how do you prove to a JW that they they were wrong about 1975?I

by paybacktime19 40 Replies latest watchtower scandals

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  Mickey mouse

  Awake! 1969 May 22 p.15

  If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things. Why not? Because all the evidence in fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years. Of the generation that observed the beginning of the 'last days' in 1914, Jesus foretold: 'This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.' Therefore, as a young person, you will never fulfill any career that this system offers. If you are in high school and thinking about a college education, it means at least four, perhaps even six or eight more years to graduate into a specialized career. But where will this system of things be by that time? It will be well on the way towards its finish, if not actually gone! This is why parents who base their lives on God's prophetic Word find it much more practical to direct their young ones into trades that do not require such long periods of additional schooling… True, those who do not understand where we are in the stream of time from God's viewpoint will call this impractical. But which is really practical: preparing yourself for a position in this world that soon will pass away? or working toward surviving this system's end and enjoying eternal life in God's righteous new order?
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  Bring_the_Light(ghost)

  Go to www.youtube.com

  Search for "Jehovah's Witness 1975"

  You'll get 11 results that all seem pretty illuminating.

  Bring_the_Light

  Edit to add: "Charles Sunutko" a District Overseer seems to be an often cited bringer of the 1975 Light.
• 

  Mr. Ted

  Thanks to all who contributed to this thread.

  I was "there" and all these quotes (and recordings) are inducing flashbacks! I was 20 in 1970 (do the math) and a district overseer sat me down at lunch and told me by the time I was 25 -- I'd be living in the New Order! Now my sons are older than that.

  Also, appreciated the Watchtower quotes link.

  Ted
• 

  VM44

  Mr. Ted.

  I was 20 in 1970 (do the math) and a district overseer sat me down at lunch and told me by the time I was 25

  It would be interesting to find that DO, remind him of what he said, and hold him accountable for it!

  Too often these failed "assurances" are left unmentioned. These men want what they said in the past to fade from memory and be forgotten.

  What was said back in 1969/1970 sounds a lot like what Gerrit Lorsch and David Splane say today in their convention talks!
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  Vinny

  Wrong dates and False Predictions are a WT Society black eye. They'd rather nobody know about these things. Which is why there is so much emphasis on "talk that builds up", when having any kind of spiritual association with fellow JW's.
  
  
  Here are just a couple quotes. I have more...
  
  
  
  
  
  
  {KMIN May 1974 page 3} Reports 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.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  "In modern times such eagerness, commendable in itself, has led to attempts at setting dates for the desired liberation from the suffering and troubles that are the lot of persons throughout the earth. With the appearance of the book LifeEverlasting—inFreedomoftheSonsofGod, and its comments as to how appropriate it would be for the millennial reign of Christ to parallel the seventh millennium of man’s existence, considerable expectation was aroused regarding the year 1975. There were statements made then, and thereafter, stressing that this was only a possibility. Unfortunately, however, along with such cautionary information, there were other statements published that implied that such realization of hopes by that year was more of a probability than a mere possibility. It is to be regretted that these latter statements apparently overshadowed the cautionary ones and contributed to a buildup of the expectation already initiated"
  
  
  
  
  
  "The brothers also appreciated the candor of this same talk, [Choosing the Best Way of Life] ((((which acknowledged the Society’s responsibility))))) for some of the disappointment a number felt regarding 1975"
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  I also personally know of people that sold their houses in 1975 and still suffering today because of it.
  
  
  And all this is just 1975.
  
  
  We also have 1914, 1925, Beth Sarim, the generation of 1914 that will not pass away, the end that will come before the year 2000 and several others similar.
  
  
  ALL IN PRINT.
  
  
  Folkks, the printed page DOES NOT LIE.
  
  
  The JW's were wrong every single time. No exceptions.
  
  
  And all this even though they claimed the WT Society was "God's chosen "Channel", dispensing, "food at the proper time" in their literature and that all other religions and people of those religions will be destroyed unless they become JW's too.
  
  
  I am not making this stuff up.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  People then realize the faithful and discreet slave is really nothing more than THE BOYS FROM BROOKLYN.
  
  
  And with that reality check happening, many JW's seem then to grow wings and fly away... becoming Ex-JW's and then getting labeled, judged and shunned...
  
  
  Again and again...
  
  
  
  
• 

  BabaYaga

  Great collection of quotes, Vinnie, thank you!
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  AnneB

  Awake! 1969 May 22 p.15

  If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things.

  I wonder if Truth In Advertising might be at issue here. That was their slogan for such a long time ("Advertise, advertise, advertise...").

  The cigarette companies finally had to pay...
• 

  penny2

  If you've got the Watchtower Library CD (most current JWs would have it), do a search on '1975'. Check the references from Watchtower mags pre 1974 - you will find quite a lot still on there.
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  Atlantis

  A definition of the word "responsibility."
  
  One entry found for responsibility. Entry Word: responsibility
  Function: noun
  Text: 1 the state of being heldas the cause of something that needs to be set right <responsibility for the accident lies with the driver who was speeding>
  Synonyms blame, fault, liability
  Related Words accountability http://www.wordcentral.com/cgi-bin/thesaurus?book=Thesaurus&va=responsibility "The brothers also appreciated the candor of this same talk, which acknowledged theSociety’sresponsibilityfor some of the disappointment a number felt regarding1975." 1980 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses-pp.30-31 N.
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  Shawn10538

  Obviously it looks like they did fall short of actually spelling it out in the most authoritative way, which is having it said directly and incontrovertably that "In 1975 Armageddon will begin for sure, no two ways about it." written in the WT, KM or some other book. Of course the strongest way to say it would be by having it in a study article in the WT. That is where all the official doctrines are hammered out.
  
  They always followed whatever statement with, :of course we don't know for sure when the end will be for nobody knows the day or hour that it will come." And that is all that matters for most JWs. And that is all that a JW will see, and that is all they will say, over and over and over, 'But nody knows the day or hour, and the WT has always acknowledged that to one extent or another. It is their fail safe. Leave just enough doubt so that the average JW will actually act on the 70 or 80% sureness that they all have. The 10 or 20% that they doubt will come in handy later on when it doesn't come true. Then all they remember is that they never believed it 100% so they are not guilty of false prophecy or believing in one.