If I had I would have noticed what I do now. For example:
For over 40 years, 1874-1914 and beyond the WTS claimed that there was a time of trouble like the world had never seen before going on. This was to be a terrible time leading up to armageddon in 1914. Bible students used to write to Russell and ask if his calculations were correct because they couldn't imagine the world going on much longer. The system was so bad.
Then 1914 came and no armageddon, no rapture, nothing. Then the change to 1914 was made. Now the years leading up to 1914 where the best of times. Peace and prosperity were everywhere.
The truth is they were neither. They were just times. Like any other 40 years in history. People lived, people died. there were wars, food shortages, earthquakes and there people saying things are good as well as people saying things are bad. Like now.
How can a magazine publisher print entirely different depictions of the same time period and still be taken seriously? When I was a JW I thought they always taught pretty much what they teach now. They do a good job at hiding the past. Now I laugh at the absurdity of this organization.
If they change 1914 I can see it now. The period leading up to 2014 was the best of times. The population exploded due to a lack of wars, pestilence and food shortages. The global population prospered and more people than ever had access to jobs, healthcare and material goods. There are plenty of people they can quote from our time who would say this. They can put them in their magazine. Who knows, maybe they're saving up quotes now just in case.
