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I was wondering if all the failed prophecies concerning the return of Christ are actually a concern for any JWs that might be on this forum.
Charles Russell, who founded the JW religion walked away from church when he was 15. After living for 3 years as a skeptic, he met some remnant followers of the Millerite movement, which if you recall is known from something called "The Great Disappointment" around 1870. These Adventists were basically prophesying the return of Christ. Obviously Christ didn't return and most of the followers came to their senses and left. Well, there were a few die hards out there who came up with a new date for Christ's return. Russell met this group and bought into their false prophesy about the return of Christ in 1874. Well, Christ didn't return, and this marked from the outset a series of failed prophesies by the leaders of the JW religion.
President after President made failed prophecies. People were encouraged to sell their homes and their belongings, giving it to the JW organization. Families were destroyed. JW converts were urged not to marry or have children because the end was upon us! Oops?
Russell was found guilty of perjury in court because he lied about his knowledge of Greek.
This is the foundation of the JW religion. It's based upon a man who was interested in religion, but had no education, and no understanding of Scripture. He was duped by members of an organization that had already been proven false, and it all got worse from there.
In my experience, JWs have the same response to every failed prophecy - blame the people for misunderstanding what the leadership was actually teaching. Yet, all we have to do is look at what was actually said by the JWs leading the cult to recognize that what they were preaching were failed prophecies.
Charles Russell said - "... 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, p.99
Now, perhaps the above could be gone back to and say that "oh, we meant invisibly!" The problem is that doesn't work with the next quote:
Charles Russell, "... 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" (Ibid., p. 101).
The "complete overthrow of earth's present rulership" didn't take place. There is no doubt that Charles Russell was referring to the physical governments when this was written. Failed prophecy.
After Russell died, Rutherford became president. Rutherford did the same thing, not "suggesting" a date, but giving a specific prophesy concerning the return of Christ. Rutherford encouraged his followers not to marry, not to have children, and to sell all their possessions and give them to the Watchtower Organization because there was no doubt that the world was ending in 1925. THAT IS SERIOUS. Here is specifically what he said:
"The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures because it is fixed by the law God gave to Israel. Viewing the present situation in Europe, one wonders how it will be possible to hold back the explosion much longer; and that even before 1925 the great crisis will be reached and probably passed" (Watch Tower, 1 September 1922, p. 262).
"The year 1925 is a date definitely and clearly marked in the Scriptures, even more clearly than that of 1914” (Watch Tower, 15 July 1924, p. 211).
"As we have heretofore stated, the great jubilee cycle is due to begin in 1925. At that time the earthly phase of the kingdom shall be recognized. 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 chapter eleven, to the condition of human perfection" (Salvation, pp. 89-90).
And what happened? Can you guess? That's right, Rutherford's prophecy failed. Rutherford did not set another date for Armageddon until 1941 when the Watchtower stated that there were just a few more months until Armageddon would occur. Christ didn’t return in 1942.
The next JW President, Knorr did his best to try and solve this problem of failed prophecies. It was Knorr that put forth the idea that Christ did return in 1914, albeit invisibly. Now what's interesting is that in the Watchtower book, The Truth Shall Make You Free, Knorr said that the generation from 1914 would not die before Armageddon was complete, thus making the prophecy of Armageddon able to be fulfilled. He said,
"Did not Jesus say as much when he spoke of his second presence in these 'last days'?...Christ Jesus has been present since 1914 and witness has been given of the signs that prove it, but the veil will not lift from the sightless 'eyes of understanding' of humanity's majority till his power is revealed in Armageddon's fury"(Watchtower, 15 January 1950, p. 22).
"The thirty-six intervening years since 1914, instead of postponing Armageddon, have only made it nearer than most people think. Do not forget: 'This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.' (Matt. 24:34)"(Watchtower, 1 November 1950, p. 419).
"The foretold events having begun A.D. 1914, the generation of mankind that is still alive from that year is the generation meant by Jesus Christ. Till now we have seen fulfilled the world-shaking features of the 'sign of[Christ's invisible] presence and of the consummation of the system of things.'...The occurrence of these things since 1914 is within the knowledge of millions of this generation.... We, then, are the generation that will not pass away till there is fulfilled that 'great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world's beginning until now, no, nor will occur again'" (Watchtower, 15 April 1961, p. 236
After this, Knorr made the same mistake as his predecessors and predicted Armageddon to occur in 1975. As early as the mid 1960's, the Watchtower had strongly suggested that the 1914 generation would end by the Fall of 1975. They based the 1975 prediction in part on their "year for a day" theory and the "fact" that Adam and Eve were created in the year 4,026 B.C. This anticipation was seen to be "particularly true" because some of those who witnessed the events of 1914 would still be alive in 1975. Thus, the 1914 generation theory helped "prove" the 1975 Armageddon theory.
"To calculate where man is in the stream of time relative to God's seventh day of 7,000 years, we need to determine how long a time has elapsed from the year of Adam and Eve's creation in 4026 B.C.E. From the autumn of that year to the autumn of 1 B.C.E., there would be 4,025 years. From the autumn of 1 B.C.E. to the autumn of 1 C.E. is one year (there was no zero year). From the autumn of 1 C.E. to the autumn of 1967 is a total of 1,966 years. Adding 4,025 and 1 and 1,966, we get 5,992 years from the autumn of 4026 B.C.E. to the autumn of 1967. Thus, eight years remain to account for a full 6,000 years of the seventh day. Eight years from the autumn of 1967 would bring us to the autumn of 1975, fully 6,000 years into God's seventh day, his rest day"...The seventh day of the Jewish week, the sabbath, would well picture the final 1,000- year reign of God's kingdom under Christ. Hence, when Christians note from God's timetable the approaching end of 6,000 years of human history, it fills them with anticipation. Particularly is this true because the great sign of the 'last days' has been in the course of fulfillment since the beginning of the 'time of the end' in 1914. Some of the generation that discerned the beginning of the time of the end in 1914 will still be alive on earth to witness the end of this present wicked system of things at the battle of Armageddon. Rev. 16:14, 16"(Watchtower, 1 May 1968, pp. 271-72).
Well as you can guess, Armageddon did not take place in 1975.
When I look at the foundation and the history of the JW religion, I don't really see anything credible. I see an uneducated, impressionable child - Charles Russell, who began following an already failed movement. Does this not concern anyone who is a JW?
Charles Russell, who founded the JW religion walked away from church when he was 15. After living for 3 years as a skeptic, he met some remnant followers of the Millerite movement, which if you recall is known from something called "The Great Disappointment" around 1870. These Adventists were basically prophesying the return of Christ. Obviously Christ didn't return and most of the followers came to their senses and left. Well, there were a few die hards out there who came up with a new date for Christ's return. Russell met this group and bought into their false prophesy about the return of Christ in 1874. Well, Christ didn't return, and this marked from the outset a series of failed prophesies by the leaders of the JW religion.
President after President made failed prophecies. People were encouraged to sell their homes and their belongings, giving it to the JW organization. Families were destroyed. JW converts were urged not to marry or have children because the end was upon us! Oops?
Russell was found guilty of perjury in court because he lied about his knowledge of Greek.
This is the foundation of the JW religion. It's based upon a man who was interested in religion, but had no education, and no understanding of Scripture. He was duped by members of an organization that had already been proven false, and it all got worse from there.
In my experience, JWs have the same response to every failed prophecy - blame the people for misunderstanding what the leadership was actually teaching. Yet, all we have to do is look at what was actually said by the JWs leading the cult to recognize that what they were preaching were failed prophecies.
Charles Russell said - "... 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, p.99
Now, perhaps the above could be gone back to and say that "oh, we meant invisibly!" The problem is that doesn't work with the next quote:
Charles Russell, "... 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" (Ibid., p. 101).
The "complete overthrow of earth's present rulership" didn't take place. There is no doubt that Charles Russell was referring to the physical governments when this was written. Failed prophecy.
After Russell died, Rutherford became president. Rutherford did the same thing, not "suggesting" a date, but giving a specific prophesy concerning the return of Christ. Rutherford encouraged his followers not to marry, not to have children, and to sell all their possessions and give them to the Watchtower Organization because there was no doubt that the world was ending in 1925. THAT IS SERIOUS. Here is specifically what he said:
"The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures because it is fixed by the law God gave to Israel. Viewing the present situation in Europe, one wonders how it will be possible to hold back the explosion much longer; and that even before 1925 the great crisis will be reached and probably passed" (Watch Tower, 1 September 1922, p. 262).
"The year 1925 is a date definitely and clearly marked in the Scriptures, even more clearly than that of 1914” (Watch Tower, 15 July 1924, p. 211).
"As we have heretofore stated, the great jubilee cycle is due to begin in 1925. At that time the earthly phase of the kingdom shall be recognized. 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 chapter eleven, to the condition of human perfection" (Salvation, pp. 89-90).
And what happened? Can you guess? That's right, Rutherford's prophecy failed. Rutherford did not set another date for Armageddon until 1941 when the Watchtower stated that there were just a few more months until Armageddon would occur. Christ didn’t return in 1942.
The next JW President, Knorr did his best to try and solve this problem of failed prophecies. It was Knorr that put forth the idea that Christ did return in 1914, albeit invisibly. Now what's interesting is that in the Watchtower book, The Truth Shall Make You Free, Knorr said that the generation from 1914 would not die before Armageddon was complete, thus making the prophecy of Armageddon able to be fulfilled. He said,
"Did not Jesus say as much when he spoke of his second presence in these 'last days'?...Christ Jesus has been present since 1914 and witness has been given of the signs that prove it, but the veil will not lift from the sightless 'eyes of understanding' of humanity's majority till his power is revealed in Armageddon's fury"(Watchtower, 15 January 1950, p. 22).
"The thirty-six intervening years since 1914, instead of postponing Armageddon, have only made it nearer than most people think. Do not forget: 'This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.' (Matt. 24:34)"(Watchtower, 1 November 1950, p. 419).
"The foretold events having begun A.D. 1914, the generation of mankind that is still alive from that year is the generation meant by Jesus Christ. Till now we have seen fulfilled the world-shaking features of the 'sign of[Christ's invisible] presence and of the consummation of the system of things.'...The occurrence of these things since 1914 is within the knowledge of millions of this generation.... We, then, are the generation that will not pass away till there is fulfilled that 'great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world's beginning until now, no, nor will occur again'" (Watchtower, 15 April 1961, p. 236
After this, Knorr made the same mistake as his predecessors and predicted Armageddon to occur in 1975. As early as the mid 1960's, the Watchtower had strongly suggested that the 1914 generation would end by the Fall of 1975. They based the 1975 prediction in part on their "year for a day" theory and the "fact" that Adam and Eve were created in the year 4,026 B.C. This anticipation was seen to be "particularly true" because some of those who witnessed the events of 1914 would still be alive in 1975. Thus, the 1914 generation theory helped "prove" the 1975 Armageddon theory.
"To calculate where man is in the stream of time relative to God's seventh day of 7,000 years, we need to determine how long a time has elapsed from the year of Adam and Eve's creation in 4026 B.C.E. From the autumn of that year to the autumn of 1 B.C.E., there would be 4,025 years. From the autumn of 1 B.C.E. to the autumn of 1 C.E. is one year (there was no zero year). From the autumn of 1 C.E. to the autumn of 1967 is a total of 1,966 years. Adding 4,025 and 1 and 1,966, we get 5,992 years from the autumn of 4026 B.C.E. to the autumn of 1967. Thus, eight years remain to account for a full 6,000 years of the seventh day. Eight years from the autumn of 1967 would bring us to the autumn of 1975, fully 6,000 years into God's seventh day, his rest day"...The seventh day of the Jewish week, the sabbath, would well picture the final 1,000- year reign of God's kingdom under Christ. Hence, when Christians note from God's timetable the approaching end of 6,000 years of human history, it fills them with anticipation. Particularly is this true because the great sign of the 'last days' has been in the course of fulfillment since the beginning of the 'time of the end' in 1914. Some of the generation that discerned the beginning of the time of the end in 1914 will still be alive on earth to witness the end of this present wicked system of things at the battle of Armageddon. Rev. 16:14, 16"(Watchtower, 1 May 1968, pp. 271-72).
Well as you can guess, Armageddon did not take place in 1975.
When I look at the foundation and the history of the JW religion, I don't really see anything credible. I see an uneducated, impressionable child - Charles Russell, who began following an already failed movement. Does this not concern anyone who is a JW?
