rebel8: Great compilation of predications stating that Armageddon will come in this, (now past) the 20th century.
All JW’s are taught from the beginning of their indoctrination this well-known scripture.
(Matthew 24:36) “Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father.”
In the year 1961 the end of the 20th was still 39 years away. The WTS leaders must of thought, since the Bible says “that day and hour nobody knows,” we should be safe to at least predict the century it will all happen in. Surely we can’t get that wrong.
Awake! 1961 Feb 22 pp. 5, 7, 8 in this 4 page article the WTS leadership felt smug and self-assured enough to mention on 3 pages that Armageddon would occur in the 20th century.
Pg. 5 The destruction of the wicked, “followed by a paradise earth without death–all to be realized in the twentieth century.”
Pg. 7 “That now-operating kingdom in heaven will, within the twentieth century, cleanse the entire earth of wickedness.”
Pg. 8 “Revelation 16:16 calls it the ‘war of the great day of God the Almighty,’ Armageddon. This war will come in the twentieth century. It will come right on schedule,.....”
I can’t help but think the WTS leaders felt strongly that a window of time of almost 40 years in length would clearly show them finally as being true prophets. It would end the ridicule and mocking from previous failed pronouncements! But little did we know that during this time period they would add another layer of anticipation regarding the year 1975.
This created a renewed passion and expectation for the end, which came to a crashing disappointment and complete embarrassment. After the 1975 debacle the WTS still had 25 more years before the 20th century ended. Maybe just maybe, their leader Jesus had not led them astray on this prediction coming true. He had chosen them as his own since 1919, and would surely not cause them further humiliation. Well we all know how those declarations made decades ago turned out! Enjoy the rest of 2014.......but while you're at it, hand over your money.