What I remember from 1975 (page 2)

outoftheorg

Hi David.

I was in my early 40's in 1975.

I recall the theo. ministery proclaiming how wonderful it was to see some jw's selling all they had and getting a trailer and the whole family went where the need was greater since "1975 the end of 7000 yrs." when Jesus would take up rule, was so near.

There were many many subtle articles that led many to believe that 1975 was when armageddon would come.

The co's would have tapes of speaches given at conventions that almost came right out and said 1975 and armageddon were linked.

It was the subject of conversation incessantly for months AND THE WBTS DID NOTHING TO PUT A STOP TO IT.

There is a forum called QUOTES where you can find all the documentation on this and most other subjects.

I am not computer savy enough to be able to post that url here.

How about one of you hi tech guys helping this member find that url so he can look this up? Ok.

Outoftheorg

MerryMagdalene

I was 10 then and I remember that on the surface people were paying lip-service to caution and "no one knows exACTly when" but the undercurrent of expectation, anticipation and fear was just huge.

I think the WTS has made an art form out of that kind of deception in order to get people worked up multiple times while making sure their own butts are covered so they can't be blamed for the disappointment of nothing happening.

~Merry

Nathan Natas

Hi Bob Stock,

Did you miss this article?

"'Adam Created At Close Of 'Sixth Day' .. in the fall of the year 1975, a little over seven years from now .. it will be 6,000 years since the creation of Adam, the father of all mankind! Are we to assume from this study that the battle of Armageddon will be all over by the autumn of 1975, and the long-looked-for thousand-year reign of Christ will begin by then? Possibly, but we wait to see how closely the seventh thousand-year period of man's existence coincides with the Sabbath-like thousand-year reign of Christ .. If these two periods run parallel with each other as to the calendar year, it will not be by mere chance or accident but will be according to Jehovah's loving and timely purposes. Our chronology, however, which is reasonably accurate (but admittedly not infallible), at the best only points to the autumn of 1975 as the end of 6,000 years of man's existence on earth. It does not necessarily mean that 1975 marks the end of the first 6,000 years of Jehovah's seventh creative 'day.' Why not? Because after his creation Adam lived some time during the 'sixth day,' which unknown amount of time would need to be subtracted from Adam's 930 years, to determine when the sixth seven-thousand-year period or 'day' ended, and how long Adam lived into the 'seventh day.' And yet the end of that sixth creative 'day' could end within the same Gregorian calendar year of Adam's creation. It may involve only a difference of weeks or months, not years.. This time between Adam's creation and the beginning of the seventh day, the day of rest, let it be noted, need not have been a long time. It could have been a rather short one. The naming of the animals by Adam, and his discovery that there was no complement for himself, required no great length of time.. One thing is absolutely certain, Bible chronology reinforced with fulfilled Bible prophecy shows that six thousand years of man's existence will soon be up, yes, within this generation! (Matt. 24:34) This is, therefore, no time to be indifferent and complacent.
This is not the time to be toying with the words of Jesus that 'concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father.'
To the contrary, it is a time when one should be keenly aware that the end of this system of things is rapidly coming to its violent end. Make no mistake, it is sufficient that the Father himself knows both the 'day and hour.' .. There was a ring of alarm and a cry of urgency in all their [the apostles] writings.... And rightly so. If they had delayed or dillydallied and had been complacent with the idea the end was was some thousands of years off they would never have finished running the race set before them." -
-- WATCHTOWER 8/15/1968 pages 499-501

Or this one?

Making some special effort to do more than the usual helps us live up to our dedication. In view of the short period of time left, we want to do this as often as circumstances permit. Just think, brothers, there are only about ninety months left before 6,000 years of man's existence on earth is completed... Do you remember what we learned at the assemblies last summer? The majority of people living today will probably be alive when Armageddon breaks out, and there are no resurrection hopes for those who are destroyed then. So, now more than ever, it is vital not to ignore that spirit of wanting to do more.
-- Our Kingdom Ministry March 1968 p.4

Have you listened to Circuit Servant Brother Sunutko's "will you be alive in '75" talk? It's on FREEMINDS.

mustang

1975 was the first time that i DIDN'T go to meetings

My last meeting was the last meeting of 1974; I rolled the dice and said Brooklyn would "crap out".

Mustang

MerryMagdalene

As requested:

http://quotes.watchtower.ca

~Merry

seattleniceguy

Bob,

Regarding the Society not saying anything explicitly regarding 1975, you should read the following article:
http://members.aol.com/beyondjw/1975.htm

The WTS is a master of making people believe and act in certain ways without explicitly printing it. Sometimes, they print things that read one way on the surface, but which they expect members to interpret totally differently. For example, consider the following quote regarding the United Nations that appeared in the September 8, 1991 Awake, just as the WTS was applying for NGO status there.

Jehovah?s Witnesses firmly believe that the United Nations is going to play a major role in world events in the very near future. No doubt these developments will be very exciting. And the results will have a far-reaching impact on your life. We urge you to ask Jehovah?s Witnesses in your neighborhood for more details on this matter. The Bible clearly paints a picture showing that the United Nations will very shortly be given power and authority. The UN will then do some very astonishing things that may well amaze you. And you will be thrilled to learn that there is yet a better way near at hand that will surely bring eternal peace and security!

Clearly, the Society intended this to be understood in two entirely different ways by different audiences. If you read this paragraph and concluded that Witnesses have a favorable view of the UN, you would be way off base, as we all know.

The 1975 situation was marked by a similar use of doublespeak to say one thing in print but strongly imply another thing among the population of JWs. One of the main advantages to using doublespeak is that later, when things don't pan out just right, you can always go back and say, "Well, we didn't actually say that - you just read too much into it." The obvious question is, where did JWs get the idea in the first place? Was in not carefully planted and nurtured by article after article, talk after talk, by the Society? You'd better believe it.

SNG

bronzefist

My ex wife joined in early 1974. I was opposed. I remember her telling me that something BIG was going to happen in 1975. She tried her best to get me to go to the meetings even to the point of tears. She told me she didn't want me to die. I also worked with a brother that was totally upset about the 1975 fiasco. He said a lot of people sold their homes and quit their jobs to spend all their time out in service to better the chances they would be spared. It stumbled him.

The WTS apologizing for something??? Can I see that in writing as the saying goes. I remember articles like some were jumping ahead of the organization explaining 1975 away. Blaming others not themselves.

David2002...as for show me the WT article stating that 1975 would be the end. I say, if this mistaken mindset was so wide spread with so many kind hearted friends, show me the WT article telling these people to calm down nothing was going to happen in 1975. Don't be selling your homes, or quitting your jobs, or sending all your money to the organization. Ok maybe that last one would have been left out.

keeshah

Can you cite me a WT article that clearly states that the end will come in 1975??? Not those half quotes, or misquotes which appear all over the Internet. What I want is a WT publication article that clearly states that the end WILL come in 1975. Can you help me find such an article???

I just found out about this one... Oct 8th, 1968 Awake! Pages 13,14

Tatiana

I was 11 years old in 1975 and I remember being scared silly the whole year. I mean there was so much hype about it and the tension in the air was so thick it was unreal. Every night my mom and dad watched the news for signs of the big A being kicked off. They told me how bad it was likely to get and how really bad things could happen to us and that I needed to be ready for that. I remember having nightmares with images of fire and destruction dancing in my head. I remember freaking out at some thunderstorms when the sky got really dark and wondering to myself if any of my petty sins and indescretions (at 11 that was about all I was capable of) were enough to see me destroyed.

I was a little older than you, but it's like this is ME talking. To this day when I see the sky go dark and hear thunder I get a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach. Then I shake it off and go on about my business. Several families in our cong., including mine, even took their kids out of school. I don't remember any of the elders telling them not to, either.

wednesday

My hubby and I just ignored 1975. Neither of us believed it could be true ( that Armageddon would come). Many did believe it and it was a frantic year for most. I knew a young brother that left Bethel that year and he was consumed with worry about it. I just went on with my life b/c I knew that it could not be true and even if it was true , I was what I was and if God did not like me, well I guess I would just have to die at Armageddon. I mean if God wants to kill u, how could u stop Him?

weds

What I remember from 1975

Share this