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Watchtower False Prophecies
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Jehovah's Witness leaders for over 100 years
have claimed
to be God's only living "prophet" on the face of the earth. However, if
one looks at their record, the documented evidence proves they are what Jesus described as
"false prophets!" Most Jehovah's Witnesses have no clue about the true history
of their organization. Remember what Jesus said: "And many false prophets will
arise, and will mislead many." (Mat. 24:11) |
Check out the documented evidence listed by year:
| 1877 'The End Of This
World; that is the end of the gospel and the beginning of the millennial age is nearer
than most men suppose; indeed we have already entered the transition period, which is to
be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation Dan. 12:3." (N.H.
Barbour and C.T. Russell, Three Worlds, and the Harvest of This World, p. 17). |
| 1879 "Christ came in the character of a
Bridegroom in 1874.... at the beginning of the Gospel harvest." (Watchtower, Oct
1879, p. 4) |
| 1880 "We need not here
repeat the evidences that the "seventh trump" began its sounding A.D., 1840, and
will continue until the end of the time of trouble, and the end of "The times of the
Gentiles," A.D., 1914, and that it is the trouble of this "Great day,"
which is here symbolically called the voice of the Archangel when he begins the
deliverance of fleshly Israel. "At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince
(Archangel) which standeth for the children of thy people and there shall be a time of
trouble such as never was since there was a nation." Dan. xii. 1. Nor will we here,
again present the conclusive Bible proof that our Lord came for his Bride in 1874, and has
an unseen work as Reaper of the first-fruits of this Gospel Age. (Zion's Watchtower
November, 1880 p. 1) |
| 1886 "The outlook at the opening of the
New Year has some very encouraging features. The outward evidences are that the marshaling
of the hosts for the battle of the great day of God Almighty, is in progress while the
skirmishing is commencing. … The time is come for Messiah to take the dominion of
earth and to overthrow the oppressors and corrupters of the earth, (Rev. 19:15 and 11:17,
18) preparatory to the establishment of everlasting peace upon the only firm foundation of
righteousness and truth." (Zion's Watchtower, January, 1886;Watchtower reprints I, p.
817) |
| 1888 "In this chapter
we present the Bible evidence proving that the full end of the times of the gentiles,
i.e., the full end of their lease of dominion, will be reached in A.D. 1914; and that the
date will be the farthest limit of the rule of imperfect men. And be it observed, that if
this is shown to be a fact firmly established by the Scriptures, it will prove; Firstly,
that at that date the Kingdom of God, for which our Lord taught us to pray, saying, Thy
Kingdom come, will obtain full, universal control, and that it will then be set up, or
firmly established, in the earth, on the ruins of present institutions." (The Time Is
At Hand, 1888, p. 76, 77) |
| 1889 "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, Vol. 2, The Time Is At Hand, 1889 Ed., p. 101. The 1915
Edition of this texts changed "A.D. 1914" to read 'A.D. 1915') |
| 1889 "Here we furnish
the evidence that from the creation of Adam to (but not including) A.D. 1873 was six
thousand years. And though the Bible contains no direct statement that the seventh
thousand will be the epoch of Christ's reign, the great Sabbath Day of restitution to the
world, yet the venerable tradition is not without a reasonable foundation." (Studies
in the Scriptures, Vol. 2, p. 39. 1889) |
| 1889 "If, then, the seventh
thousand-year period of earth's history be an epoch specially noted as the period of
Christ's reign, we shall by showing that it began in 1873, be proving that we are already
in it." (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 2, p. 40. 1889) |
| 1889 "In the coming 26
years, all present governments will be overthrown and dissolved." (C.T. Russell,
Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 2, p. 98-99, 1889) |
| 1889 "In this chapter we present the
Bible evidence which indicates that six thousand years from the creation of Adam were
complete with A.D. 1872; and hence that, since A.D. 1872 are chronologically entered upon
the seventh thousand or the Millennium." (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 2, p. 33,
1889) |
| 1889 "Remember that
the forty years' Jewish Harvest ended October A.D. 69, and was followed by the complete
overthrow of that nation; and that likewise the forty years of the Gospel age harvest will
end October, 1914, and that likewise the overthrow of 'Christendom,' so-called, must be
expected to immediately follow." (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 2, p. 245) |
| 1894 "Seventeen years ago people said,
concerning the time features presented in Millennial Dawn, They seem reasonable in many
respects, but surely no such radical changes could occur between now and the close of
1914: if you had proved that they would come about in a century or two, it would seem much
more probable. What changes have since occurred, and what velocity is gained daily? 'The
old is quickly passing and the new is coming in.' 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 say that 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." (Zion's
Watchtower, Can It Be Delayed until 1914? C. T. Russell July 15, 1894, Also in Watchtower
Reprints, l894 p. 1677) |
| 1894 "A few more years
will wind up the present order of things, and then the chastened world will stand face to
face with the actual conditions of the established Kingdom of God. And yet the course of
the Church is to be finished within the space of time that intervenes." (Watchtower
p. 56, 1894) |
| 1894 "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." (Watchtower July 15, 1894, p 266; p 1677 reprints)
|
| 1894 "We see no reason
for changing the figures nor could we change them if we would. They are, we believe, Gods
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." (Watchtower, July 15, 1894, Reprints p.
1677) |
| 1897 "...this measurement is 3416
inches, symbolizing 3416 years.... This calculation shows A.D. 1874 as marking the
beginning of the period of trouble...." (Russell, Studies in the Scriptures: Thy
Kingdom Come, Series III, p. 342, 1897 edition) Note:
The 1916 edition changed to read: "We find it to be 3457 inches, symbolizing
3457 years.... Thus the Pyramid witnesses that the close of 1914 will be the beginning of
the time of trouble...." (The measurement was the length of an interior
passageway discovered inside the Pyramids. It has no reference in Scripture.) |
| 1897 "Complete
destruction of the 'powers that be' of 'this present evil worlds - political, financial,
ecclesiastical - about the close of the Time of the Gentiles; October A.D. 1914."
(C.T. Russell, Studies in the Scriptures, IV, p. 622, 1897) |
| 1897 "Our Lord, the appointed King, is
now present, since October 1874, A.D....and the formal inauguration of his kingly office
dates from April 1878, A.D." (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol.4, p.621, 1897) |
| 1897 "The distillery,
the brewery, the saloon, the brothel, the pool-room, all time-killing and
character-depraving business will be stopped; and their servants will be given something
to do that will be beneficial to themselves and others. "Similarly, the building of
war-vessels, the manufacture of munitions of war and defense will cease, and armies will
be disbanded. The new Kingdom will have no need of these, but will have abundant power to
execute summary justice in the punishment of evil doers... "The banking and brokerage
business, and other like employment's, very useful under present conditions, will no
longer have a place; for under the new conditions the human race will be required to treat
each others as members of one family, and private capital and money to loan and to be
needed will be things of the past. Landlords and renting agencies will find new employment
also, because the new King will not recognize as valid patents and deeds now on record.
"...namely, that with present conveniences, if the whole people were put to work
systematically and wisely, not more than three hours labor for each individual would be
necessary." (Studies, Vol. IV, pp. 633-635, 1897) |
| 1902 "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 by the end of A.D. 1914." (The Time Is At Hand, 1902
edition, p. 99) |
| 1903 "When Uranus and
Jupiter meet in the humane sign of Aquarius in 1914, the long-promised era will have made
a fair start in the work of setting man free to work out his own salvation, and will
insure the ultimate realization of dreams and ideals of all poets and sages in
history." (Watchtower, May 1, 1903, p. 130-131; p3184 Reprints) |
| 1904 "According to our expectations the
stress of the great time of trouble will be on us soon, somewhere between 1910 and 1912,
culminating with the end of the 'Times of the Gentiles,' October, 1914." (The New
Creation, Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 6, p. 579, 1904) |
| 1908 "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." (The Time Is At Hand;
1889; 1908 ed.; p. 99) |
| 1908 "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" (The Time Is At Hand; 1889; 1908 ed.; p. 99) |
| 1914 "Even if the time
of our change should not come within ten years, what more should we ask? Are we not a
blessed, happy people? Is not our God faithful? If anyone knows anything better, let him
take it. If any of you ever find anything better, we hope you will tell us."
(Watchtower, Dec 15, 1914, p. 376.) |
| 1914 "Studying God's Word, we have
measured the 2520 years, the seven symbolic times, from that year 606 B.C. and have found
that it reached down to October 1914, as nearly as we were able to reckon. We did not say
positively that this would be the year." (Watchtower, November 1, 1914, p. 325)
|
| 1914 "While it's
possible that Armageddon may begin next Spring, yet this purely speculation to attempt to
say just when. We see, however, that there are parallels between the close of the Jewish
age and this Gospel age. These parallels seem to point to the year just before us part
particularly the early months." (Watchtower Reprints, VI, Sept 1, 1914, p. 5527)
|
| 1914 "There is absolutely no ground for
Bible students to question that the consummation of this Gospel age is now even at the
door, and that it will end as the Scriptures foretell in a great time of trouble such as
never was since there was a nation. We see the participants in this great crisis banding
themselves together… The great crisis, the great clash, symbolically represented as a
fire, that will consume the ecclesiastical heavens and the social earth, is very
near." (Watchtower Reprints, VI, May 1, 1914, p. 5450) |
| 1915 "The present
great war in Europe is the beginning of the Armageddon of the Scriptures (Rev. 19:16-20).
It will eventuate in the complete overthrow of all the systems of error which have so long
oppressed the people of God and deluded the world. We believe the present war cannot last
much longer until revolutions shall break out" (C.T. Russell, Pastor Russell's
Sermons, p. 676, Sometime during World War I) |
| 1915 Here we furnish the evidence that from
the creation of Adam to A.D. 1873 was six thousand years. And though the Bible contains no
direct statement that the seventh thousand will be the epoch of Christ's reign, the great
Sabbath Day of restitution to the world, yet the venerable tradition is not without
reasonable foundation. (The Time Is At Hand; 1889; 1915 ed.; p. 39) |
| 1915 If, then, the seventh
thousand-year period of earth's history be an epoch specially noted as the period of
Christ's reign, we shall, by showing that it began in A.D. 1873, be proving that we are
already in it. (The Time Is At Hand; 1889; 1915 ed.; p. 40) |
| 1915 Firstly, that at that date [1914] the
Kingdom of God, for which our Lord taught us to pray, saying, "Thy Kingdom
come," will begin to assume control, and that it will then shortly be "set
up," or firmly established, in the earth, on the ruins of present institutions. (The
Time Is At Hand; 1889; 1915 ed.; p. 77) |
| 1915 "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 near the end of A.D. 1915. (The Time Is At Hand, 1915
edition, p. 99) |
| 1915 "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. 1915, with the complete overthrow of the earth's present rulership, is already
commenced." (The Time Is At Hand; 1889; 1915 ed.; p. 101) |
| 1915 "As in the type
that date - three and a half years after the death of Christ - marked the end of all
special favor to the Jew and the beginning of favor to the Gentiles, so we recognize A.D.
1881 as marking the close of the 'high calling,' or invitation to the blessing peculiar to
this age - to become joint-heirs with Christ and partakers of the divine nature."
(The Time Is At Hand; 1889; 1915 ed.; p. 235) |
| 1915 So it was in this harvest also up to
A.D. 1878 the time prophecies and the fact of the Lord's presence, substantially as here
presented, though less clearly, was our message. Since then the work has widened, and the
view of other truths has become brighter and clearer; but the same fact and scriptures,
teaching the same time and presence, stand unchallenged and incontrovertible. (The Time Is
At Hand; 1889; 1915 ed.; p. 236) |
| 1915 The Gentile Times
prove that the present governments must all be overturned about the close of A.D. 1915;
and Parallelism above shows that this period corresponds exactly with the year A.D. 70,
which witnessed the completion of the downfall of the Jewish polity. (The Time Is At Hand,
1915 edition, p. 242) |
| 1915 We are already living in the seventh
millennium - since October 1872. (The Time Is At Hand; 1889; 1915 ed.; p. 363) |
| 1915 The Battle of
Armageddon, to which this war is leading, will be a great contest between right and wrong,
and will signify the complete and everlasting overthrow of the wrong, and the permanent
establishment of Messiah's righteous kingdom for the blessing of the world. … Our
sympathies are broad enough to cover all engaged in the dreadful strife, as our hope is
broad enough and deep enough to include all in the great blessings which our Master and
his Millennial kingdom are about to bring to the world. (Watchtower Reprints, VI, April 1,
1915, p. 5659) |
| 1915 To our understanding the general call to
this joint heirship with our Redeemer as members of the New Creation of God, ceased in
1881. (The New Creation; 1899; 1915 ed.; p. 95) |
| 1916 "The Bible
chronology herein presented shows that the six great 1000 year days beginning with Adam
are ended, and that the great 7th Day, the 1000 years of Christ's Reign, began in
1873." (The Time Is At Hand, Foreword, p 2, 1916) |
| 1916 We see no reason for doubting,
therefore, that the Times of the Gentiles ended in October, 1914; and that a few more
years will witness their utter collapse and the full establishment of God's kingdom in the
hands of Messiah." (Watchtower Reprints, VI, Sept 1, 1916, p. 5950) |
| 1917 'There will be no
slip-up...Abraham should enter upon the actual possession of his promised inheritance in
the year 1925' (Watchtower Oct. 15, 1917, p. 6157) |
| 1917 The Spring of 1918 will bring upon
Christendom a spasm of anguish greater even than that experienced in the Fall of 1914....
The travail that is coming is to be upon nominal Zion- "Christendom" …
"Babylon"; and it will be a great and sore affliction - "A Time of Trouble
such as was not since there was a nation." (The Finished Mystery p. 62 [stated to be
the "Posthumous Work of Pastor Russell" on p. 2]) |
| 1917 'No doubt Satan
believed the Millennial Kingdom was due to be set-up in 1915...Be that as it may, there is
evidence that the establishment of the Kingdom in Palestine will probably be in 1925, ten
years later than we once calculated.' (Studies In The Scriptures, Vol 7, The Finished
Mystery, p. 128) |
| 1917 Some interesting developments in
connection with the setting up of the Kingdom may occur in 1920, six years after the great
Time of Trouble began. It would not be strange if this were so, when we recall that after
forty years wandering in the wilderness the Israelites came into possession of the land of
Canaan after a further six years. As these matters are still future we can but wait to
see. We anticipate that the "earthquake" will occur early in 1918, and that the
"fire" will come in the fall of 1920. [The Finished Mystery, 1917, p. 178,
Comments on Revelation 11:13. [The 1926 ed. reads: "and that the 'fire' will follow
in due course."]) |
| 1917 "And the
mountains were not found. Even the republics will disappear in the fall of 1920. And the
mountains were not found. Every kingdom of earth will pass away, be swallowed up in
anarchy." (The Finished Mystery, 1917 edition, p. 258) |
| 1917 Pastor Russell's mission, in large part,
was to advise Christendom of its impending end, in the time of world-wide trouble. It is
the Divine judgment upon the nations. … There will be no chance of escaping from
destruction, through the nations. … The trouble is due to the dawning of the Day of
Christ, the Millennium. It is the Day of Vengeance, which began in the world war of 1914
and which will break like a furious morning storm in 1918." (The Finished Mystery,
1917, p. 404) |
| 1917 "Until 1878 the
nominal church had been in a sense God's sanctuary or temple; but He was from then on,
culminating in 1918, to remove it with a stroke or plague of erroneous doctrines and deeds
Divinely permitted. The Church was the strength of Christendom, that about which its life
centered, and around which its institutions were built. It was the desire of the eyes of
the people, that which all Christians loved. Nevertheless, God was to make manifest the
profanation which ecclesiasticism had made of the Christian Church, and to cause the
church organizations to become to Him as one dead, an unclean thing, not to be touched, or
mourned. And the 'children of the church' shall perish by the sword of war, revolution and
anarchy, and by the Sword of the Spirit be made to see that they have lost their hope of
life on the spirit plane -- that 'the door is shut."' (Studies in the Scriptures,
vol. 7, 1917 p. 484.) |
| 1917 Also, in the year 1918, when God
destroys the churches wholesale and the church members by million, it shall be that any
that escape shall come to the works of Pastor Russell to learn the meaning of the downfall
of Christianity. (The Finished Mystery, 1917 edition, p. 485) |
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