1914
*** The Watchtower Reprints, October 1890, p. 1243 ***
[Scan Available]
The Millennium of peace and blessing would be
introduced by forty years of trouble, beginning slightly in
1874 and increasing until social chaos should prevail in 1914…
[Emphasis Added]
*** The Watchtower Reprints, January 15, 1892, p.1355 ***
[Scan Available]
The date of the close of that ‘battle’ is
definitely marked in Scripture as October, 1914.
It is already in progress, its beginning dating from October, 1874.
[Emphasis Added]
*** The Watchtower Reprints, July 15, 1894, p. 1677 ***
[Scan Available]
We see no reason for changing the figures — nor could we change
them if we would. They are, we believe, God’s dates, not ours.
But bear in mind that the end of 1914 is not the date for the beginning,
but for the end of the time of trouble.
[Emphasis Added]
*** The Watchtower Reprints, September 15, 1901, p. 2876 ***
[Scan Available]
The culmination of the trouble in October,
1914, is clearly marked in the Scriptures; and we are bound
therefore to expect a beginning of that severe trouble not later
than 1910; — with severe spasms between now and then.
[Emphasis Added]
*** The Watchtower Reprints, August 15, 1904, p.3415 ***
[Scan Available]
Question. — If the ‘Times of the Gentiles’ can be changed
as suggested in the July Tower, so that the anarchy will follow 1914 A.D.,
instead of preceding it, might not similar changes be made in respect to
all the various lines of prophetic time proof set forth in Millennial
Dawn, Vols. II and III?
Answer. — You are entirely in error. Not a figure, not a date, not
a prophecy is in any sense or degree affected by the article to which
you refer. Indeed the harmony and unity of the whole is the more fully
demonstrated… The harmony of the prophetic periods of
the correctness of out Bible chronology. They fit together like the
cog-wheels of a perfect machine. To change the chronology even one year
would destroy all this harmony, — so accurately are the various
proofs drawn together in the parallels between the Jewish and Gospel ages.
[Emphasis Added]
*** The Watchtower Reprints, July 15, 1905, p. 3576 ***
[Scan Available]
[Charts showing 1874 date as start of times of trouble; 1914 as the end of armageddon; view scan for complete details.]
[Emphasis Added]
*** The Divine Plan of the Ages, 1905, end notes ***
Scan available!
THINGS YOU OUGHT TO KNOW AS CHRISTIAN BIBLE STUDENTS
DO YOU KNOW THAT
— We are now living in "the
Time of the End" of this Gospel age?
— Our epoch is
"the Day of God's Preparation" for the Millennial age?
— The "Days of Waiting" are ended and the "Cleansing
of the Sanctuary" — the Church, — the
separating of its Wheat and Tares, is now in progress?
— This is the reason for the beginning of the Return
of Divine Favor to Fleshly Israel — blinded for centuries — to permit
the gathering of an elect class from among the Gentiles?
— This favor is gradually taking shape and known as Zionism?
— Immanuel's Kingdom is now in process of
establishment?
— The Great Pyramid in Egypt is a Witness to all
these event of the ages and of our day — testifying in symbols?
— The Pyramid's downward passage under "A Draconis"
symbolizes the course of Sin? Its First Ascending Passage symbolizes
the Jewish age? Its grand Gallery symbolized the Gospel age?
Its Upper Step symbolized the approaching period of tribulation and
anarchy, "Judgments," upon Christendom? Its King's Chamber the
Divine Nature, etc., of the Overcoming Church — the Christ, Head and
Body? Its Ante-Chamber the Correction in Righteousness of the "Great
Company" etc.? Its Queen's Chamber those of Israel and the world who
attain Restitution?
All these interesting topics with ten Pyramid illustrations
can be had in "Thy Kingdom Come" [Studies in the Scriptures vol III]
[Emphasis Added]
** The Time Is at Hand (SS-2), 1907 ed., p. 76-78 ***
[Scans availabe: pages 76-77, pages 78-79]
In this chapter we will present the Bible
evidence proving that the full end of the times of the Gentiles,
i.e., the full end of their lease of dominion, will be reached in
A.D. 1914; and that date will be the farthest limit of the
rule of imperfect men...
Firstly, That at that date the Kingdom of God,
for which our Lord taught us to pray, saying, "Thy Kingdom come,"
will obtain full, universal control, and that it will then be "set
up," or firmly established, in the earth, on the ruins of present institutions.
Secondly, It will prove
that he whose right it is thus to take the domination will then be present as earth’s
new Ruler...
Thirdly, It will prove that some time before the end of A.D. 1914
the last member of the divinely recognized Church of Christ, the "royal priesthood,"
"the body of Christ," will be glorified with the Head...
Fourthly, It will prove that from that time forward Jerusalem
shall no longer be trodden down by the Gentiles...
Fifthly, it will prove that by that date, or sooner, Israel’s blindness
will begin to be turned away...
Sixthly, It will prove that the great "time of
trouble such as never was since there was a nation," will reach its culmination in a
world-wide reign of anarchy...
Seventhly, It will prove that before that date [italics in original] God’s
Kingdom, organized in power, will be in the earth and then smite and crush the Gentile
image (Dan. 2:34) - and fully consume the power of these kings.
[Emphasis Added]
** Thy Kingdom Come (Studies in the Scriptures Vol.3) (1908) p.228 ***
[Scan available]
That the deliverance of the saints must take place some time
before 1914 is manifest, since the deliverance of fleshly Israel,
as we shall see, is appointed to take place at that time, and the angry
nations will then be authoritatively commanded to be still,
and will be made to recognize the power of Jehovah's Anointed.
Just how long before 1914 the last living members of the body of Christ will
be glorified, we are not directly informed; but it certainly will
not be until their work in the flesh is done; nor can we
reasonably presume that they will long remain after that work is accomplished.
With these two thought in mind, we can approximate the time of the deliverance.
[Emphasis Added]
** Thy Kingdom Come (Studies in the Scriptures Vol.3) (1937) p.228 ***
[Scan available]
That the deliverance of the saints will take place some time
after 1914 is manifest, since the deliverance of fleshly Israel,
as we shall see, is appointed to take place thereafter, and the angry
nations will then be authoritatively commanded to be still,
and will be made to recognize the power of Jehovah's Anointed.
Just how long after 1914 the last living members of the body of Christ will
be glorified, we are not directly informed; but it certainly will
not be until their work in the flesh is done; nor can we
reasonably presume that they will long remain after that work is accomplished.
With these two thought in mind, we can approximate the time of the deliverance.
[Emphasis Added]
*** The Time Is at Hand (SS-2), 1907 ed., p. 101 ***
[Scan Available]
The ‘battle of the great day of God
Almighty’ (Rev. 16:14), which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of
earth’s present rulership, is already commenced.
[Emphasis Added]
*** The Watchtower Reprints, January 1, 1914, p. 5373 ***
[Scan Available]
As already pointed out, we are by no means confident that this year, 1914, will witness
as radical and swift changes of dispensation as we have expected.
[Emphasis Added]
*** The Watchtower Reprints, September 1, 1914, p. 5527 ***
[Scan Available]
While it is possible that Armageddon may begin
next Spring, yet it is purely speculation to attempt to say just when.
[Emphasis Added]
*** The Watchtower Reprints, November 1, 1914, p.5565 ***
[Scan Available]
Studying God’s Word, we have measured the
2520 years, the seven symbolic times, from that year 606 B.C. and have found that it
reached down to October, 1914, as nearly as we were able to reckon. We did not say
positively that this would be the year.
[Emphasis Added]
*** Light, 1930 ed. p., 194 ***
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All of the Lord’s people looked forward
to 1914 with joyful expectation. When that time came and passed there was much
disappointment, chagrin, and mourning, and the Lord’s people were greatly in reproach.
They were ridiculed by the clergy and their allies in particular, and pointed to with
scorn, because they had said so much about 1914, and what would come to pass, and their
‘prophecies’ had not been fulfilled.
[Emphasis Added]
*** Vindication I, 1931 ed., p. 338-339 ***
[Scan Available]
There was a measure of disappointment on the
part of Jehovah’s faithful ones on earth concerning the years 1914, 1918, and 1925,
which disappointment lasted for a time. Later the faithful learned that these dates were
definitely fixed in the Scriptures; and they also learned to quit fixing dates for the
future and predicting what would come to pass on a certain date.
[Emphasis Added]
*** Man's Salvation Out Of World Distress At Hand (book) 1975 p.98 ch.6 The Promise of a Spiritual Paradise ***
20 However, suddenly, there came an end to World War I. It
did not lead on, as Bible students expected, into world revolution and
anarchy or the battle of Armageddon. And the sincere worshipers
of Jehovah, who were in the new covenant with him through his Mediator
Jesus Christ, found themselves still in the flesh on the earth. But still
in captivity to Babylon the Great and her political, military, judicial
paramours!
[Emphasis Added]
*** Man's Salvation Out Of World Distress At Hand (book) 1975 pp.190-191 ch.11 No Harming nor Ruining in the Spiritual Paradise ***
20 Therefore the
time for the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy concerning the
transformation of the disposition of animal life dates from the postwar
year 1919 C.E. onward. This marked the beginning
of a period of education in the written Word of God from the standpoint
that Bible prophecy is best understood after it has been fulfilled. So
there needed to be a correction of our previous views, and the surviving
remnant of spiritual Israel needed to be readjusted to the postwar
realities and opportunities. The preaching of "this good news
of the kingdom" now was to be, not of a coming heavenly government, but of
God's Messianic kingdom now established in the heavens since the end of
the "appointed times of the [Gentile] nations" in the autumn of 1914. The
liberated remnant were henceforth to be witnesses of the Lord God, the One
who had taken his great power to reign in 1914 by means of the kingdom of
his Christ. (Matthew 24:14; Luke 21:24; Revelation 11:15-17)
This revised program of Bible education had a
profound effect on the remnant. It oriented their work in the right
direction.
[Emphasis Added]
*** Jehovah's Witnesses, Proclaimers of God's Kingdom (book), 1993 pp.635-6 ch28 Testing and Sifting From Within ***
1914—Expectations and Reality
In 1876, C. T. Russell wrote the first of many articles in which he pointed to the
year 1914 as the end of the Gentile Times referred to by Jesus Christ. (Luke 21:24, KJ)
In the second volume of Millennial Dawn, published in 1889, Brother Russell set out in
a reasoned manner details that would enable readers to see the Scriptural basis for what
was said and to check it for themselves. Over a period of nearly four decades leading up
to 1914, the Bible Students distributed millions of copies of publications focusing
attention on the end of the Gentile Times. A few other religious papers took note of the
Bible chronology that pointed to the year 1914, but what group other than the Bible Students
gave it ongoing international publicity and lived in a manner that showed that they believed
that the Gentile Times would end in that year?
As 1914 neared, expectations heightened. What would it mean? In The Bible Students
Monthly (Volume VI, No. 1, published early in 1914), Brother Russell wrote: "If we have
the correct date and chronology, Gentile Times will end this year-1914. What of it? We
do not surely know. Our expectation is that the active rule of Messiah will begin about
the time of the ending of the lease of power to the Gentiles. Our expectation, true or
false, is that there will be wonderful manifestations of Divine judgments against all
unrighteousness, and that this will mean the breaking up of many institutions of the
present time, if not all." He emphasized that he did not expect the "end of the world" in
1914 and that the earth abides forever, but that the present order of things, of which
Satan is ruler, is to pass away.
In its issue of October 15, 1913, The Watch Tower had stated: "According to the best
chronological reckoning of which we are capable, it is approximately that time-whether
it be October, 1914, or later. Without dogmatizing, we are looking for certain events:
(1) The termination of the Gentile Times-Gentile supremacy in the world-and
(2) For the inauguration of Messiah's Kingdom in the world."
How would this come about? It seemed reasonable to the Bible Students then that
it would include the glorification of any still on earth who had been chosen by God
to share in the heavenly Kingdom with Christ. But how did they feel when that did
not occur in 1914? The Watch Tower of April 15, 1916, stated: "We believe that the
dates have proven to be quite right. We believe that Gentile Times have ended."
However, it candidly added: "The Lord did not say that the Church would all be
glorified by 1914. We merely inferred it and, evidently, erred."
In this they were somewhat like Jesus' apostles. The apostles knew and thought
they believed the prophecies concerning God's Kingdom. But at various times they had
wrong expectations as to how and when these would be fulfilled. This led to disappointment
on the part of some.-Luke 19:11; 24:19-24; Acts 1:6.
When October 1914 passed without the expected change to heavenly life, Brother
Russell knew that there would be serious searchings of heart. In The Watch Tower of
November 1, 1914, he wrote: "Let us remember that we are in a testing season. The
Apostles had a similar one during the interim between our Lord's death and Pentecost.
After our Lord's resurrection, He appeared to His disciples a few times, and then
they did not see Him for many days. Then they became discouraged and said, 'There is
no use waiting'; 'I go fishing,' said one. Two others said, 'We will go with thee.'
They were about to go into the fishing business and leave the work of fishing for men.
This was a testing time for the disciples. So also there is one now. If there is any
reason that would lead any to let go of the Lord and His Truth and to cease
sacrificing for the Lord's Cause, then it is not merely the love of God in the heart
which has prompted interest in the Lord, but something else; probably a hoping that the
time was short; the consecration was only for a certain time."
That evidently was the case with some. Their thoughts and desires had been fixed
primarily on the prospect of being changed to heavenly life. When this did not occur
at the anticipated time, they closed their minds to the significance of the amazing
things that did take place in 1914. They lost sight of all the precious truths that
they had learned from God's Word, and they began to ridicule the people who had
helped them to learn these.
Humbly, the Bible Students examined the Scriptures again, to let God's Word readjust
their outlook. Their conviction that the Gentile Times had ended in 1914 did not change.
Gradually they came to see more clearly how the Messianic Kingdom had begun-that it was
established in heaven when Jehovah bestowed authority on Jesus Christ, his Son; also,
that this did not have to wait until Jesus' joint heirs were raised to heavenly life
but that they would be glorified with him later. In addition, they came to see that the
spreading of the influence of the Kingdom did not require that first the faithful
prophets of old be resurrected, but that the King would use loyal Christians now
living as his representatives to set before people of all nations the opportunity to
live forever as earthly subjects of the Kingdom.
As this grand picture opened before their eyes, further testing and sifting resulted.
But those who truly loved Jehovah and took delight in serving him were very grateful
for the privileges of service that opened up to them.-Rev. 3:7, 8.
[Emphasis Added]
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