Gopher
WW1 was not the first time that a tactic now called total war was used. The wt claims it was. Total war is where civilians are terrorised to effect the war outcome. Previously, at times, civilians would gather as spectators to the two combatting armies. While total war method may have been used before, it was definitivly used by the union forces against the confederacy, when the yank army cut a swath straight south through enemy territory.
The date 1914, according to russel, was to be the END of the time of trouble, NOT the beginning.
We see no reason in 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.
The Watchtower July 15, 1894 p. 226. When something dramatic did happen in that year, the wt rearranged its history to manufacture something out of nothing (like god).
As for significant dates, i see 1799 as very significant because the french revolution and the napoleanic wars, w the toppling of much of european royalty, caused a paradigm shift. Previously, the mob of ordinary people generaly found identity/meaning from who the reigning king was. As demonstrated by the toppling of louis xiv, without that icon, the masses went nuts for a time, like an ant colony without a queen. It forced a massive shift of peoples thoughts.
SS
