They must be so proud, LOL.
The funny thing is that the JW end-of-the-world-ists actually came from a branch of the previous failed bunch. What losers!
http://roadtickle.com/5-ends-of-the-world-that-came-and-went/
5 Ends of the World that came and went (JWs get a mention)
by Simon 9 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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dgp
Marked.
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mindmelda
If I may quote from the article, which is not only true, but pretty hilarious.
"It would take a hefty monograph to tally up all the prophesied and discarded Doomsdays littering the eschatology of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, or Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The Society’s founder Charles Taze Russell, who had only several years of schooling but a great deal of business sense, at first affiliated himself with a group that expected the world to end in 1873. When that did not happen, the date was moved to 1874. When nothing happened in 1874, the group decided that the Second Coming had actually taken place as planned, and that Christ was here in the world, only he was invisible. It was then decided that the actual visible and palpable end of the world would come in 1914. This gave Russell and his colleagues a full forty years to proceed with their mission of saving lost souls without being undermined by their own predictions.
The year 1914 saw the Great War break out in Europe, but the world still refused to end. This was highly inconvenient, because Russell had promised eternal life to “millions” who witnessed the events of 1914. And so after his death in 1916, Watch Tower publications continued to push back the fateful day as became necessary. First it was moved to October 1, 1917. Then to 1925. From the mid-1930s to early 1940s, pamphlets said it was “months away.” Later another delay was effected until September 5, 1975. All the while, the generation of 1914 continued to die off at normal pace, which was making some people antsy. By 1995, Russell’s teaching about its elect immortal millions had to be discarded. These days, a Watchtower tract is likely to talk about Armageddon being seen by the “anointed” whose lives overlap with the lives of those who saw 1914, effectively pushing the end of things many vague decades into the future."
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Elsewhere
One of my favorite quotes: "Throughout history countless numbers of people have predicted the end of the world and they all have one thing in common: They were all wrong."
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stillajwexelder
shakes head in disbelief - but yet knows it is so sadly true.
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reslight2
The Society’s founder Charles Taze Russell, who had only several years of schooling but a great deal of business sense, at first affiliated himself with a group that expected the world to end in 1873.
While Charles Taze Russell was the principle founder of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, that legal entity as he formed was not to hold "authority" over congregations. Russell did not believe in an authoritarian organization such the Jehovah's Witnesses. The JW doctrine of a "visible organization of God" on earth that is alleged to have sole authority to speak for God came about after Russell died. Russell did not believe in such a doctrines.
Russell probably had the equivalent of at least a Bachelor's degree before he formed the Watch Tower Society. He had been privately tutored in secular education as well having more than seven years of instruction from Bible students who had come before him.
I do not know any group that he affiliated himself with in 1873 other than the independent independent Bible study group in Pittsburgh, PA, but, at least from what Russell himself wrote it is highly unlikely that this group was expecting the "world to end in 1873." There were some of the Second Aventists who were claiming that the planet Earth would be destroyed by fire in 1873, but Russell himself certainly did not hold to such a view. His own words concerning that time were:
I was not a convert, either to the time [1873] he [Jonas Wendell] suggested nor to the events he predicted. I, in company with others in Pittsburgh, organized and maintained a bible class for the searching of the Scriptures, meeting every Sunday.
We reasoned that, if Christ’s coming were to end probation, and bring irrevocable ruin upon ninety-nine in a hundred of mankind; then it could scarcely be considered desirable, neither could we pray with proper spirit, “Come, Lord Jesus, Come quickly!” ( Revelation 22:20 ) We had rather request — much as we should “love his appearing” — that he remain away and our sufferings and trials continue so that “if by any means we might save some.” ( 2 Timothy 4:8 ; 1 Corinthians 9:22 ) Not only so, but great masses of scripture referring to the Millennial glory and teaching that “All nations which thou hast made shall come and worship before thee,” &c., &c., would be left unfulfilled if at His coming there should be a wreck of matter and a crush of world. — Psalm 22:27 ; 67:2 ; 72:11 ; 86:9 ; Isaiah 2:2 ; 25:7 .
We first saw Millennial glory — then the glorious work which is offered us as His Bride; that we are by faith the “seed of Abraham;” and as such, heirs of the promises, &c., in whom “all the families of the earth shall be blest.” (Galatians 3) This most certainly points to a probation in the future after He has come. Thus, speedily, steadily and surely God led us to recognize the second coming of our Lord as being not the sunset of all hope to mankind, but the “rising of the Sun of Righteousness with healing in his wings.” — Malachi 4:2
The Lord gave us many helps in the study of His word, among whom stood prominently, our dearly beloved and aged brother, George Storrs, who, both by word and pen, gave us much assistance; but we ever sought not to be followers of men, however good or wise, but “Followers of God, as dear children.” ( Ephesians 5:1 ) Thus growing in grace and knowledge for seven years, the year 1876 found us. — 2 Peter 3:18 . -- Supplment to the first issue of the Watch Tower, July 1, 1879.
Thus, in 1876, Russell had seven years of theological training behind him. However, 1876 was three years before Russell began publishing "The Watch Tower" in 1879, and it was eight years after 1876 when Zion's Watch Tower and Tract Society was legally incorporated.
However, it is important to note that, while Russell, before the year 1876, held great interest in the manner, purpose and effects of Christ's return, it was not until that year that Russell became interested in any date pertaining to that event. 1876 was two years after 1874, but it was in 1876 that Russell's attention was drawn to the work of N. H. Barbour, and the thought that Christ had returned invisible to human eyes in 1874. Russell had already concluded that Christ's return would not be in the flesh, for he had become thoroughly convinced that Jesus had sacrificed his flesh, and thus would return with a body of flesh, but rather with an invisible spiritual body. He was surprized to see that someone else had come to similar conclusions, and thus took an interest in what Barbour had to say about Christ's invisible return in 1874. Again, however, this was two years after 1874 had passed; Before 1873 and 1874 Russell never entertained any thought of Christ's return in either date.
Looking back on the time before Russell began to work with Barbour, Russell laments:
While he believed a bonfire to be the end of the world, and that probation ended with it, Bros. Geo. Storrs, Henry Dunn and others were preaching and writing of “the times of restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy Prophets.” ( Acts 3:21 ), and that “In the ages to come, God would show the exceeding riches of his grace.” ( Ephesians 2:7 ) Again, of what value would it be to know the time if we know nothing of the manner of Christ’s coming?
In other words, although Russell and others, before 1874, were interested in the "restitutrion" that was to follow Christ's return, Barbour had been preaching that the world (meaning the planet earth especially) would be destroyed by fire, and Barbour did not seem, at that time, to be interested in the restitution promises. In that sense, however, Russell did not even believe in the "end of the world" as that term generally meant at that time. Russell certainly never believe in any "doomsday," nor did he believe in an Armageddon such as the JWs teach. His view of Armageddon was that it was a period of time when the nations would be disciplined (not eternally destroyed) so that they may be prepared to accept the King Jesus.
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leavingwt
A history of shame. Thank you for posting this.
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reslight2
The year 1914 saw the Great War break out in Europe, but the world still refused to end. This was highly inconvenient, because Russell had promised eternal life to “millions” who witnessed the events of 1914.
Charles Taze Russell was NOT expecting the "end of the world" in 1914, as that term is meant by most people. He did not even believe the "end of the system of things" fully in the same manner as the JWs teach it. Russell believed that the time of trouble, however long it may last, was for the disciplining of the nations, not to bring eternal destruction of unbelievers. Nor was he, at least for ten years before 1914, expecting the Gentile kingdoms to all be gone by or in the year 1914.
http://ctr.reslight.net/2009/12/16/end-1914.html
The latter sentence, pertaining to an alleged promise of Russell (I know of no such promise in the manner stated) seems to be distorting and attributing some of Rutherford's statements to Russell. Nevertheless, when the millions of unbelieving people who witnessed the events of 1914 are raised in the resurrection of the unjust, they will indeed be able to believe and obey at that time, and thus depart into everlasting life. It is the promise of Jesus himself that the time will come (the last day) when the unbelievers will come forth in the resurrection by means of judgment. (John 5:28,29; 12:47,48) Through his apostle Paul the promise is made that as by means of Adam, all are dying, so by means of Christ all are made alive. -- 1 Corinthians 15:21,22.
http://hereafter.reslight.net/archives/152.html
Let them praise Yahweh for his lovingkindness, For his wonderful works to the children of men!. -- Psalm 107:31, World English.
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flipper
SIMON- Good thread. Thanks for the link. My wife and I discuss this all the time about how superstitious people are about the alleged " end of the world ". I was a born-in JW for 44 years- exited over 6 years ago. I was told as a teenager I'd never have to marry in this " wicked system of things" - that the paradise would be here and I would father my children in the alleged " new system". Now I'm 50 years of age - have a 25 year old non-witness son who is NOT superstitious , and two daughters 23 and 21 still believing they are perilously close to Armageddon !
I have 3 JW siblings- all older than me 60 yrs.of age and up - who cling to these false illusions. I have my aged JW mom and dad 85 and 83 who have been lied to by the WT society since 1951 and have been hoping against hope that this " end of the world " thing is true and they will never have to die. It is sad and disgusting- all at the same time. Sad my parents were deceived by mind control- and DISGUSTING an organization like Jehovah's Witnesses would play on people's hopes and dreams like this
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bob1999
"Charles Taze Russell was NOT expecting the "end of the world" in 1914, as that term is meant by most people. He did not even believe the "end of the system of things" fully in the same manner as the JWs teach it."
Russell wrote in 1889 that "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".
So just what did he mean by that?
Peace