For all our friends from JW:
This section covers some of the lesser known failed predictions and changed date doctrine of the Watchtower Society.
For the more important dates see the pages on
1914,
1925,
1975. Many of the following quotes are from the Watchtower Society's
Studies in the Scriptures Series. Scanned copies of these books can be downloaded for free from
jehovah.net.au/books.html.
"He said: "Look out that YOU are not misled; for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, 'I am he,' and,
'The due time has approached.' Do not go after them."
Luke 21:8 At
John 16:13 Jesus said he would provide his followers Holy Spirit to correctly understand what the future holds;
"However, when that one arrives, the spirit of the truth, he will guide YOU into all the truth, for he will not speak of his own impulse, but what things he hears he will speak, and he will declare to YOU the things coming."
Moses warned against those that make predictions in the name of Jehovah that do not come true;
"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..."
Deuteronomy 18:20-22
The Watchtower says that the standard by which to judge a false messenger is whether their messages "come true"?
"Jehovah is the Grand identifier of his true messengers. He identifies them by making the
messages he delivers through them come true. Jehovah is also the Great Exposer of false messengers."
Watchtower 1997 May 1 p.8
Ironic, considering the Watchtower specifically said the end would come in
1914 and then
1925. The following section contains over 20 other "messages" promoted by the Watchtower for decades that turned out not to be "true". What does this prove about them as messengers?
Whereas doctrine is subjective and un-provable, time prophecy leaves no room for error. On a number of occasions the Watchtower put a line in the sand when saying a specific event was going to happen on a specific date. When those dates passed without event those statements proved beyond argument to be false. When something predicted to happen does not occur there is irrefutable evidence that Jehovah did not direct the interpretation. In line with the Scriptures above, the following incorrect dates prove the Watchtower Society is not guided by Jehovah.
In 1876, Russell became interested in time prophecy, after reading a copy of Barbour's publication
Herald of the Morning. The end had not come in 1874, as the Adventists had predicted. However, Barbour explained that
Matthew 24:27 meant Jesus'
invisible presence commenced in 1874, the rapture would be 1878, and the end of the world was to occur in 1914. (see
Watch Tower, 1906 July 15 for a detailed account.)
In Russell's doctrinal chronology the most important dates were 1874 and 1914:
"The chapter in SCRIPTURE STUDIES, Vol. II, showing the parallels between the Jewish and Christian Dispensations, makes prominent four dates, viz., (1) October,
1874; (2) April,
1878; (3) October,
1881, and (4) October,
1914;"
Watch Tower 1911 June 15 p.190
"The careful student will have observed that the period designated 'The Time of the End' is very appropriately named, since not only does the Gospel age close in it, but in it, also,
all prophesies relating to the close of this age terminate, reaching their fulfillments. The same class of readers will have noticed, too, the special importance of the last 40 of these 115 years
(1874-1914), called 'The End' or 'Harvest.'"
Studies in the Scriptures Series III - Thy Kingdom Come p.121
The above timeline shows Russell's concept that the Second Coming of Jesus was 1874, and the start of the 1000 year earthly reign was 1914, as it was to end in 2914 A.D.
For Rutherford the important dates were:
"WE HAVE no doubt whatever in regard to the chronology relating to the dates of
1874, 1914, 1918, and 1925."
Watchtower 1922 May 15 p.147
Other significant dates the Watchtower no longer refer to are;
- 1799 A.D. - The beginning of the Last Days.
- 539 A.D. - Thought to be the start of Catholic Papal rule and the start point of many prophetic interpretations.
Of these above dates only 1914 is still considered significant, and even then, mostly for different reasons than originally prescribed. Though part of Watchtower lore for 60 years, most current Jehovah's Witnesses are unaware of their significance and that each one failed to eventuate as predicted.
Each time the Watchtower has
predicted an occurrence, it has not eventuated as foretold,
a 100% failure rate. Does this inspire confidence in Watchtower interpretation? Jehovah's Witnesses promoted these falsehoods in the past, and continue to zealously advocate current doctrine as unfailing truths.
It is claimed that Jesus found a cleansed Slave Class dispensing truthful food in 1919. However, Rutherford continued to promote Russell's interpretation of the dates for the 1700's, 1800's and 1914 until the 1930's. Many of the date prophecies were re-explained between 1930 and 1932; the remainder were adjusted in 1943. Rutherford even dismissed the majority of his own 1900's predictions.
Chapter 10 of
Jehovah's Witnesses - Proclaimers of God's Kingdom is devoted to the subject "Growing in Accurate Knowledge of the Truth". This discusses that truth is progressive, yet makes little reference to the failed dates. Relegated to a footnote on page 133 is the statement that;
"A clearer understanding of Biblical chronology was published in 1943, in the book "The Truth Shall Make You Free" and it was then refined the following year in the book "The Kingdom Is at Hand," as well as in later publications.
Scant mention is made of the incredible list of dates that had been abandoned. Nor does it clarify that it was not until 1943 that the beginning of Christ's presence was specifically changed from the year 1874 to 1914. This change was in
The Truth Shall Make You Free, released in the time of Knorr and the first book to be printed that did not list the author's name. This was after the death of Rutherford and well after 1919 when Jesus inspection supposedly found a spiritually cleansed Organization.
One can imagine that over time most of the current doctrine describing events of the 1900's will eventually be seen to be of little relevance and relegated to the forgotten annals of Watchtower history. It is yet to be seen what will become of 1914; being the most significant doctrine it will be the most difficult to eradicate without overwhelming consequences.
