JW's and false predictions from their own publications-Part 2, 1925

[T_More]

A continuation of quotes from the JW’s own publications about the coming of Armageddon, this time 1925.

1925 - “Millions Now Living Will Never Die”

“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.” Millions Now Living Will Never Die p.89

“Hence these faithful men may be expected on earth within the next few years.” The Harp of God p.340

“The year 1926 would therefore begin about October first, 1925…. We should, therefore, expect shortly after 1925 to see the awakening of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Melchisedec, Job, Moses, Samuel, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, John the Baptist, and others mentioned in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. … No doubt many boys and girls who read this book will live to see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Daniel, and those other men of old come forth in the glory of their better resurrection, of perfect in mind and body. It will not take long for Christ to appoint them to their post of honor and authority as his earthly representatives. The world and all the present conveniences will seen strange to them at first, but they will soon become accustomed to the new methods. They may have some amusing experiences at first; for they never saw telephones, radios, automobiles, electric lights, aeroplanes, steam engines, and many other things so familiar to us.” The Way to Paradise (1924) pp.224,226

…continued…

 

[T_More]

The Way to Paradise described 1925 as the year for “God’s favour returning to the Jewish people”, Jerusalem becoming capital of the world and “ancient worthies” being awakened. This book goes on to make the following predictions:

“The Bible and “The Bible in Stone” [the Pyramid of Giza] give the date 1914: for the beginning of the great change. History proves that the ouster proceedings began promptly on time. Prophecy indicates that 1925-1926 will see the greater part of the ousting completed. All the world’s statesmen are dreading the next few years.” p.171

“For those who are now living and who will never die…” p.211

“When you take up a more advanced study of the Bible, you will find that the year 1925 A. D. is particularly marked in prophecy.” p.220

“Seventy times 50 are 3,500. The whole period would therefore have been 3,500 years from the time the Jews entered Canaan until all the types would have been fulfilled. As they entered Canaan 1,575 years before Christ there would be 1,925 years of types after Christ, or 1925 A. D.” p.223

“Of course it will take some time to get things in smoothly running order after the great stress between now and 1926. It may be ten years or more before you get your home all fixed up, and the gardens bringing forth the luscious fruits and appetizing vegetables in abundance. Even if it takes a while longer you will be that much better prepared. You will have secured the services of the best decorators you can find. Some of them used to be undertakers; but since there are no more people dying, they have had to seek some new occupation. Their experience as undertakers prepared them to become decorators with very little difficulty.” p.228

Rutherford wrote that these teachings were “of God” himself and 1925 was proclaimed a “fixed” date beyond doubt.

“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 1922 Sep. 1 p.262

“… this chronology is not of man, but of God… the addition of more proofs removes it entirely from the realm of chance into that of proven certainty… the chronology of present truth [is]… not of human origin.” Watch Tower 1922 July 1 p.217

“Our thought is, that 1925 is definitely settled by the Scriptures. As to Noah, the Christian now has much more upon which to base his faith then Noah had upon which to base his faith in a coming deluge.” Watch Tower 1923 Apr. 1 p.106

“Surely there is not the slightest room for doubt in the mind of a truly consecrated child of God that the Lord Jesus is present and has been since 1874.” Watchtower 1924 Jan 1 p.5)

“The year 1925 is a date definitely and clearly marked in Scriptures, even more clearly than that of 1914.” Watchtower 1924 p.211

“We cannot be blamed for presenting from the Scriptures such evidence as they afford which leads us to believe that a certain event will take place at a given time. Some times the Lord has let His people looking for the right thing at the wrong time, and more frequently they have looked for the wrong things at the right time. But all the enemies of the cause of present truth in the earth are fervently hoping that the Bible students will not be so successful in 1925 in looking for the right thing at the right time as they were in 1914. if they are, however, it will be the other fellow that will have to do the explaining, and not we.” Golden Age 1924 Feb 13 p.314

From the moment Rutherford’s prediction proved wrong (and continuing to this day) the Governing Body shifted the blame for the false expectation away from themselves and onto the members.

"Question: Have the ancient worthies returned? Answer: “Certainly they have not returned. No one has seen them, and it would be foolish to make such an announcement. It was stated in the ‘Millions’ book that we might reasonably expect them to return shortly after 1925, but this was merely an expressed opinion; besides it is still shortly after 1925. … Some anticipated that the work would end in 1925, but the Lord did not state so. The difficulty was that the friends inflated their imaginations beyond reason; and that when their imaginations burst asunder, they were inclined to throw away everything.” Watch Tower 1926 pp.196, 232

“Instead of its being considered a ‘probability,’ they read into it that it was a ‘certainty’.” Yearbook 1975 p.146

“Ever since the 1870’s, Bible Students had been serving with a date in mind - first 1914, then 1925. Now they realized that they must serve for as long as Jehovah wishes.” Watchtower 1993 Nov. 1 p.12

“In the early 1920’s, a featured public talk presented by Jehovah’s Witnesses was entitled “Millions Now Living Will Never Die.” This may have reflected overoptimism at that time. But today that statement can be made with full confidence.” Watchtower 1997 Jan. 1 p.1
The following and final part will deal with their latest fixed date, 1975. Stay tuned…

 

[jbeck43]

Very interesting stuff…just wondering if you could tell me anything about the mansion Judge Rutherford purchased in San Diego to house the newly resurrected prophets (Abraham, Moses, etc.) that was supposed to have happened sometime in the 1920s? Thanks in advance.

 

[T_More]

Very interesting stuff…just wondering if you could tell me anything about the mansion Judge Rutherford purchased in San Diego to house the newly resurrected prophets (Abraham, Moses, etc.) that was supposed to have happened sometime in the 1920s? Thanks in advance.

jbeck, I have been to the house myself and have taken photos. It’s kind of ironic, in that it sits in an area that overlooks the location of the stadium where JW’s have their annual district conventions in San Diego (which is this weekend actually). I’d wager almost none of them have a clue while sitting in there seats that somewhere amongst those houses on the cliffs above, sits a rather dubious link to the WTBS’s past…

Here’s a link that covers the history pretty well. It’s the website source I’ve been using for comments & quotes for this series and it backs up everything with scans of all the WTBS’s publications and other sources.

jwfacts.com/watchtower/bethsarim.php

 

[SteveVH]

Is there a question here to which you are expecting a response? Are you asking JW’s to defend this? I guess I’m a little confused but unless a thread has a question attached it really just becomes a forum with which to bash these folks.

 

[T_More]

Is there a question here to which you are expecting a response? Are you asking JW’s to defend this? I guess I’m a little confused but unless a thread has a question attached it really just becomes a forum with which to bash these folks.

There is no bashing intended. Their own literature speaks for itself. I thought it would be interesting, in light of Campings most recent failed prediction of this past weekend, to see the parallel’s between he and what the WTBS has being doing for the past 100 years. So many times, JW’s will come onto this website and will use Catholic info sources, such as the Catholic Encyclodpedia, and twist things to try to prove supposed contradictions or proof text these sources. And yet, they will remain silent when shown things like these quotes from their own publications. So many on this site have expressed frustration about getting through to JW’s and lament about how they never get anywhere and it turns into a bible verse swapping contest. If a Catholic is able to use the JW’s own literature such as these quotes to base a dialouge, perhaps more success, through the aid of the Holy Spirit of course, of planting seeds can be attained. I love my former brothers & sisters in that faith, and I pray for them.

To answer your question, yes, I am hoping that JW’s come on these threads and defend these quotes in light of biblical warnings about false prophets. For a JW to listen to the genuine Gospel of the Catholic faith, they first must be shown that where they are at is false and prove it to them, and of course, pray for them.

 

[Nicea325]

A continuation of quotes from the JW’s own publications about the coming of Armageddon, this time 1925.

1925 - “Millions Now Living Will Never Die”

“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.” Millions Now Living Will Never Die p.89

“Hence these faithful men may be expected on earth within the next few years.” The Harp of God p.340

“The year 1926 would therefore begin about October first, 1925…. We should, therefore, expect shortly after 1925 to see the awakening of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Melchisedec, Job, Moses, Samuel, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, John the Baptist, and others mentioned in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. … No doubt many boys and girls who read this book will live to see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Daniel, and those other men of old come forth in the glory of their better resurrection, of perfect in mind and body. It will not take long for Christ to appoint them to their post of honor and authority as his earthly representatives. The world and all the present conveniences will seen strange to them at first, but they will soon become accustomed to the new methods. They may have some amusing experiences at first; for they never saw telephones, radios, automobiles, electric lights, aeroplanes, steam engines, and many other things so familiar to us.” The Way to Paradise (1924) pp.224,226

…continued…

For the life of me, I have no idea why anyone would want to follow a sect like the JW’s? From my own experience and living with a JW in the past, it seems many of them have had a difficult upbringing or past? Riddled with family issues,drug issues,etc,etc and JW’s make those less fortunate feel as though they “belong” to a family,so to speak? They seem to go after the less educated and gullible folks.

 

[SteveVH]

There is no bashing intended. Their own literature speaks for itself. I thought it would be interesting, in light of Campings most recent failed prediction of this past weekend, to see the parallel’s between he and what the WTBS has being doing for the past 100 years. So many times, JW’s will come onto this website and will use Catholic info sources, such as the Catholic Encyclodpedia, and twist things to try to prove supposed contradictions or proof text these sources. And yet, they will remain silent when shown things like these quotes from their own publications. So many on this site have expressed frustration about getting through to JW’s and lament about how they never get anywhere and it turns into a bible verse swapping contest. If a Catholic is able to use the JW’s own literature such as these quotes to base a dialouge, perhaps more success, through the aid of the Holy Spirit of course, of planting seeds can be attained. I love my former brothers & sisters in that faith, and I pray for them.

To answer your question, yes, I am hoping that JW’s come on these threads and defend these quotes in light of biblical warnings about false prophets. For a JW to listen to the genuine Gospel of the Catholic faith, they first must be shown that where they are at is false and prove it to them, and of course, pray for them.

One common response that I get is that “the Catholic Church has made mistakes too and has even apologized for those mistakes.” So these false prophecies are now considered just “mistakes” and have no bearing on the legitimacy of their founders as far as they are concerned. I too would be interested in hearing a defense from the JW’s. After the failed 1975 prophecy, they lost over half of their membership.

 

[Nicea325]

One common response that I get is that “the Catholic Church has made mistakes too and has even apologized for those mistakes.” So these false prophecies are now considered just “mistakes” and have no bearing on the legitimacy of their founders as far as they are concerned. I too would be interested in hearing a defense from the JW’s. After the failed 1975 prophecy, they lost over half of their membership.

Oh yes, I get the same response from JW’s:

“the Catholic Church has made mistakes too and has even apologized for those mistakes.”

Yes,but is the RCC apologizing for making false predictions of Christ returns?

 

[SteveVH]

Yes,but is the RCC apologizing for making false predictions of Christ returns?

Exactly.

 

[Nicea325]

Exactly.

I am not afraid to warn people about the JW organization. JW’s love to take scripture,history,documents,etc out-of-context in order to prove their agendas. As I once stated in the past, my former roommate is a JW. Nonethless, I would read their material from time-to-time and as a history major, I would catch distortions or
“proof-texting” on historical matters referring to the RCC and Christian history…all the time. They are DANGEROUS!

 

[SteveVH]

I am not afraid to warn people about the JW organization. JW’s love to take scripture,history,documents,etc out-of-context in order to prove their agendas. As I once stated in the past, my former roommate is a JW. Nonethless, I would read their material from time-to-time and as a history major, I would catch distortions or
“proof-texting” on historical matters referring to the RCC and Christian history…all the time. They are DANGEROUS!

What is truly amazing is the fact that over half of JW’s are former Catholics, at least in my area. That is why I include apologetics when teaching our teens in my parish. We have so many uncatechised Catholics that it is truly shameful, in my opinion. Their own ignorance leaves them open to anyone who happens to knock on their door, and guess who walks around knocking on doors?

 

[T_More]

What is truly amazing is the fact that over half of JW’s are former Catholics, at least in my area. That is why I include apologetics when teaching our teens in my parish. We have so many uncatechised Catholics that it is truly shameful, in my opinion. Their own ignorance leaves them open to anyone who happens to knock on their door, and guess who walks around knocking on doors?

It probably won’t make you feel any better, but they have been/are losing memebrs left and right. So, let’s pray by the grace of God that those lost Catholics come home. But you are absolutely correct, the teens and ALL Catholics, need to know their faith. They need to know Scripture so they can defend the Church against these seemingly knowledgeable people and not be afraid of the bible. The Church, afterall, produced it!

 

[Nicea325]

What is truly amazing is the fact that over half of JW’s are former Catholics, at least in my area. That is why I include apologetics when teaching our teens in my parish. We have so many uncatechised Catholics that it is truly shameful, in my opinion. Their own ignorance leaves them open to anyone who happens to knock on their door, and guess who walks around knocking on doors?

I totally hear you out. As the Director of Catechetical Ministry, I am very aware of the amount of ignorant adult Catholics. Many simply go through the motions and merely have a superficial faith and understanding of what it means to be Catholic. More important, many Catholics are trivial with their faith and believe they are “right” or on the correct track. For many Catholics it is only a fulfillment and once they receive the sacraments, it is all over. In other words, receiving the sacraments is some sort of graduation. Truly sad!

 

[SteveVH]

I totally hear you out. As the Director of Catechetical Ministry, I am very aware of the amount of ignorant adult Catholics. Many simply go through the motions and merely have a superficial faith and understanding of what it means to be Catholic. More important, many Catholics are trivial with their faith and believe they are “right” or on the correct track. For many Catholics it is only a fulfillment and once they receive the sacraments, it is all over. In other words, receiving the sacraments is some sort of graduation. Truly sad!

I look to this next generation with much hope. We have some very well informed young people these days, maybe more than ever. You are correct in that it is the adults who are in sad shape. We have tried so many ways to evangelize and catechise the adults, through Bible studies, prayer groups, small communities, special speakers, etc… When compared to the number of people in our parish, the turnout is always sad. Our teens, however, are on fire, and we have the largest teen group in our area. Hopeful indeed.

To get back on topic, however, it is the older adults who seem to fall prey.

 

[jbeck43]

jbeck, I have been to the house myself and have taken photos. It’s kind of ironic, in that it sits in an area that overlooks the location of the stadium where JW’s have their annual district conventions in San Diego (which is this weekend actually). I’d wager almost none of them have a clue while sitting in there seats that somewhere amongst those houses on the cliffs above, sits a rather dubious link to the WTBS’s past…

Here’s a link that covers the history pretty well. It’s the website source I’ve been using for comments & quotes for this series and it backs up everything with scans of all the WTBS’s publications and other sources.

jwfacts.com/watchtower/bethsarim.php

Amazing. I know right where that is–right above Qualcomm Stadium in the Mission Valley area of San Diego. I had no idea…thanks T More…i’ll check out the links…

 

[PRmerger]

What is truly amazing is the fact that over half of JW’s are former Catholics, at least in my area.

I think what’s true is that almost every denomination consists of a majority of ex-Catholics.

I read in* Time *that the largest Christian denomination is Catholic, and the 2nd largest (almost) consists of ex-Catholics.

“Ex-Catholics are almost as numerous as the America’s second biggest religious group, Southern Baptists.”

Nothing makes me sadder than hearing of a Catholic leaving his faith.

Nothing makes me madder than hearing an ex-Catholics (usually with disclaimers like “used to be an altar boy” or “12 years of Catholic education with nuns”) who are absolutely clueless about Catholicism but, by golly, they are adamantine that some ga-ga la-la nonsense they’re professing was once taught by the Catholic Church.

 

[Nicea325]

I look to this next generation with much hope. We have some very well informed young people these days, maybe more than ever. You are correct in that it is the adults who are in sad shape. We have tried so many ways to evangelize and catechise the adults, through Bible studies, prayer groups, small communities, special speakers, etc… When compared to the number of people in our parish, the turnout is always sad. Our teens, however, are on fire, and we have the largest teen group in our area. Hopeful indeed.

To get back on topic, however, it is the older adults who seem to fall prey.

Oh yes adults are in really sad shape. At times I do not know if I should feel sad or cry for the many things adults tell me about what they “think” about our faith. I once had a mother of little boy tell me:

Well I do not go to Mass because I tell my son as long as you believe and know God is omnipresent He will know. ARE YOU KIDDING? :doh2::hypno::dts:uch::ehh: