Re: 1914
"As for the time of Christ’s second presence, Daniel’s prophecy is again the one that gives the chronology for it. (Dan. 4:16) It was figured out as pointing to A.D. 1914, and The Watchtower called notice to the significance of 1914 in the year 1879. " -- Watchtower 01. Nov. 1952, p. 658 § 16 (The Society taught that the Second Presence occurred in 1874 until at least 1929. (The Harp of God, p. 231; Prophecy, p.65) The Society's pre-1914 teachings regarding the "significance" of 1914 were entirely different than what the Society teaches today. See The Time is at Hand (1889), pp. 76-78.)
"Why, then, do the nations not realize and accept the approach of this climax of judgment? It is because they have not heeded the world-wide advertising of Christ’s return and his second presence. Since long before World War I Jehovah’s witnesses pointed to 1914 as the time for this great event to occur." -- Watchtower 15. June 1954, p. 370 § 4 (The Society taught that the Second Presence occurred in 1874 until at least 1929. (The Harp of God, p. 231; Prophecy, p.65))
"Regarding Bible chronology, suffice it to say that on the basis of time periods indicated in the books of Daniel and Revelation, as far back as 1877 the date 1914 was given as the time for the coming or establishing of God’s kingdom. This information was first published by the first president of the Watch Tower Society in the pamphlet The Three Worlds and shortly thereafter in the columns of The Watchtower.
So thirty-seven years before 1914 it was announced that Bible chronology pinpointed that year as the time for the beginning of God’s kingdom, even though at the time not all the details were clearly understood." -- Watchtower 15. Oct. 1956, p. 614 (Until 1922, the Society taught that Jesus had been enthroned in 1878 . See The Time is at Hand, p. 101 § 1)
"For over thirty years before that date and for half a century since, Jehovah’s witnesses have pointed to the year 1914 as the time for the end of “the appointed times of the nations” and the time in which Christ would begin his Kingdom rule." -- Watchtower 15. Feb. 1966, p. 103 (See The Time is at Hand, p. 101 § 1)
"More than thirty-five years in advance, by help of God’s holy spirit, dedicated Bible students calculated the Gentile Times as due to expire in the early autumn of 1914, but the religious clergy of Christendom criticized them and mocked them for publishing such a Bible time schedule. But the events of 1914 silenced the critics, though they were not converted." -- Watchtower 15. Oct. 1966, p. 617 § 15 ("Silenced the critics"??? Contrast Light, Volume I, p.194.)
"As far back as 1879, the publishers of this magazine pointed to the year 1914 as a marked year in Bible prophecy, as the starting point for what the Bible calls “the time of the end.”" -- Awake! 08. Oct. 1972, p. 15 (The Society taught that the "time of the end" began in 1799 until 1929. See The Harp of God, pp. 229-234.)
"Even earlier, however, C. T. Russell wrote an article entitled “Gentile Times: When Do They End?” It was published in the Bible Examiner of October 1876, and therein Russell said: “The seven times will end in A.D. 1914.” He had correctly linked the Gentile Times with the “seven times” mentioned in the book of Daniel. (Dan. 4:16, 23, 25, 32) True to such calculations, 1914 did mark the end of those times and the birth of God’s kingdom in heaven with Christ Jesus as king. Just think of it! Jehovah granted his people that knowledge nearly four decades before those times expired." -- Yearbook 1975, p. 37 (Not true. See The Time is at Hand, p. 101 § 1)
"Today, Jehovah’s Witnesses point to the “sign” given by Jesus and look back upon 1914 as the year when his invisible presence in Kingdom power became a reality. But how could they have had advance knowledge of such a momentous event? Not because of extraordinary human wisdom. No, but because they have prayerfully studied the Scriptures, heeded God’s prophetic word and paid more than usual attention to what God’s Son foretold. (2 Peter 1:19; Hebrews 1:1, 2; 2:1) Grateful that Jehovah has ‘told them fresh things before they have appeared,’ the Witnesses are delighted to be spreading this knowledge earth wide." -- Watchtower 01. April 1984, p. 16 § 5 (They did not have "advanced knowledge." See The Time is at Hand, p. 101 § 1)
"From its first year of publication, this magazine pointed forward, by sound Scriptural reckoning, to the date 1914 as an epoch-making date in Bible chronology. So when Christ’s invisible presence began in 1914, happy were these Christians to have been found watching!" -- Watchtower 01. Dec. 1984, p. 14 § 20 ("Epoch-making"??? The Society's pre-1914 teachings regarding the "significance" of 1914 were entirely different than what the Society teaches today. Contrast The Time is at Hand, pp. 76-78. "Happy"??? Contrast Light, Volume I, p.194.)
"From 1876 onward, Jehovah’s people served notice upon the world, and particularly upon Christendom, that the Gentile Times would end in the fall of 1914. (Luke 21:24, King James Version) The clergy could not ignore this preliminary work of almost 40 years-a work corresponding to that of John the Baptizer. Those clergymen waited eagerly to pounce upon this journal’s editor should 1914 pass without any outstanding events to correspond with those about which he warned. But, oh, how they were silenced when on July 28, 1914, peace was shattered by the outbreak of World War I!" -- Watchtower 01. Sep. 1985, p. 24 § 11 ("Silenced"??? Contrast Light, Volume I, p.194.)
"Similarly, a prophecy providentially caused sincere 19th-century Bible students to be in expectation. By linking the “seven times” of Daniel 4:25 with “the times of the Gentiles,” they anticipated that Christ would receive Kingdom power in 1914." -- Watchtower 15. Sept. 1998, p. 15. (See The Time is at Hand, p. 101 § 1)
Additionally:
"From a purely human viewpoint, it could appear that these developments could hardly take place before the generation of 1914 disappears from the scene. But fulfillment of all the foretold events affecting the generation of 1914 does not depend on comparatively slow human action. Jehovah’s prophetic word through Christ Jesus is: “This generation [of 1914] will by no means pass away until all things occur.” (Luke 21:32) And Jehovah, who is the source of inspired and unfailing prophecy, will bring about the fulfillment of his Son’s words in a relatively short time." -- Watchtower 15. May 1984, pp. 6,7 [brackets in original] (Here the Society attributes their own false prophecy to Almighty God.)