"Millions Now Living Will Never Die," Predicted the Watctower before 1914. (page 2)

A.M. Number 1

Well, I think that it may have been just after 1914 when it was first said and applied the way it has been. 1918 or 1919 possibly. But hopefully some of the scholars here will have a link right ready.

AndDontCallMeShirley

I've seen no references in any WT literature saying this teaching began prior to 1920. The "Millions" campaign was concocted by Rutherford in 1920.

jv chap.28 p.632 Testing and Sifting From Within

In the lecture "Millions Now Living Will Never Die," delivered by J. F. Rutherford on March 21, 1920, at the Hippodrome in New York City, attention was directed to the year 1925. On what basis was it thought to be significant? In a booklet published in that same year, 1920, it was pointed out that if 70 full Jubilees were calculated from wha twas understood to be the date when Israel entered the Promised Land (instead of starting after the last typical Jubilee before the Babylonian exile and then counting to the beginning of the Jubilee year at the end of the 50th cycle), this could point to the year 1925. On the basis of what was said there, many hoped that perhaps the remaining ones of the little flock would receive their heavenly reward by 1925. This year also was associated with expectations for resurrection of faithful pre-Christian servants of God with a view to their serving on earth as princely representatives of the heavenly Kingdom. If that really occurred, it would mean that mankind had entered an era in which death would cease to be master, and millions then living could have the hope of never dying off the earth. What a happy prospect! Though mistaken, they eagerly shared it with others.

Scott77

AndDontCallMeShirley,

Many ways to go

Scott77

ohiocowboy

Scott77, Please let us know which publication(s) before 1914 said that "Millions now living will never die" or anything similar. I can't find any references in either my indexes or the internet. This would be very big news! Even if you can just provide the name of the pre 1914 publication that said this would be helpful. I always attributed that quote to Rutherford, the first reference of him saying it in 1918 at a talk in California.

Thanks!!!

Scott77

ohiocowboy,

It should be after 1914 not before. Unfortuntely, the 30-min window time has passed. I cannot correct that typo. You are correct. Rutherford is the source of that big lie. Should the Watchtower come up to challenge me as to my source, I have a way to hit them back that it was your president, Rutherford who said it.

Regards,

Scott77

ohiocowboy

That's okay, Scott! I was hoping that it was found to have been said before 1914 as the Bible Students have made it an issue in the past as being one of the reasons that they broke away from the Watchtower and started their own offshoot after Russell died and Rutherfraud took over. I was excited as I would have been able to show them that they were wrong. They are still wrong, but just for a bunch of other reasons-lol

Take care!!!

A.M. Number 1

I think the confusion is that there are two separate prophecies being mixed together here: the prophecy that the generation that was born before 1914 would not die until Armageddon occurs and the other prophecy of 1919 which stated that millions then living in 1919 would never die. In any case, 2014 is an obviously important date because it is 100 years after 1914 and none of the things the WT said about it have even come true and all of the people who were alive in 1914, except for possibly a few Peruvians, are dead, Jim, dead.

And, if we did the research we'd probably find that there are not 2 millions at least people alive today that were alive in 1919 when the words were first spoken.

Scott77

	"...I was excited as I would have been able to show them that they were wrong. They are still wrong, but just for a bunch of other reasons-lol.."
	ohiocowboy

Welcome ohiocowboy. I was thinking, the most important issue here is that, a big lie or call it a false prophesy was made by an organisation that claim to represent the true God. The most closest to that is their older adverts in the Awake! Magazine that said, the 'world since 1914' will see the end or kind of that false statement about the 'generation thing'. I think, it has already been quietly discarded. Edited to add: A.M. Number 1, many ways to go.

Scott77

StoneWall

Scott77 very nice that you tried to correct the thread topic. I know what you mean about the 30 minute timer. That has bitten me in the butt before when I wanted to correct something and wasn't allowed to.

But at least you came back and corrected it in the body of the discussion. I tip my hat to you for that.

Thats what I like to see and what I was wanting any lurkers out there to see as well. WE don't claim to be perfect and if mistake is made and pointed out, generally the author of said mistake will remedy it as quickly as possible.

Unlike what I experienced as a JW. I could show them where a mistake was and instead of admitting it, it was just wait on Jehovah or you read it wrong brother or you read something into that wasn't there. Very seldom was ever an error admitted up to. Whether it was congregationally or organizationally my experience was the same with them.

The sad part to me, is if they would have admitted up to them and not tried to cover over anything, I'd probably still be there unknowingly slaving away for some men in N.Y. or wherever in the future they may move. So I guess it was to my advantage they dodged the hard questions or tried to cover because it made me do something that most people don't want or like to do....dig deeper into the society's history.

Anyways thanks again for correcting this and I've enjoyed your post in the past but this gives me even more respect for you and whatever you post in the future.

Regards,

StoneWall

Suraj Khan no need to hang head and shuffle away friend.

I know what you mean about that particular WT cover. It brings back bad memories to me as well because it was at this time (1984) when I was doing aux. pioneer work for the "society" and had placed that WT with many non-JW family members.

And it gets even more interesting, I personally knew two of them off that cover in real life. So it hits homes everytime I see that cover shown in a thread.

And yes both of them are now dead just as all that came before them always waiting on "the end of this present system of things".

Always hoping to see the fulfillment in their lifetimes and being told it was so soon but never living to see it.

"Millions Now Living Will Never Die," Predicted the Watctower before 1914.

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