C. and
have found that it reached down to October, 1914, as nearly as we were able to
reckon. We did not say positively that this would be the year." (Watchtower,
November 1, 1914, p. 325)
-
1914 "While it's possible that
Armageddon may begin next Spring, yet this purely speculation to attempt to say
just when. We see, however, that there are parallels between the close of the
Jewish age and this Gospel age. These parallels seem to point to the year just
before us part particularly the early months." (Watchtower Reprints, VI, Sept 1,
1914, p. 5527)
-
1914 "There is absolutely no ground
for Bible students to question that the consummation of this Gospel age is now
even at the door, and that it will end as the Scriptures foretell in a great
time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation. We see the
participants in this great crisis banding themselves together… The great crisis,
the great clash, symbolically represented as a fire, that will consume the
ecclesiastical heavens and the social earth, is very near." (Watchtower
Reprints, VI, May 1, 1914, p. 5450)
-
1915 "The present great war in Europe
is the beginning of the Armageddon of the Scriptures Rev 19:16 -20). It will
eventuate in the complete overthrow of all the systems of error which have so
long oppressed the people of God and deluded the world. We believe the present
war cannot last much longer until revolutions shall break out" (C.T. Russell,
Pastor Russell's Sermons, p. 676, Sometime during World War I)
-
1915 Here we furnish the evidence that
from the creation of Adam to A.D. 1873 was six thousand years. And though the
Bible contains no direct statement that the seventh thousand will be the epoch
of Christ's reign, the great Sabbath Day of restitution to the world, yet the
venerable tradition is not without reasonable foundation. (The Time Is At Hand;
1889; 1915 ed.; p. 39)
-
1915 If, then, the seventh
thousand-year period of earth's history be an epoch specially noted as the
period of Christ's reign, we shall, by showing that it began in A.D. 1873, be
proving that we are already in it. (The Time Is At Hand; 1889; 1915 ed.; p. 40)
-
1915 Firstly, that at that date [1914]
the Kingdom of God, for which our Lord taught us to pray, saying, "Thy Kingdom
come," will begin to assume control, and that it will then shortly be "set up,"
or firmly established, in the earth, on the ruins of present institutions. (The
Time Is At Hand; 1889; 1915 ed.; p. 77)
-
1915 "In view of this strong Bible
evidence concerning the Times of the Gentiles, we consider it an established
truth that the final end of the kingdoms of this world, and the full
establishment of the kingdom of God, will be accomplished near the end of A.D.
1915. (The Time Is At Hand, 1915 edition, p. 99)
-
1915 "Be not surprised, then, when in
subsequent chapters we present proofs that the setting up of the Kingdom of God
is already begun, that it is pointed out in prophecy as due to begin the
exercise of power in A.D. 1878, and that the 'battle of the great day of God
Almighty' (Rev. 16:14), which will end in A.D. 1915, with the complete overthrow
of the earth's present rulership, is already commenced." (The Time Is At Hand;
1889; 1915 ed.; p. 101)
-
1915 "As in the type that date - three
and a half years after the death of Christ - marked the end of all special favor
to the Jew and the beginning of favor to the Gentiles, so we recognize A.D. 1881
as marking the close of the 'high calling,' or invitation to the blessing
peculiar to this age - to become joint-heirs with Christ and partakers of the
divine nature." (The Time Is At Hand; 1889; 1915 ed.; p. 235)
-
1915 So it was in this harvest also up
to A.D. 1878 the time prophecies and the fact of the Lord's presence,
substantially as here presented, though less clearly, was our message. Since
then the work has widened, and the view of other truths has become brighter and
clearer; but the same fact and scriptures, teaching the same time and presence,
stand unchallenged and incontrovertible. (The Time Is At Hand; 1889; 1915 ed.;
p. 236)
-
1915 The Gentile Times prove that the
present governments must all be overturned about the close of A.D. 1915; and
Parallelism above shows that this period corresponds exactly with the year A.D.
70, which witnessed the completion of the downfall of the Jewish polity. (The
Time Is At Hand, 1915 edition, p. 242)
-
1915 We are already living in the
seventh millennium - since October 1872. (The Time Is At Hand; 1889; 1915 ed.;
p. 363)
-
1915 The Battle of Armageddon, to
which this war is leading, will be a great contest between right and wrong, and
will signify the complete and everlasting overthrow of the wrong, and the
permanent establishment of Messiah's righteous kingdom for the blessing of the
world. … Our sympathies are broad enough to cover all engaged in the dreadful
strife, as our hope is broad enough and deep enough to include all in the great
blessings which our Master and his Millennial kingdom are about to bring to the
world. (Watchtower Reprints, VI, April 1, 1915, p. 5659)
-
1915 To our understanding the general
call to this joint heirship with our Redeemer as members of the New Creation of
God, ceased in 1881. (The New Creation; 1899; 1915 ed.; p. 95)
-
1916 "The Bible chronology herein
presented shows that the six great 1000 year days beginning with Adam are ended,
and that the great 7th Day, the 1000 years of Christ's Reign, began in 1873."
(The Time Is At Hand, Foreword, p 2, 1916)
-
1916 We see no reason for doubting,
therefore, that the Times of the Gentiles ended in October, 1914; and that a few
more years will witness their utter collapse and the full establishment of God's
kingdom in the hands of Messiah." (Watchtower Reprints, VI, Sept 1, 1916, p.
5950)
-
1917 'There will be no
slip-up...Abraham should enter upon the actual possession of his promised
inheritance in the year 1925' (Watchtower Oct. 15, 1917, p. 6157)
-
1917 The Spring of 1918 will bring
upon Christendom a spasm of anguish greater even than that experienced in the
Fall of 1914.... The travail that is coming is to be upon nominal Zion-
"Christendom" … "Babylon"; and it will be a great and sore affliction- "A Time
of Trouble such as was not since there was a nation." (The Finished Mystery p.
62 [stated to be the "Posthumous Work of Pastor Russell" on p. 2])
-
1917 'No doubt Satan believed the
Millennial Kingdom was due to be set-up in 1915...Be that as it may, there is
evidence that the establishment of the Kingdom in Palestine will probably be in
1925, ten years later than we once calculated.' (Studies In The Scriptures, Vol
7, The Finished Mystery, p. 128)
-
1917 Some interesting developments in
connection with the setting up of the Kingdom may occur in 1920, six years after
the great Time of Trouble began. It would not be strange if this were so, when
we recall that after forty years wandering in the wilderness the Israelites came
into possession of the land of Canaan after a further six years. As these
matters are still future we can but wait to see. We anticipate that the
"earthquake" will occur early in 1918, and that the "fire" will come in the fall
of 1920. (The Finished Mystery, 1917, p. 178, Comments on Revelation 11:13. [The
1926 ed. reads: "and that the 'fire' will follow in due course."])
-
1917 "And the mountains were not
found. Even the republics will disappear in the fall of 1920. And the mountains
were not found. Every kingdom of earth will pass away, be swallowed up in
anarchy." (The Finished Mystery, 1917 edition, p. 258)
-
1917 Pastor Russell's mission, in
large part, was to advise Christendom of its impending end, in the time of
world-wide trouble. It is the Divine judgment upon the nations. … There will be
no chance of escaping from destruction, through the nations. … The trouble is
due to the dawning of the Day of Christ, the Millennium. It is the Day of
Vengeance, which began in the world war of 1914 and which will break like a
furious morning storm in 1918." (The Finished Mystery, 1917, p. 404)
-
1917 "Until 1878 the nominal church
had been in a sense God's sanctuary or temple; but He was from then on,
culminating in 1918, to remove it with a stroke or plague of erroneous doctrines
and deeds Divinely permitted. The Church was the strength of Christendom, that
about which its life centered, and around which its institutions were built. It
was the desire of the eyes of the people, that which all Christians loved.
Nevertheless, God was to make manifest the profanation which ecclesiasticism had
made of the Christian Church, and to cause the church organizations to become to
Him as one dead, an unclean thing, not to be touched, or mourned. And the
'children of the church' shall perish by the sword of war, revolution and
anarchy, and by the Sword of the Spirit be made to see that they have lost their
hope of life on the spirit plane -- that 'the door is shut."' (Studies in the
Scriptures, vol. 7, 1917 p. 484.)
-
1917 Also, in the year 1918, when God
destroys the churches wholesale and the church members by million, it shall be
that any that escape shall come to the works of Pastor Russell to learn the
meaning of the downfall of Christianity. (The Finished Mystery, 1917 edition, p.
485)
-
1917 As the fleshly-minded apostates
from Christianity, siding with the radicals and revolutionaries, will rejoice at
the inheritance of desolation that will be Christendom's after 1918, so will God
do to the successful revolutionary movement; it shall be utterly desolated,
"even all of it." Not one vestige of it shall survive the ravages of world-wide
all embracing anarchy, in the fall of 1920. (Rev. II: 7-13) (The Finished
Mystery, 1917, p. 542, [The 1926 ed. reads: "in the end of the time of
trouble."])
-
1917 This vision of the prophet
Ezekiel depicts the established theocratic Kingdom of God on earth, civil and
religious, spiritual and earthly. . . . The Temple . . . is a type and symbol of
"better things to come," after the wars, revolutions and anarchy of the period
from 1914 to 1925 have passed. (The Finished Mystery, 1917, p. 569 [The 1926 ed.
reads: "of the time of trouble have passed."])
-
1918 "Therefore we may confidently
expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful
prophets of old, particularly those named by the Apostle in Hebrews 11, to the
condition of human perfection." (Millions Now Living Will Never Die, p. 89)
-
1920 '...we may expect 1925 to witness
the return of these faithful men of Israel from the condition of death, being
resurrected' (Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920, p. 88)
-
1920 "A simple calculation of these
jubilees brings us to this important fact: Seventy jubilees of fifty years each
would be a total of 3500 years. That period of time beginning 1575 before A.D. 1
of necessity would end in the fall of 1925, at which time the type ends and the
great antitype must begin. What, then, should we expect to take palace? In the
type there must be a full restoration; beginning of restoration of all things.
The chief thing to be restored is the human race to life; and since other
Scriptures definitely fix the fact that there will be a resurrection of Abraham,
Isaac, Jacob and other faithful ones of old, and that these will have the first
favor, we may expect 1925 to witness the return of these faithful men and Israel
from the condition of death, being resurrected and fully restored to perfect
humanity and made the visible, legal representatives of the new order of things
on earth. (Millions now living will never die, 1920 p 89-90)
-
1920 'Therefore we may confidently
expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful
prophets of old' (Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920, p. 89-90)
-
1920 "Based upon the argument
heretofore set forth, then, that the old order of things, the old world, is
ending and is therefore passing away, and that the new order is coming in, and
that 1925 shall mark the resurrection of the faithful worthies of old and the
beginning of reconstruction, it is reasonable to conclude that millions of
people now on the earth will be still on the earth in 1925. Then, based upon the
promises set forth in the divine Word, we must reach the positive and
indisputable conclusion that millions now living will never die." (Millions Now
Living Will Never Die. 1920 p. 97)
-
1921 "'The time of the end' embraces a
period from 1799 A.D., as above indicated, to the time of the complete overthrow
of Satan's empire and the establishment of the kingdom of the Messiah. The time
of the Lord's second presence dates from 1874, as above stated. The latter
period is within the first named, of course, and in the latter part of the
period known as "the time of the end." (The Harp of God, 1921 p. 236)
-
1921 "In Biblical symbology a time
means a year of twelve months of thirty days each, or 360 days. Each day is
considered for a year... Here are mentioned, then, three and a half times of 360
prophetic days each, or a total of 1260 prophetic days, equal to 1260 years. The
Prophet then was shown that 1260 years would mark the beginning of the time of
the end of this beastly order. Twelve-hundred sixty years from A.D. 539 brings
us to 1799 -- another proof that 1799 marks the beginning of the 'time of the
end.' This also shows that it is from the date 539 A.D. that the other prophetic
days of Daniel must be counted." … "The most important thing to which all the
prophecies point and for which the apostles looked forward has been the second
coming of the Lord. It is described by the Prophet as a blessed time. Daniel
then says: 'Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred
and five and thirty days.' (Daniel 12:12). The watchers here, without question
are those who were instructed by the Lord to watch for his return. This date,
therefore, when understood, would certainly fix the time when the Lord is due at
his second appearing. Applying the same rule, then, of a day for a year, 1335
days after 539 A.D. brings us to A.D. 1874, at which time, according to Biblical
chronology, the Lord's second presence is due. If this calculation is correct,
from that time forward we ought to be able to find some evidences marking the
Lord's presence."(Harp of God, 1921, pp. 229-230.)
-
1921 "The natural harvest was used by
the Lord to illustrate his harvest of Christians. In the Jewish natural harvest
it was customary to glean the field after the regular harvest was over. We
should therefore expect to find a harvest period from 1878 to 1918, and
thereafter for a time a gleaning work to be done, which we will indicate. The
question now is, Do we find a period of harvest in the gospel age after 1874
which serves as a fulfillment of the prophecy of the Lord?" (Studies in the
Scriptures, Volume 7 1921, p. 236.)
Prophecy
blunders of Jehovah's Witnesses
- Part 2
Further information can be found in the book:
Answers
To My Jehovah's Witness Friends by Thomas Heinze
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