leaving_quietly said: Sorry... I have to disagree. I initially thought the same thing, but had to dig a little and found that The Bible Examiner of 1876 had an article entitled "Gentile Times: When Do They End" that does say the things the article here claims.
The Bible Examiner article you refer to does nothing to support Watchtower's claim. You should choose your battles with a little more discretion. As farkel accurately noted, Russell taught that 1799 was the beginning of the last days, not 1914, and this remained an official teaching of WT until 1943.
Russell did not predict anything close to a world war as a 1914 event. In fact, not one thing Russell said would occur in 1914 happened! 100% fail. Furthermore, sometimes coincidences happen relating to so-called "prophecy" and world events. This is where the 1799 date originated. George Bell predicted the Catholic Church would be overthrown. In 1798 Napolean captured and imprisoned the Pope. So, 1799 was said to be the start of Bell's prophetic timeline. Of course, it was pure coincidence, but that didn't seem to bother Russell or any other end-times fundamentalists.
1914 was not predicted to be the beginning of a time of trouble and the start of the last days. No, it was the end, the finality, Armageddon. So, when WT claims that it has consistently pointed to 1914 as the start of the last days and the date of Jesus' enthronement as King it is a flat-out lie! Russell originally taught that Jesus returned invisibly in 1874, a date he borrowed from the Adventists. Additionally, the 607-1914 dates/Gentile Times was not Russell's idea either. That was invented by JA Brown and modified by the Adventists, too.
You stated twice the word TECHNICALLY the WT was right. That's candy-coating, nothing more. If something is absolutely, irrefutably true, you don't need to use the word "technically". Granted, 1914 was a time of trouble, but certainly nothing compared to other time periods and events in history. Many world leaders and military officers anticipated a major war starting in Europe prior to 1914. It was a matter of "when", not "if" it would happen.
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"Jehovah’s Witnesses have consistently shown from the Scriptures that the year 1914 marked the beginning of this world’s time of the end and that ‘the day of judgment and of destruction of the ungodly men’ has drawn near." The Watchtower, Aug. 15, 1993, p. 9
"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. Zion's Watch Tower 1894 Jul 15 p.226
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1922 "The indisputable facts, therefore, show that the "time of the end" began in 1799; that the Lord's second presence began in 1874." (The Watchtower, March 1, 1922)
"'The time of the end' embraces a period from 1799 A.D., as above indicated, to the time of the complete overthrow of Satan's empire and the establishment of the kingdom of the Messiah. The time of the Lord's second presence dates from 1874, as above stated. The latter period is within the first named, of course, and in the latter part of the period known as "the time of the end." (The Harp of God, 1921 p. 236)
1888: "In this chapter we present the Bible evidence proving that the full end of the times of the gentiles, i.e., the full end of their lease of dominion, will be reached in A.D. 1914; and that the date will be the farthest limit of the rule of imperfect men. And be it observed, that if this is shown to be a fact firmly established by the Scriptures, it will prove; Firstly, that at that date the Kingdom of God, for which our Lord taught us to pray, saying, Thy Kingdom come, will obtain full, universal control, and that it will then be set up, or firmly established, in the earth, on the ruins of present institutions." (The Time Is At Hand, 1888, p. 76, 77)
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"In the coming 26 years [1914/1915] , all present governments will be overthrown and dissolved." (C.T. Russell, Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 2, p. 98-99, 1889)
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"We see no reason for 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." (Watchtower July 15, 1894, p 266; p 1677)
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*: "In view of this strong Bible evidence concerning the Times of the Gentiles, 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." (The Time Is At Hand, 1902 edition, p. 99)
* note change in the 1915 edition below when 1914 failed
1915: "In view of this strong Bible evidence concerning the Times of the Gentiles, 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 near the end of A.D. 1915. (The Time Is At Hand, 1915 edition, p. 99)
when 1914 and 1915 failed to bring Armageddon, the WT again pinned those events on another year:
Also, in the year 1918, when God destroys the churches wholesale and the church members by millions, it shall be that any that escape shall come to the works of Pastor Russell to learn the meaning of the downfall of Christianity. (The Finished Mystery, 1917 edition, p. 485)
and, all the failed predictions did not result in any humility or honesty in the WT, Rutherford continued the nonsense with the "Millions" charade:
1922 "We have no doubt whatever in regard to the chronology relating to the dates of 1874, 1914, 1918, and 1925. It was on this line of reckoning that the dates 1874, 1914, and 1918 were located; and the Lord has placed the stamp of his seal upon 1914 and 1918 beyond any possibility of erasure. What further evidence do we need? Using this same measuring line.... it is an easy matter to locate 1925, probably in the fall, for the beginning of the antitypical jubilee. There can be no more question about 1925 than there was about 1914." (Watchtower, p. 150, May 15, 1922)
