Julie writes
Here are just some of their teachings about 1914 over the years using their own literature.
Watchtower was dogmatic as to exactly what was going to occur in 1914. Expectations for 1914 were forcefully presented as fact, as shown in the following quotes.
- "the deliverance of the saints must take place some time before 1914 is manifest" Thy Kingdom Come (1911 ed.) p.228
- "the Day of Vengeance ... will end in October, 1914" The Day of Vengeance p.547
- "the great "time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation," will reach its culmination" The Time Is at Hand (1889 ed.) page 77 - page 78
- "we present proofs that the setting up of the Kingdom of God is already begun" The Time Is At Hand (1889 ed.) p.101
- "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.1914." Studies in the Scriptures - The Time is at Hand (1889) 1911 ed. p.99
- "October, 1914, will witness the full end of Babylon" Watch Tower 1911 Jun 15 p.190 (reprints p.4842)
- "Christendom, will have passed away, as already shown in prophecy." Thy Kingdom Come (1891 ed.) p.153
- 1914 is the basis for their interpretation of the majority of other Bible prophecies. Most importantly, this was the time during which Jesus is said to have come to inspect and cleanse the Watchtower Society, resulting in Jesus choosing it in 1919 to be the only organization he works though in our time, and the only means of salvation.
- The early followers were as convinced they knew what was going to happen in 1914 as current followers are convinced the Great Tribulation and Armageddon will come at any moment, resulting in the destruction of all worldly people. This is because the same manipulative terminology used prior to 1914 is still used in Watchtower publications to this day.
- 1914 is the pivotal date for the existence of Jehovah's Witnesses, currently explained as the date:
- the Gentile times ended
- Jesus started ruling in heaven
- the Last Days began
- The current understanding is significantly different to the original teachings. Prior to 1914, the Watchtower believed:
- The Last Days began 1799
- Jesus Parousia started 1874
- Jesus started ruling in heaven in 1878
- The Gentile Times would end in 1914, resulting in the:
- end of Armageddon
- fall of false religion
- end of all earthly governments
- heavenly and earthly resurrections
- paradise on earth
- The 1914 doctrine has changed by necessity, and continued to change in the twenty first century, as it has been falsified by the progression of history. It has progressed from:
- The last days started in 1799, ending in 1914.
- The last days started in 1914, ending within a single lifetime/generation of those born prior to 1914.
- The last days started in 1914, with an unspecified ending, after a period of an "overlapping generation."
- According to the JW leaders, we’re all just one big generation overlapping to keep their 1914 teaching relevant.
- Yes, the JWs bought this false teaching just like they do with all of the false teachings.
----------
Julie could have added the purpose for which the Awake magazine was printed until October 1995. And that is that God has promised to bring about a secure world order before those who saw the events of 1914 passed away.