JW's and false predictions from their own publications-Part 1

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In light of Camping’s failed prophecy of this past weekend, I thought I’d run a 3 part series on JW’s and their many failed attempts at predicting the return of Christ using quotes from their own publications. The quotes will have the name of their publication, the year it was published and the page number for reference. I’ll keep my own commentary to a minimum as I feel the evidence speaks for itself. Keep these two scriptures in mind while perusing:

Deuteronomy 18:20-22 (New International Version)
20 But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.”

21 You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?” 22 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. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed.

Matthew 24:36 (New International Version)

 36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,but only the Father.

So we start at the beginning, with the founder, Charles Taze Russell:

“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.” Studies in Scriptures Series IV (1897) p.621

“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 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.” Zions Watch Tower 1894 July 15 p.226

“… the battle of the great day of God Almighty… 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 1892 January 15 p.23

“The seventh trumpet sounds from Aug. 1840, until “the time of trouble,” or day of wrath is ended. Hence, it doubtless ends with the times of the Gentiles, and this forty years of conquest; and therefore, sounds until A. D. 1914; at the end of which, Babylon the great, will have fallen, and the “dragon” be bound: that is, the nations will be subdued, and “the prince of this world cast out.”” Three Worlds and The Harvest of This World (1877) p.143

“A.D. 33, to A.D. 70 was 36 ½ years; and so from A.D. 1878 to the end of A.D. 1914 is 36 ½ years. And, with the end of A.D. 1914, what God calls Babylon, and what men call Christendom, will have passed away, as already shown in prophecy.” Studies In the Scriptures Series III - Thy Kingdom Come (1891) p.153

“October, 1914, will witness the full end of Babylon, “as a great millstone cast into the sea,” utterly destroyed as a system.” Watch Tower 1911 June 15 p.190

“HARVEST” is a term which gives a general idea as to what work should be expected to transpire between the dates 1874 and 1914." Studies In the Scriptures Series III - Thy Kingdom Come p.135

“These, already examined, show that the close of 1874 marked the beginning, as the close of 1914 will mark the end, of this 40 years of harvest; while all the minutiae of the order and work of this harvest were portrayed in that of the Jewish age, its type.” Studies In the Scriptures Series III - Thy Kingdom Come pp.149-150

“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 …. 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…. 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 Series II - The Time Is At Hand (1889) pp.99, 101

“…we have seen that God has a set time for every feature of his plan, and that we are even now in this “Day of Vengeance,” which is a period of forty years; that it began in October, 1874, and will end in October, 1914 [very shortly].” Studies In the Scriptures Series IV - The Day of Vengeance -pp.546, 547

…to be continued…

 

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Russell originally used the size of an Egyptian pyramid to prove that 1874 A.D. marked the beginning of the period of trouble, and 1914 as the end. When 1914 did not bring about Armageddon Russell changed the 1916 edition of Thy Kingdom Come to include new measurements on the size of the pyramid to show that 1914 was the beginning of the time of trouble. Russell’s claim was that the great pyramid of Giza had somehow changed size by 41 inches. The two quotes following are from different editions of the same book.

“We find it to be 3416 inches, symbolizing 3416 years from the above date, B. C. 1542. This calculation shows A.D. 1874 as making the beginning of the period of trouble; for 1542 years B.C. plus 1874 years A.D. equals 3416 years. Thus the Pyramid witnesses that the close of 1874 was the chronological beginning of the time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation-no, not ever shall be afterward.” Studies In the Scriptures Series III - Thy Kingdom Come 1897 ed. p.342

"We find it to be 3457 inches, symbolizing 3457 years from the above date, B. C. 1542. This calculation shows A.D. 1915 as making the beginning of the period of trouble; for 1542 years B.C. plus 1915 years A.D. equals 3416 years. Thus the Pyramid witnesses that the close of 1914 will be the beginning of the time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation-no, not ever shall be afterward. " Studies In the Scriptures Series III - Thy Kingdom Come 1916 ed. p.342

“The Great Pyramid in Egypt is a Witness to all these events of the ages and of our day – testifying in symbols? The Pyramid’s downward passage under “A Draconis” symbolizes the course of Sin? Its First Ascending Passage symbolizes the Jewish age? Its grand Gallery symbolized the Gospel age? Its Upper Step symbolized the approaching period of tribulation and anarchy, “Judgments,” upon Christendom? Its King’s Chamber the Divine Nature, etc., of the Overcoming Church – the Christ, Head and Body? Its Ante-Chamber the Correction in Righteousness of the “Great Company” etc.? Its Queen’s Chamber those of Israel and the world who attain Restitution?” Studies In the Scriptures Series I - The Divine Plan of the Ages 1908 edition end notes

This belief in pyramids continued under the leadership of Rutherford as late as 1925.

“In the messages of the Great Pyramid of Gizeh the agreement of one or two measurements with the present-truth chronology might seem accidental, but the correspondency of dozens of measurements proves that the same God designed both pyramid and plan.” Watchtower 1922 June 15 p.187

“In the great Pyramid of Egypt, standing as a silent and inanimate witness of the Lord, is a messenger; and its testimony speaks with great eloquence concerning the divine plan.” Watchtower 1925 May 15 p.148

In 1928 this teaching was discarded by Rutherford with the comment that the pyramid is “Satan’s Bible, and not God’s stone witness.” (Watchtower 1928 November 15 p.344)