Of all the pre 1975 quotes this is probably the most popular, notice
what is encouraged in the Kingdom Ministry a year prior to 1975 (monthly
internal JW newsletter)
Re****ts are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and
planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the
pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time
remaining before the wicked world's end.=971 John 2:17
Kingdom Ministry May 1974 pg.3
http://www.jwfiles.com/1925-1975.htm
"1925 and 1975 Dates That Live in Infamy"
by William Jones
Fifty years lay between 1925 and 1975 but in the span of half a century
nothing has changed as to the way the Watchtower covers up their
mistakes. The Watchtower actually blames the individual witness when
their own prophecies fail. The Watchtower seeks to ****eld itself from
blame for their false prophecies by saying the reader is the one who had
'false hopes' and 'inflated imaginations'. Over stepping the fact that
they, the writers of the Watchtower are the ones who stirred up this
fervor of Armageddon coming in the year of 1925 and 1975. Prior to each
of the prophesied dates much was said about that coming year and what
was to be expected. Much evidence was put before the reader to show
proof of the Watchtower's dates being, not only factual but scriptural
as well. No room was left for a the reader to make up his own mind,
these are not suggested opinions that the witness can accept or not.
This information is coming from God's sole channel of communication on
earth, failure to listen and believe can cost the reader his life.
In this article you will see the similarities between the prophecies of
1925 and those of 1975. Both deal with Armageddon and both failed, both
started with a book written by the Society, both involved chronology.
And in both cases when the prophecies failed the Watchtower blamed the
individual witness saying it was they who read too much into what was
written. Beginning with 1925 the Watchtower Society began to lay the
ground work for course of action that would prove most successful when
their prophecies fail. First we will examine in detail the events
surrounding the 1925 prophecy then in the same manner the 1975 prophecy.
In 1920 Joseph Rutherford the second President of the Watchtower Society
wrote a book entitled Millions now Living Will Never Die He believed
Armageddon was to come in 1925. He went to great lengths to prove this
in the book he penned. Notice this quote from his book:
"Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old...."
Millions now Living Will Never Die pg. 89, 90
It was taught that 1925 would mark the end of seventy jubilees of fifty
years each since the Israelites had entered Canaan. (Lev. 25:1-12) A. D.
Schroeder of the Governing Body states: "It was thought that then the
remnant of Christ's anointed followers would go to heaven to be part of
the Kingdom. And that the faithful men of old, such as Abraham, David
and others, would be resurrected as princes to take over the government
of the earth as part of God's kingdom." Now how was this information put
forth to the witnesses who read this material? Was it said as a mere
possibility or even a probability, or was it said with such authority
that it was understood to be a certainty? Notice the following quotes:
We have no doubt whatever in regard to the chronology relating to the
dates of 1874, 1914, 1918, and 1925. It was on this line of reckoning
that the dates 1874, 1914, and 1918 were located; and the Lord has
placed the stamp of his seal upon 1914 and 1918 beyond any possibility
of erasure. What further evidence do we need?
Using this same measuring line.... it is an easy matter to locate 1925,
probably in the fall, for the beginning of the antitypical jubilee.
There can be no more question about 1925 than there was about 1914.
Watchtower May 15, 1922
The chronology of present truth might be a mere happening if it were not
for the repetitions in the two great cycles of 1845 and 2520 years,
which take it out of the realm of chance and into that of certainty....
where the agreements of dates and events come by the dozens, they cannot
possibly be by chance, but must be by the design or plan of the only
personal Being capable of such a plan =97 Jehovah himself; and the
chronology itself must be right.
It is on the basis of such and so many correspondencies =97 in
accordance with the soundest laws known to science =97 that we affirm
that, Scripturally, scientifically, and historically, present-truth
chronology is correct beyond a doubt. Its reliability has been
abundantly confirmed by the dates and events of 1874, 1914, and 1918.
Present- truth chronology is a secure basis on which the consecrated
child of God may endeavor to search out things to come.
Watchtower June 15, 1922
This chronology is not of man, but of God. Being of divine origin and
divinely corroborated, present-truth chronology stands in a class by
itself, absolutely and unqualifiedly correct....
Watchtower July 15, 1922
After reading the above Watchtower quotes about the prophcies regarding
1925, I cannot see how anyone could say the witnesses who acted on the
writings of the Watchtower read too much into what was written or that
it should have been viewed as a suggested possibility or even a
probability. Yet after the prophecy failed the Watchtower did just that.
Notice this quote from a sister as recorded in the 1975 yearbook of
Jehovah's Witnesses:
"1925 was a sad year for many brothers. Some of them were stumbled;
their hopes were dashed. They had hoped to see some of the 'ancient
worthies' [men of old like Abraham] resurrected. Instead of its being
considered a 'probability,' they read into it that it was a 'certainty,'
and some prepared for their own loved ones with expectancy of their
resurrection..."
1975 Yearbook pg.146
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
assunder, they were inclined to throw away everything.
Watchtower - August 1, 1926 pg. 232
Fifty years later in 1975 the Watchtower found itself in the same
situation as 1925 and true to form did the exact same thing. When their
prophecy failed they blamed the individual witnesses saying it was them
that 'based their hopes on false premises'. Below you will find the
course of events that surrounded the 1975 prophecy. It is the same as in
1925. You will see what was said before 1975 arrived how all were sure
of the things to come. Biblical and chronological proof was again put
forth to back up the Watchtower's prophecy. How, many were encouraged
for believing in what was written by the Watchtower regarding the year
1975. But when that year came and went, the tides turned and it turned
onto the witnesses. You will see an unmistakable similarity between 1925
and 1975. Same tricks, but decades apart.
With the release of the book Life Everlasting=97in Freedom of the Sons
of God the Watchtower Society draws a picture of the final part of the
last days that ends in Armageddon. Showing the reader charts and graphs
and quotes from anyone who had anything negative to say about the coming
year 1975. In the quotes to follow notice how the Watchtower weaves the
facts together but stops just short of making the final claim, but by
then anyone with common sense knows the point of view they are being
lead to believe.
At all assembly points where it was released, the book was received
enthusiastically. Crowds gathered around stands and soon supplies of the
book were depleted. Immediately its contents were examined. It did not
take the brothers very long to find the chart beginning on page 31,
showing that 6,000 years of man's existence end in 1975. Discussion of
1975 overshadowed about everything else. "The new book compels us to
realize that Armageddon is, in fact, very close indeed," said a
conventioner. Surely it was one of the outstanding blessings to be
carried home!
Watchtower 10/15/66 pg.628-9
But, without a doubt, nothing has created more interest in this textbook
than the first chapter with its chart and fine information regarding the
7,000 years of God's rest day. The observation that 1975 may well mark
the beginning of mankind's great Jubilee has intrigued many.
Watchtower 1/1/67 pg.29
'What about the year 1975? What is it going to mean, dear friends?'
asked Brother Franz. 'Does it mean that Armageddon is going to be
finished, with Satan bound, by 1975? It could! It could! All things are
possible with God. Does it mean that Babylon the Great is going to go
down by 1975? It could.
Watchtower 10/15/66 pg.631
In their new book, Famine=971975!, two noted food experts, William and
Paul Paddock, make this forecast for the future, on page 61:"By 1975
civil disorder, anarchy, military dictator****ps, runaway inflation,
trans****tation breakdowns and chaotic unrest will be the order of the
day in many of the hungry nations.
Watchtower 4/15/68 pg.227
This next Watchtower quote says to the reader the next thousand years
will be spent without Satan! Witnesses are taught that after Armageddon
Satan will be locked away for a thousand years. So now this Watchtower
magazine saying the next thousand years will be free of Satan is as good
as saying Armageddon is about to come now, for the latter cannot (in the
witness eyes of understanding) happen without the former coming true
first. So if the next one thousand years are to be Satan free and that
starts in the fall of 1975 then it would stand to reason that Armageddon
would have to come just before the thousand years of Satan being
abyssed. Thus Armageddon coming in 1975. But they did not say the words
'Armageddon is coming in 1975'. Though what other conclusion could be
drawn from what is here written?. Note the following quote:
According to the Bible timetable, man's history on earth has been nearly
6,000 years. Adam was created in 4026 B.C.E., which means that six
thousand years of human history end about the fall of 1975 C.E. We are
in the great 7,000-year rest day of God, starting at the time he rested
after the creation of Adam and Eve. There are, therefore, a thousand
years left to run. Without Satan and his demons to disturb mankind it
will indeed be a restful time. It will be like a sabbath.
Watchtower 7/15/67 pg.446-7
This next quote leads the reader to believe that Armageddon is in the
very immediate future. But that would depend upon what your definition
of immediate is, or the phrase 'a few years at most'.
I guess it's sort of like the varying definitions of the word 'is' with
politicians today.
The immediate future is certain to be filled with climactic events, for
this old system is nearing its complete end. Within a few years at most
the final parts of Bible prophecy relative to these "last days" will
undergo fulfillment, resulting in the liberation of surviving mankind
into Christ's glorious 1,000-year reign. What difficult days, but, at
the same time, what grand days are just ahead!
Watchtower 5/1/68 pg.272
Of all the pre 1975 quotes this is probably the most popular, notice
what is encouraged in the Kingdom Ministry a year prior to 1975 (monthly
internal JW newsletter)
Re****ts are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and
planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the
pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time
remaining before the wicked world's end.=971 John 2:17
Kingdom Ministry May 1974 pg.3
Let us now examine what was said after the prophecy about 1975 failed.
Right after they were praised for selling their homes to pioneer (full
time preaching) Note what the Watchtower said of those who followed that
encouragement.
It may be that some who have been serving God have planned their lives
according to a mistaken view of just what was to happen on a certain
date or in a certain year. They may have, for this reason, put off or
neglected things that they otherwise would have cared for. But they have
missed the point of the Bible's warnings concerning the end of this
system of things, thinking that Bible chronology reveals the specific
date.
Watchtower 7/15/76 pg.440
Did Jesus mean that we should adjust our financial and secular affairs
so that our resources would just carry us to a certain date that we
might think marks the end? If our house is suffering serious
deterioration, should we let it go, on the assumption that we would need
it only a few months longer? Or, if someone in the family possibly needs
special medical care, should we say, 'Well, we'll put it off because the
time is so near for this system of things to go'? This is not the kind
of thinking that Jesus advised.
Watchtower 7/15/76 pg.440
But it is not advisable for us to set our sights on a certain date,
neglecting everyday things we would ordinarily care for as Christians,
such as things that we and our families really need. We may be
forgetting that, when the "day" comes, it will not change the principle
that Christians must at all times take care of all their
responsibilities. If anyone has been disappointed through not following
this line of thought, he should now concentrate on adjusting his
viewpoint, seeing that it was not the word of God that failed or
deceived him and brought disappointment, but that his own understanding
was based on wrong premises.
Watchtower 7/15/76 pg.441
The Watchtower here is actually blaming it's readers for believing what
it wrote! Note the harsh words to those who planned their lives around
what they were taught about that coming year. It accuses them of
'planning their lives according to a mistaken view.' My question is
where and from whom did they get that 'mistaken view?' The article also
says of it's disappointed readers: 'his own understanding was based on
wrong premises.' Again, where and from whom did the readers get these
wrong premises? Of course as shown above they received it from the
Watchtower. OK so let's see if I have this straight. They tell me they
speak for God and I should follow them, when I do and what they say
fails and now I've sold my home, and have no place to live. It's my
fault for basing my hopes on wrong premises. Hummm. It may be hard for
some to believe that the same organization that wrote the above articles
also wrote the following:
Still more serious is the fact that refusing to admit it when we are
wrong burdens us with a guilty conscience, especially if someone else
gets the blame for what we have done. And if we shrink back from
admitting one wrong, this may get to be a habit. Humility also will help
us to admit a wrong. When we think it through, failure to admit a wrong
borders on hypocrisy, does it not? Neither the haughty person nor the
hypocrite has God's approval.=97Proverbs 21:4; James 3:17.
Watchtower 9/1/82 pg.29-30
The Watchtower Society has for decades claimed to be God's sole channel
of communication on earth. They stand at the forefront of Christianity
(in their opinion) but when it comes to accepting responsibility for
failed predictions they hide behind their followers. In fifty years
nothing has changed. At one time I did believe that God was with them
but then left them because of their actions. But after going back as far
as 1925 and seeing they were up to the same tricks back then. I'm sure
now that he has never communicated his will through the Watchtower
Society.
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