Question:
Jehovah's Witnesses in 1914/1975?
Bubbles™
2011-06-13 08:48:11 UTC
What happened in these years, and why did many leave the truth in 1975? Was it a mix up with their own reasoning's?

Thank you.

Thank you.
Fifteen answers:
בַר אֱנָשׁ (bar_enosh)
2011-06-13 09:06:45 UTC
Some had expectations that were not fulfilled in 1914 and 1975.



The apostles of Jesus similarly had expectations that were not fulfilled in the first century.



1 Corinthians 16:22 (55 AD):

"Come, O Lord!" (New International Version, NIV)



Philippians 4:5 (61 AD): "The Lord is near." (NIV)



James 5:8 (62 AD): "The Lord's coming is near." (NIV)



1 Peter 4:7 (64 AD): "The end of all things is near." (NIV)



1 John 2:18 (98 AD): "Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the anitchrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour." (NIV)



Revelation 1:1,3 (96 AD): "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place.....Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near." (NIV)



Revelation 22:20 (96 AD): "He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus." (NIV)



Because these expectations of Christ's return were not fulfilled in the first century did not make the apostles "false prophets."



Christians in all ages eagerly expect the final fulfillment of prophecies about Christ. And Jesus, while saying that no one knows the exact time, also said that we should "keep on the watch" for him. (Mark 13:32-37)



But as for 1975, an examination of the totals for active publishers from that time shows that "many" did not leave the truth, comparatively speaking.



Some did, just as some ceased to follow Jesus Christ because they did not understand his teaching.



"From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him." -- John 6:66, New International Version



It has not been substantiated that "many" left the truth.



And it is seldom mentioned that "many" later returned.



Jehovah's Witnesses never said that Armageddon would come in 1975. Published accounts show that 1975 was only said to be the end of 6,000 years of human creation, according to Bible chronology.



Some apparently failed to heed the advice to not go "beyond what was written" (1 Corinthians 4:6) and indulged in overeager speculation about that year.



But Jehovah's Witnesses do not serve God with an end-date in mind. Our service to God is a lifelong commitment, encompassing every day and every year.



Those who cut-and-paste exaggerated lists of dates on which Witnesses have allegedly predicted the End continue to expand their lists with dates pulled out of thin air. An examination of those dates shows that they are bogus and were not predictions as to when Armageddon or the End would come.
no name
2011-06-13 17:26:38 UTC
1914 was indeed a pivotal date because that is the date Jesus became our reigning king. He also referred to this at his presence in Matt chapter 24 when he gave his disciples the signs that would signify the last days.



So 1914 was the beginning of the end in a sense, that is the end of this system of things. Here is a little snippet:



"It is a historical fact worth noting that, on the basis of the points and evidence above presented, the March 1880 edition of the Watch Tower magazine identified the year 1914 as the time for the close of “the appointed times of the nations” (and the end of the lease of power granted the Gentile rulers). This was some 34 years before the arrival of that year and the momentous events it initiated. In the August 30, 1914, edition of The World, a leading New York newspaper at that time, a feature article in the paper’s Sunday magazine section commented on this as follows: “The terrific war outbreak in Europe has fulfilled an extraordinary prophecy. For a quarter of a century past, through preachers and through press, the ‘International Bible Students’ . . . have been proclaiming to the world that the Day of Wrath prophesied in the Bible would dawn in 1914.”





1975- Marked 6000 years of human rule. "why did many leave the truth in 1975" ? that is simply not true. Only a very small percent left due to their own foolish presumptuousness.
≈ nohglf
2011-06-13 19:00:47 UTC
Important lessons resulting from the events you allude to are the need to



1.) Acquire and maintain a waiting attitude



2.) Do not be attached to a certain date as to when the end will come



3.) Be open to further refinements with regards to the understanding of biblical prophecy



______________________________________________________________________________





Below are some excerpts from the Proclaimers book regarding the events in 1914



"World War I was raging, and at that time it was believed that the war was leading into a time of global anarchy that would result in the end of the existing system of things. There were also other expectations concerning 1914. Alexander H. Macmillan, who had been baptized in September 1900, later recalled: “A few of us seriously thought we were going to heaven during the first week of that October.” In fact, recalling the morning that Russell announced the end of the Gentile Times, Macmillan admitted: “We were highly excited and I would not have been surprised if at that moment we had just started up, that becoming the signal to begin ascending heavenward—but of course there was nothing like that.” (Jehovah's Witnesses - Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, 61-62)





The next paragraph contains this quote from Brother Russell



"Brethren, those of us who are in the right attitude toward God are not disappointed at any of His arrangements. We did not wish our own will to be done; so when we found out that we were expecting the wrong thing in October, 1914, then we were glad that the Lord did not change His Plan to suit us. We did not wish Him to do so. We merely wish to be able to apprehend His plans and purposes.” (Proclaimers, 62)



With regards to events Shortly after October 1914



"No, the Bible Students were not ‘taken home’ to heaven in October 1914. Nevertheless, the Gentile Times did end in that year. Clearly, the Bible Students had more to learn as to the significance of 1914." (Proclaimers, 62)



There is significance with the year 1914 (the Gentile Times ended and also Christ's invisible presence would begin in 1914) , however the problem was there were those that thought 1914 was the end and ascribed some significance that didn't belong to that time.



Both events in 1914 and 1975 stress the importance of relying on Jehovah's timetable and plans with regards to prophecy as stated in the scriptures versus attaching our hopes to a date that we think the end may come (Matthew 24:36).
Quietly Jehovah
2011-06-13 17:14:01 UTC
Those that left the truth because they took leaning on their own understanding (Proverbs 3:5) rather than what Jesus said that it doesn't belong to us to know the times and season that Jehovah has set for conclusion of this system of things (Acts 1:7).

These such ones are now spritually asleep and no longer on the watch. (Matthew 24:42)



Rather than releasing they had put trust in their own mistaken conclusions rather than what Jesus said that nobody knows the day or hour other than the Father they fell away. Being a Jehovah's Witness is not an automatic protection to misguided reasonings if they allow them to enter their hearts (Jeremiah 17:9). Those that remained in Jehovah's service were cleansed from the wicked among them.
Liz
2011-06-14 12:32:07 UTC
!914 End of the Gentile times, 2520 years had passed since the last King in Israel, Christ enthroned as king, "down the great dragon was hurled and his angels with him"



1975 was the end of 6,000 years of mankinds history (not the history of the literal, physical Earth)

Many thought that the end of the system was here. I was 13 and preaching and I was so excited because although "some" were thinking it would/could mean the end of this world as we knew it, the ones that were PREACHING and were Teaching kept talking them down saying, NO WE DO NOT KNOW THE DATE and TIME.



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Show resources

Luke 12:40



New International Version (NIV)



40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect







I had some kind anointed regular pioneers that LOVED Jehovah and followed Jesus wherever he goes talking to my sisters and I at the time and they told us that many were going to be stumbled because this time DID NOT give people license to buy up all the "good life" and not worry about paying for it. Many were doing just that, they felt that the Watchtower society was saying it was the end of the system, but as usual they were just telling us to stay Awake to the times.



I watched people leaving and shouting "false prophecy" when they had to "pay the price"of all they "stored up" bought and didn't think they would have to pay for, homes and boats they had used for a year..



One in here said she was too embarrassed to preach after "the false prophecy?" well she should have been if she wasn't paying attention to what the society had said all along.



This time period as 1914 was a time of shake up, knock off the ones that were living in their hearts for this system and for it to end, you know "skate"...... they were living for a date.



When I got baptized in 1978 3 years after so many VERY angry people had left, I was more impressed with Jehovah's wisdom then ever before.



Today when people think someone has money they cozy up to it like it was their life.

When people think they can get away with something because the mob or crowd is (like looting after a strenuous time) they try.



When people think that they have had enough, or been duped they leave in a huff.



There are STILL some that made that mistake and are still VERY vocal about it.

Maybe like a disgruntled wife that the husband left her for a younger richer model or something.



I was there, the society NEVER duped anyone, they said heads up this COULD mean.



I will tell you this much, this time taught me that if you are to love and that love is real,

it will NEVER embarrass you out of the love because of your own limited reasoning.

If you love and treasure something, you stick with it.



Jehovah really showed WHO served him for what reason.



People weren't embarrassed because of what the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society said,

they HAD to be embarrassed for a different reason, like they THOUGHT they were going to get something MORE out of their few years of "love" or "service" to Jehovah.



That isn't what the Creator of dynamic energy is looking for he is looking for true love, true respect, truth..



I remember thinking when I was 13 why are these people thinking the time is NOW, the scriptures we are TOLD to look in to say, NO ONE KNOWS THAT DAY AND HOUR ONLY THE FATHER,

and "when they are saying "Peace and Security" and "when you think the hour to be, it will not"



Jehovah God the reader of hearts is no dummy. And I am impressed because you simply cannot pull the wool over his eyes..



These people that are still moaning and yelling and blaming, they are shouting fraud and hoax, cult and false prophet...



*sigh.... wow..



And here the rest of us sit, going wow.... We have learned Jehovah will take care of this.
Linda
2011-06-13 16:13:40 UTC
In 1914 Jesus took up his throne and began to rule. His first act as king was to throw Satan and his followers out of heaven. They were then confined to the earth and in their fury have caused the very signs that Jesus gave us to know that he had begun to rule.



In 1975 there was a major shakeup in the organization. Misguided information came down to some of the congregations that the world would end in 1975 and many congregations were telling their members to preach this and not to get married or go to school or have children, etc.



I was one of those I am sorry to say, who left the organization because of it. I was too embarrassed to preach this. The truth is that apostates had infiltrated the very top levels of our leadership. The truth was eventually discovered and things were corrected.



There have been many changes over the years as "the light grows brighter". If you could find an early copy of the Watchtower you would see that it had a cross on it's cover. Even our songbook has been changed several times, the last being last summer. It started with most of the songs praising Jesus and calling him our master. It now, properly praises God.



God has graciously corrected and refined us over the years and will continue to do so throughout eternity.

We have a wonderful brotherhood of over 7,000,000 million but we are constantly stepping on each others toes and hurting each others feelings and having to apologize when we don't really want to :)



But we are learning and will continue to learn. God had promised us a world of perfect love in the future.

Don't you think that is worth working for?
SUNSHINE
2011-06-13 16:39:50 UTC
1914 was the end of the gentile times - and Christ's invisible return

1975 marked 6,000 years since Adam's creation.



** some left the truth because they were disappointed Armageddon didn't come in those years - mostly it was human reasoning. We must never serve a date, we must serve Jehovah!























============================================



Why is that ridiculous list are there the same years listed twice - do these people think we can't see double entries?
Tatty Tails
2011-06-14 06:05:20 UTC
A little extra info not mentioned in the other posts.....

Interestingly 1914 was predicted earlier than when Jehovah's witnesses were established.

In 1844, a British clergyman, E. B. Elliott, drew attention to 1914 as a possible date for the end of the “seven times” of Daniel chapter 4. In 1849, Robert Seeley, of London, dealt with the subject in like manner. Joseph Seiss, of the United States, pointed to 1914 as a significant date in Bible chronology in a publication edited about 1870. In 1875, Nelson H. Barbour wrote in his magazine Herald of the Morning that 1914 marked the end of a period that Jesus called “the appointed times of the nations.”—Luke 21:24.



The year 1914 is the date only for the beginning of Christ’s rule “in the midst of [his] enemies.” (Psalm 110:1, 2; Hebrews 10:12, 13) The Bible book of Revelation reveals that at the time that Christ’s rule in heaven would begin, he would hurl Satan the Devil and his angels down to the earth. Before he would put these wicked spirit persons out of existence, the Bible says, they would cause a great deal of trouble on the earth for “a short period of time.”—Revelation 12:7-12.



The dates are calculated on bible record as follows:

Since the Common Era did not begin with the year zero but began with 1 C.E., and the calendar for the years before the Common Era did not count back from a zero year but began with 1 B.C.E., the figure used for the year in any date is in reality an ordinal number. That is, 1990 C.E. really represents 1989 full years since the beginning of the Common Era, and the date July 1, 1990, represents 1,989 years plus a half year since the beginning of the Common Era. The same principle applies to B.C.E. dates. So to figure how many years elapsed between October 1, 607 B.C.E., and October 1, 1914 C.E., add 606 years (plus the last three months of the previous year) to 1,913 (plus the first nine months of the next year), and the result is 2,519 (plus 12 months), or 2,520 years. Or if you want to figure what date would be 2,520 years after October 1, 607 B.C.E., remember that 607 is an ordinal number—it really represents 606 full years—and since we are counting, not from December 31, 607 B.C.E., but from October 1, 607 B.C.E., we must add to 606 the three months at the end of 607 B.C.E. Now subtract 606 1/4 from 2,520 years. The remainder is 1,913 3/4. That means that 2,520 years from October 1, 607 B.C.E., takes us 1,913 3/4 years into the Common Era—1,913 full years brings us to the beginning of 1914 C.E., and three fourths of a year in addition brings us to October 1, 1914 C.E



1914 marked significant changes in history as noted. It is mentioned in the other posts that though the organisation has made reference to some dates i.e. 1975, individuals have read more into the information provided and based predictions on these dates. This information was not hidden but published in the Jehovah's witness proclaimers book just as loyal worshipers of old recorded their mistakes. As the light gets brighter on scriptural points this may require small adjustments and all are encouraged to research the information.



These erroneous views did not mean that God’s promises were wrong, that he had made a mistake. By no means! The mistakes or misconceptions, as in the case of first-century Christians, were due to a failure to heed Jesus’ caution, ‘You do not know the time.’ The wrong conclusions were due, not to malice or to unfaithfulness to Christ, but to a fervent desire to realize the fulfillment of God’s promises in their own time.



The Watchtower society has always been honest and reliable it it's publications. If a point requires revising, they don't hide anything but publish it for all to know. It is wonderful to be part of such an honest organization that does not hide anything from it's members.

Unfortunately, some apostates and others who claim to be christian use these dates or misguided views of some individuals to make broad statements that the watchtower society was somehow responsible for end of the world predictions. They twist any information misquoting statements out of context from the Watchtower in an attempt to make it look like something it is not. Sadly they feel that by lying they are going to win followers for themselves however, sincere Christians with a little research gain an accurate understanding of what is true and these liars are exposed to come from their father and teacher Satan for God would never condone such behavior from his followers.

more information

1914 http://www.watchtower.org/e/bh/appendix_10.htm
2011-06-13 15:50:13 UTC
i am aware of the significance of 1914 to them, but what happened in 1975?
JimBrewski
2011-06-13 16:07:23 UTC
The wording of some Watchtowers allowed for some (spiritually weak individuals) to speculate beyond the word of God and place false hopes in a time table.

Clearly Jesus said know one knows the day or hour...

It would be wise on our part to not place our hopes in false reasonings, but in Jehovahs promises. We "know" we are in the time of the end, but instead of focusing on a date of how long we need to be faithful, we should have forever in mind. Striving to gain a relationship with God while we have time to do so.

2 Peter 3:8 However, let this one fact not be escaping YOUR notice, beloved ones, that one day is with Jehovah as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. 9 Jehovah is not slow respecting his promise, as some people consider slowness, but he is patient with YOU because he does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance. 10 Yet Jehovah’s day will come as a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a hissing noise, but the elements being intensely hot will be dissolved, and earth and the works in it will be discovered.



11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought YOU to be in holy acts of conduct and deeds of godly devotion, 12 awaiting and keeping close in mind the presence of the day of Jehovah, through which [the] heavens being on fire will be dissolved and [the] elements being intensely hot will melt! 13 But there are new heavens and a new earth that we are awaiting according to his promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell.



14 Hence, beloved ones, since YOU are awaiting these things, do YOUR utmost to be found finally by him spotless and unblemished and in peace. 15 Furthermore, consider the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul according to the wisdom given him also wrote YOU, 16 speaking about these things as he does also in all [his] letters. In them, however, are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unsteady are twisting, as [they do] also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.



17 YOU, therefore, beloved ones, having this advance knowledge, be on YOUR guard that YOU may not be led away with them by the error of the law-defying people and fall from YOUR own steadfastness. 18 No, but go on growing in the undeserved kindness and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him [be] the glory both now and to the day of eternity.
2011-06-13 15:53:55 UTC
1914: "the time of Gentiles ended"

1975: "the end"
?
2011-06-13 15:51:12 UTC
The Watch Tower Organization claims to be a prophet in the April 1, 1972 copy of the Watchtower.



Deuteronomy 18-22 "But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say,or a prophetwho speaks in the name of other gods, must be put to death." You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?" If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. This prophet has spoken presumptously. Do not be afraid of him.



Jehovahs Witnesses false prophesies:

1.1972

2. 1889

3.1916

4.1920

5.1897

6.1922

7. 1923

8. 1925

9. Sept. 1925

10. 1931

11.1931

12.1941

13.1968

14. 1968
Rockadayjohnny
2011-06-13 15:55:53 UTC
The Society claimed THE END would occur in those years, and it didn't of course. But it was the end for people who thought straight, and they escaped.



Does anyone really believe a bunch of guys in New York speak for God on earth? How is that different than believing the Pope is infallible?
?
2011-06-13 19:57:52 UTC
False predictions/prophecies = people leaving
2011-06-13 15:54:58 UTC
OMG...



Any “coming of GOD” to Earth is to curse it!



Malachi 4:5-6 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet BEFORE THE COMING OF THE GREAT AND DREADFUL DAY OF THE LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I* (*God) COME AND SMITE THE EARTH WITH A CURSE.



Jesus failed to deliver his promise to be the KING OF ISRAEL!



Matthew 16:28 “I tell you the truth* (*NO BULL CRAP!), some who are standing here will not taste death before THEY SEE the Son of Man coming in his kingdom”



They also have Jesus telling the Jews that NOBODY including himself knows when “GOD” will send him back on a “second coming” to be their King!



Mark 13:32 (Jesus said) No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, NOR THE SON* (*Jesus Christ), but only the Father. (Jesus must be biting his fingernails right now not knowing when to come back, because he needs to kill the children of the wrong Church brand to show everybody that he is the BOSS! -Rev 2:23).



In the Bible stories some Star Gazers from some Arab countries in the East CAME TO WORSHIP of all people the "NEWBORN KING OF THE JEWS" (Mat 2:2) in a Holy Manger!



Luke 2:38 (NIV) Coming up to them at that VERY MOMENT* (*at the ritualistic cutting of the skin wrapping the tip of Jesus’ penis!), she* (*a horny Jewish lady) gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to ALL WHO WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE REDEMPTION OF JERUSALEM* (*she didn’t belong to the 1Cor14:34-25 gang! In any case, Jesus turned out to be a flop! He never made it)



BTW, the cutting of Jesus’ foreskin was the first shedding of his “SAVING” Holy Blood before he had a chance to be nailed to a Holy Roman Cross! Any Jewish Priest today sucking on a circumcised penis of any size is the envy of sexual predators! Orthodox Rabbis still do it all the time in this ONE NATION UNDER GOD! It is not pedophilia, or perversion, but a legal religious practice discretely done by certified Clergy persons, some of them WINNING US CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDALS! Can you possibly imagine sucking the “Saving Blood” out of Jesus Christ’s penis? It would blow the mind of Preachers like Ted Haggard, the former Advisor to President Bush on Religious issues!



http://www.come-and-hear.com/editor/br_4.html



Some fundamentalist Christians are terrified any time they hear about the Illuminati, Masons and so on, but they won’t admit that they all exist thanks to the Christian religion!



In the Bible stories the last question that the Jews asked Jesus was about the DELIVERY OF HIS PROMISED KINGDOM TO ISRAEL (Acts 1:6-7). Jesus told them to never mind… The JEWS wanted to make Jesus their king even by force! The Preachers today make a living based on John saying that THE JEWS ALWAYS REJECTED JESUS! Hitler’s holocausting the Jews amounts to a Holy Vendetta.



John 6:15 Jesus, knowing that they* (*THE JEWS) intended to come and MAKE HIM KING BY FORCE, withdrew AGAIN* (*again and again!) TO A MOUNTAIN BY HIMSELF* (*away from his Jewish Holy Apostles, too!)



Most Holy Book writers are DEFINITELY not morally oriented people!



Matthew 23:37 (NIV) “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem… how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, BUT YOU WERE NOT WILLING* (*That’s BULL CRAP! The Jews were forcing Jesus to be their KING, but Jesus kept running away from them)!



John 1:11-12 (KJV) JESUS CAME UNTO HIS OWN, AND HIS OWN RECEIVED HIM NOT* (*is it an intended lie or a careless script?). But as many as received him, to them gave he power TO BECOME THE SONS OF GOD, even to them that BELIEVE ON HIS NAME* (*CHRISTIANS BELIEVE IN THE “NAME” NOT THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST!)



Luke 19:27 (NIV) (Jesus is very excited telling this story) But those enemies of mine* (*THE JEWS) who did not want me to be king over them* (*BULL CRAP! All along they wanted to make him their King, even BY FORCE!) –bring them here and kill them in front of me* (*to the delight of Christians!)



On Palm Sunday ALL THE JEWS welcomed “JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”



John 12:13 They* (*ALL ISRAEL) took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "BLESSED IS THE KING OF ISRAEL!"



By Thursday, the same JEWS wanted Jesus CRUCIFIED! So much for those who were “WAITING FOR THE HOPE OF ISRAEL” at his birth (Luk 2:38)! He disappointed all of them!

A lot of CHRISTIANS JUSTIFY HITLER’S HOLOCAUST because they claim that God is punishing the Jews for rejecting Jesus! Before Jesus Christ was nailed to the Holy Cross he CONFESSED to the Roman authorities that HIS KINGDOM WAS NOT OF THIS WORLD (John 18:36)! The Christian religion is about the most successful fraud in all of human history, second only to Islam!


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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