1914
A REVIEW OF THE RECORD
It would be wise “to review the record” by looking at the following publications of the Watchtower organization.
THE RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST IN 1914
The Watchtower-July 1, 1973, page 402: “For example, Zion’s Watch Tower of March 1880 had declared: ‘The Times of the Gentiles’ extended to 1914, and the heavenly kingdom will not have full sway till then. Only God by his holy spirit could have revealed this to those early Bible students so far in advance.”
"Studies in the Scriptures" volume 2, The Time is at Hand, 1910, page 15: “In this volume we offer a chain of testimony on the subject of God’s appointed times and seasons, each link of which we consider Scripturally strong, while the whole of it when viewed together, in the relationship which one part bears to another, gives evidence of a plan so broad and comprehensive, a design so deep, and a harmony so perfect, as to clearly manifest to the studious and reverent inquirer that it is beyond the breadth and depth of human thought, and therefore cannot be of human origin.”(underlines added)
Since God's Holy Spirit was revealed to the early Bible students in advance about 1914, therefore this volume "cannot be of human origin." Then, it would be expected that any prophetic statements given by Jehovah's Witnesses would be a true prophecy and would come to pass. In the following publications from the Watchtower organization, the following statements were made about 1914.
"Zion's Watch Tower," January 15, 1892, page 22: “The date of the close of that ‘battle’- is definitely marked in Scripture as October, 1914. It is already in progress, its beginning dating from October, 1874.”
"Zion's Watch Tower," July 15, 1894, page 226: “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 end date for the beginning, but for the end of the time of trouble. We see no reason for changing from our opinion expressed in the View presented in the Watch Tower of Jan. 15, ‘92. We advise that it be read again.”(underline added)
"Studies in the Scriptures," volume 4, 1909, page 621: “But now we are in the end of this Gospel age, and the Kingdom is being established or set up. Our Lord, the appointed King, is now present, since October 1874, A.D., according to the testimony of the prophets, to those who have ears to hear it: and the formal inauguration of his kingly office dates from April 1878 A.D.: and the first work of the Kingdom, as shown by our Lord, in his parables and prophecy (the gathering of ‘his elect’) is now in progress.” (underline added)
"Studies in the Scriptures," volume 2, The Time is at Hand, 1910 page 101: “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.”(underlines added)
"Studies in the Scriptures," volume 2, The Time is at Hand, 1910 page ii: “This volume sets forth what its author has been preaching for over forty years, that the ‘Times of the Gentiles’ chronologically ended in the fall of 1914. The expression, ‘Time of the Gentiles,’ in Bible usage signifies the years, or period of time, in which the Gentile nations of the world were to be permitted to have control, following the taking away of the typical kingdom from natural Israel, and filling the hiatus between that event and the establishment of God’s Kingdom in the hands of Messiah- ‘whose right it is.’-Ezekiel 21:27.”
In the last five quotations, earth's present rulership was to end in 1914 and it was "God's date" not theirs. This was taught for over forty years by Charles Taze Russell. In the author's forward written in 1916 for "Studies in the Scriptures," volume 2, Charles Taze Russell made this disclaimer about 1914 in the following quotation.
"Studies in the Scriptures," volume 2, The Time is at Hand, 1910 page iii: “We could not, of course, know in 1889, whether the date 1914, so clearly marked in the Bible as the end of the Gentile lease of power or permission to rule the world, would mean that they would be fully out of power at that time, or whether, their lease expiring, their eviction would begin. The latter we perceive to be the Lord’s program: and promptly to be the Lord’s program; and promptly in August, 1914, the Gentile kingdoms referred to in the prophecy began the present great struggle, which, according to the Bible, will culminate in the complete overthrow of all human government, opening the way for the full establishment of the Kingdom of God’s dear Son.”(underlines added)
If God's Holy Spirit revealed to Zion's Watch Tower in March 1880 this information about 1914, why would they not know it in 1889? The previous quote brings me to the question asked in The Watchtower-July 1, 1973, page 402: “5. Direction by God’s spirit enabled Jehovah’s servants long ago to understand what about 1914 C.E.?” The answer to this Watchtower question is that "...the 'battle of the great day of God Almighty'...will end in 1914." It did not come true or to pass. Did Jehovah make a mistake?
Due to the failure of his prediction for 1914, Charles Taze Russell made the following disclaimer about the infallibility of this volume in his author's forward written in 1916 for "Studies in the Scriptures," volume 2, The Time is at Hand, 1910 page i: “This volume makes no claim to infallibility, and no claim of any inspiration from God in the interpretation of any of His Word.....Dealing with subjects so difficult that they are rarely touched by others, it is not to be considered strange if some of the suggestions made in this Volume have not been fulfilled with absolute accuracy to the very letter.” This flatly contradicts page 15 of this same volume when it says that this volume "cannot be of human origins."
Written by Jeff Coons
THE RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST IN 1914
The Watchtower-July 1, 1973, page 402: “For example, Zion’s Watch Tower of March 1880 had declared: ‘The Times of the Gentiles’ extended to 1914, and the heavenly kingdom will not have full sway till then. Only God by his holy spirit could have revealed this to those early Bible students so far in advance.”
"Studies in the Scriptures" volume 2, The Time is at Hand, 1910, page 15: “In this volume we offer a chain of testimony on the subject of God’s appointed times and seasons, each link of which we consider Scripturally strong, while the whole of it when viewed together, in the relationship which one part bears to another, gives evidence of a plan so broad and comprehensive, a design so deep, and a harmony so perfect, as to clearly manifest to the studious and reverent inquirer that it is beyond the breadth and depth of human thought, and therefore cannot be of human origin.”(underlines added)
Since God's Holy Spirit was revealed to the early Bible students in advance about 1914, therefore this volume "cannot be of human origin." Then, it would be expected that any prophetic statements given by Jehovah's Witnesses would be a true prophecy and would come to pass. In the following publications from the Watchtower organization, the following statements were made about 1914.
"Zion's Watch Tower," January 15, 1892, page 22: “The date of the close of that ‘battle’- is definitely marked in Scripture as October, 1914. It is already in progress, its beginning dating from October, 1874.”
"Zion's Watch Tower," July 15, 1894, page 226: “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 end date for the beginning, but for the end of the time of trouble. We see no reason for changing from our opinion expressed in the View presented in the Watch Tower of Jan. 15, ‘92. We advise that it be read again.”(underline added)
"Studies in the Scriptures," volume 4, 1909, page 621: “But now we are in the end of this Gospel age, and the Kingdom is being established or set up. Our Lord, the appointed King, is now present, since October 1874, A.D., according to the testimony of the prophets, to those who have ears to hear it: and the formal inauguration of his kingly office dates from April 1878 A.D.: and the first work of the Kingdom, as shown by our Lord, in his parables and prophecy (the gathering of ‘his elect’) is now in progress.” (underline added)
"Studies in the Scriptures," volume 2, The Time is at Hand, 1910 page 101: “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.”(underlines added)
"Studies in the Scriptures," volume 2, The Time is at Hand, 1910 page ii: “This volume sets forth what its author has been preaching for over forty years, that the ‘Times of the Gentiles’ chronologically ended in the fall of 1914. The expression, ‘Time of the Gentiles,’ in Bible usage signifies the years, or period of time, in which the Gentile nations of the world were to be permitted to have control, following the taking away of the typical kingdom from natural Israel, and filling the hiatus between that event and the establishment of God’s Kingdom in the hands of Messiah- ‘whose right it is.’-Ezekiel 21:27.”
In the last five quotations, earth's present rulership was to end in 1914 and it was "God's date" not theirs. This was taught for over forty years by Charles Taze Russell. In the author's forward written in 1916 for "Studies in the Scriptures," volume 2, Charles Taze Russell made this disclaimer about 1914 in the following quotation.
"Studies in the Scriptures," volume 2, The Time is at Hand, 1910 page iii: “We could not, of course, know in 1889, whether the date 1914, so clearly marked in the Bible as the end of the Gentile lease of power or permission to rule the world, would mean that they would be fully out of power at that time, or whether, their lease expiring, their eviction would begin. The latter we perceive to be the Lord’s program: and promptly to be the Lord’s program; and promptly in August, 1914, the Gentile kingdoms referred to in the prophecy began the present great struggle, which, according to the Bible, will culminate in the complete overthrow of all human government, opening the way for the full establishment of the Kingdom of God’s dear Son.”(underlines added)
If God's Holy Spirit revealed to Zion's Watch Tower in March 1880 this information about 1914, why would they not know it in 1889? The previous quote brings me to the question asked in The Watchtower-July 1, 1973, page 402: “5. Direction by God’s spirit enabled Jehovah’s servants long ago to understand what about 1914 C.E.?” The answer to this Watchtower question is that "...the 'battle of the great day of God Almighty'...will end in 1914." It did not come true or to pass. Did Jehovah make a mistake?
Due to the failure of his prediction for 1914, Charles Taze Russell made the following disclaimer about the infallibility of this volume in his author's forward written in 1916 for "Studies in the Scriptures," volume 2, The Time is at Hand, 1910 page i: “This volume makes no claim to infallibility, and no claim of any inspiration from God in the interpretation of any of His Word.....Dealing with subjects so difficult that they are rarely touched by others, it is not to be considered strange if some of the suggestions made in this Volume have not been fulfilled with absolute accuracy to the very letter.” This flatly contradicts page 15 of this same volume when it says that this volume "cannot be of human origins."
Written by Jeff Coons