And of course Russell, like JWs today, used the standard excuse used by all false prophets -- that "there will be scoffers" -- to dismiss their critics. As if scoffing at ridiculous notions somehow proves them! What a bunch of fools JW leaders and apostates like You Know are!
An excellent point Alan, and one with which I couldn’t agree more.
What is 1914 anyhow? It’s the cornerstone of JW chronology, the anchor for its “last days” prophecies, the qualifier of their doctrine's uniqueness, and the reference supporting their self-ordained status as prophets.
While outside of dub-dom, the 1914 date is from our present perspective, little more than an interesting and rapidly fading historical footnote. Few today would even recognize its supposed significance in the secular sense, or are there even more than a smattering of people left alive who might recall its more immediate impact on the lives of those who experienced the first hand after-effects of the wars starting in that approximate period.
YK said:
As for 1914, clearly the Wt has attached way too many prophecies to that particular date.
This much is true, and it probably explains their reticence to continue advertising that date as being one of spectacular importance, as well as their attempts to distance themselves from it - all the while diminishing its doctrinal validity. Unlike YK, even they can see the absurdities evident in their continued (and now no doubt embarrassing) reference to that date.
What is clear to us though is that 1914 began the last days of this system and Christ's parousia.
Clear? Clear to whom? Based on what? Any serious study of the “bible chronology” involved points to 1914 as no more then a coincidence in the stream of time. Anyone who has read “The Gentile Times Reconsidered” realizes that further argument on this point is moot, and that the society’s dishonest attempts to fabricate justifications for the argument show that it is an empty bag of tricks.
In 1914 a great war occurred. Great wars occurred prior to that point, after that point, and will no doubt continue to occur. Without a legitimate chronology – which does not exist – there is absolutely no reason to attach any particular significance to that date. Beyond wishful thinking that is.
There is no need for God to inspire his servants to utter any new messages because our message is based entirely on the Scriptures.
Thank you for acknowledging the obvious, that the MANY new “messages” advocated by the WTS over the years were not inspired. I wonder then why they felt the “need” to proclaim them? Self-justification maybe? Arrogance? Delusion? How humble of them.
As Jesus said: “YOU do not believe me, believe the works, in order that YOU may come to know and may continue knowing that the Father is in union with me and I am in union with the Father.” Yes, the works of the WTS are certainly a basis for belief in its position as Christ’s visible organization on earth. And certainly their many prophetic inventions are proof of them being in union with the father as his spokesman today. Yes, I can see that very clearly.
It doesn’t matter what they predicted or expected
It doesn’t matter? It matters to me. And I’m sure it matters to the many people to whom I taught that [false or perhaps overly exaggerated] history as a JW, only later to have it revisited and silently recanted by those who claim to represent a god of truth.
Look, in 1914 all hell broke lose. I can understand how a little group in America, steeped in the religious hysteria of the times and scared to death, saw great omens in the unfolding of that moment in history. But it has been played out. It's time to move on. That will be hard to do for the org until it cuts loose of the 1914 anchor. And it’s busy cutting away at the chain as we speak. Dealing with it by calling the intrusions of reality (such as the failing of the generation prophecies) new light only makes it that much more unpalatable to those who can see it for what it is.
Faith in God? They don’t even have faith in themselves.
