I was just on the new JW.org site and I have to say, they've done a good job. It looks pretty sleek and is easy to navigate. The production values of their magazines (in particular the photos) seems to have improved since I last spent much time on the site.
Any way, the January 2013 Watchtower caught my attention so I downloaded the .PDf.
I saw this interesting admission underneath the first article 'The End of the World: Fear Fasination and Frustration'.
This article is ostensibly aimed at the public reader but I think also it has a few comments aimed at members as well:
The Bible likens the world’s destruction to the onset of labor—
the mother’s pain is inevitable and comes suddenly. The
time leading up to the end is also like a pregnancy, for an expectant
mother is aware of ever-increasing signs of the coming
birth. Her doctor might estimate the birth date; yet, even
if the event should delay, she would still be sure that her baby
will soon be born . Similarly, anymistaken expectations about
the end do not alter the unmistakable features identifying
these as “the last days.”—2 Timothy 3:1.
Under the subheading 'Have Jehovah's Witnesses Given Incorrect Dates for the End' the Watchtower amits its 'expectations' have been in error (without saying directly)
Jehovah’s Witnesses have had wrong expectations about when the end would come. Like Jesus’ first-century disciples, we have sometimes looked forward to the fulfilment of prophecy ahead of God’s timetable. (Luke 19:11; Acts 1:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:1, 2)
We agree with the sentiment of longtime Witness A. H. Macmillan, who said: “I learned that we should admit our mistakes and continue searching God’s Word for more enlightenment.” Why, then, do we continue to highlight the nearness of the end? Because we take seriously Jesus’ words: “Keep looking, keep awake.” The alternative,
to be found “sleeping” by Jesus, would prevent us from gaining his favor.
(Mark 13:33, 36) Why? Consider this example: A lookout in a fire tower might
see what he thinks is a wisp of smoke on the horizon and sound what proves to be a false alarm. Later, though, his alertness could save lives. Likewise, we have had some
wrong expectations about the end. But we are more concerned with obeying Jesus and saving lives than with avoiding criticism. Jesus’ command to “give a thorough witness” compels us to warn others about the end.—Acts 10:42. We believe that even more
important than focusing on when the end will come, we must be confident that it will
come, and we must act accordingly. We take seriously the words of Habakkuk 2:3,
which says: “Even if [the end] should delay [compared to what you thought], keep in expectation of it; for it will without fail come true. It will not be late.”
The paragraph extols the virtues of admitting one's own mistakes but ommits the fact that Jehovah's Witnesses' 'expectations' were based on the words of the Watchtower organisation and its leadership which claims to be God's channel of communication.
On a side note, I have been trying to research 'theocratic warfare'. I can't find any recent references to it in modern publications (not since the 1980s). Would your average rank and file witness be aware of theocratic warfare? Is it still taught?
Thanks