Great thread!

1844

This was a key date for the Adventist movement. In the early 1800's John Aquila Brown taught that the Daniel chapter 8 prophecy of 2,300 days ended in 1844. Miller took up this theme and said that the end of the world would come in this year. When it did not Miller renounced his teaching but the Adventists stuck to it. They reinterpreted it to be the start of the time of the end and that the end would be 1874. This did not occur either.

In the 1870's Russell became interested in time prophecy. He followed Barbour's concept that the 1700 and 1800 dates put forward by the Adventists were correct; it was the understanding of what was going to happen that was wrong. Studies in the Scriptures Series 2 p.240 discusses Russell's understanding of 1844.

1846

The Sanctuary was cleansed in 1846, another understanding of the end of the 2,300 day prophecy. The cleansing was meant to be when G. Storrs abandoned false doctrines. Storrs was one of the preachers that Russell took his doctrines from. This is discussed in Studies in the Scriptures - Thy Kingdom Come p.108 and Studies in the Scriptures - The Finished Mystery p.163.

"The 2,300 days point to 1846 as the time when God's sanctuary would be cleansed of the defiling errors and principles of Papacy; and we have noted the cleansing there accomplished." Studies In the Scriptures - Thy Kingdom Come p.306

Wonderful thread!

1873

1873 was the year that Second Adventists and Russell thought the 6,000 years of creation had ended.

"We are already living in the seventh millennium - since October 1872" Studies In the Scriptures - The Time Is At Hand 1915 ed. p.363

"Here we furnish the evidence that from the creation of Adam to A.D. 1873 was six thousand years. And though the Bible contains no direct statement that the seventh thousand will be the epoch of Christ's reign, the great Sabbath Day of restitution to the world, yet the venerable tradition is not without reasonable foundation. If, then, the seventh thousand-year period of earth's history be an epoch specially noted as the period of Christ's reign, we shall, by showing that it began in A.D. 1873, be proving that we are already in it." Studies In the Scriptures - The Time Is At Hand 1915 ed. p.39

"Looking back to 1871, we see that many of our company were what are known as Second Adventists, and the light they held briefly stated, was that there would be a second advent of Jesus-- that he would come to bless and immortalize the saints, to judge the world and to burn up the world and all the wicked. This, they claimed would occur in 1873, because the 6,000 years from the creation of Adam were complete then." Zion's Watch Tower 1881 Feb p.3

This began the reign of Christ and the period of darkness on the earth. The signs of the last days were apparently proven by the start of political systems such as Socialism, Communism and Nihilism. Studies in the Scriptures - The Finished Mystery The Watchtower did not change their workings on the 6,000 years until 1943, when they started to say that due to inaccuracies in the King James Bible they had wrongly stated 1873 and that the 6,000 years actually ended in 1975. (See Proclaimers footnote p.133)

Wonderful and informative thread!

1874

1874 was a key date for Russell. In many ways, 1874 was to Russell what 1914 is to Jehovah's Witnesses today. 1874 was the time of the second coming or second advent, the start of Jesus' invisible presence, the start of the harvest work and the beginning of the time for the generation that would see the end.

"The second advent of our Lord in the end or harvest of the Gospel age, occurring in the fall of 1874, proves to be at a point of time exactly parallel to the time of his first advent, in the end of the Jewish age. ... the Jubilee Cycles show October 1874 to be the date of our Lord s return. ... While the time-prophecies thus point to and harmonize with 1874 as the date of our Lord s second presence, assuring us of the fact with mathematical precision, we find ourselves overwhelmed with evidence of another character; for certain peculiar signs, foretold by the Lord and the apostles and prophets, which were to precede his coming, are now clearly recognised as actually fulfilled. ... The cleansing of the sanctuary was also accomplished as predicted, and at a time sufficiently in advance of 1874 to make ready "a people prepared for the Lord" a people in devout expectancy of his coming"" The Time of the Harvest (1911 ed.) pp.125,127,129

"... the beginning of the harvest period, in the fall of 1874." The Time of the Harvest (1911 ed.) p.234

"So short a time ago as 1870 we saw, in addition to the first principles of the Gospel, only the two bare facts - the Lord's second coming and the Restitution - and these but vaguely; for though we then saw restitution taught in Scripture, we were much in doubt as to its comprehensiveness, questioning often whether it would include all the billions of the dead whom the god of this world had in the present life blinded. And concerning the Lord's second coming, while we realized that he is no longer a man, but is now the new creature--the express image of the Father's person-- a quickening spirit, yet we failed somehow to make a proper application of this to his second coming, and unthinkingly and ignorantly, rather expected his coming to be as a glorified man, than as a spiritual being. It was not until about 1874 that these things became clearer, so that we realized that when Jesus should come, it would be as unobserved by human eyes as though an angel had come; and that it could be known only by some miracle, by some manifestation or demonstration....

God's organization blessing in our generation!

Next our attention was drawn to the subject of the TIME of our Lord's coming. Before this we had strenuously ignored time, partly because of its being made so much of by "Second Adventists," and because of the frequent failures of their expectations. Moreover, the fact that they claimed the destruction of the world to be the impending event, and used the periods of time mentioned in Scripture to mark the time of that destruction, was another reason why we were disposed to ignore the subject of time. Their erroneous theory of the destruction of the world cast discredit on the time which they associated with it.
When, however, the manner of our Lord's coming was seen in the light of what he is--a spiritual, and no longer a human being--then we saw that our Father had provided TIME in the Bible, that thus we might know, or see with the eye of our understanding, what we could not see with our natural eyes-- viz., the Lord's presence. A careful study of times and seasons taught in Scripture convinced us that the Lord was due to be present in 1874, and other time teachings of the Word showed that in the spring of 1875 the restitution of all things was due to commence." Zion's Watch Tower 1883 Aug p.1

Initially, Russell felt that the battle of Armageddon started in 1874, based on his understanding that this was a social upheaval.

"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." Zion's Watch Tower 1892 Jan 15 p.23

"... the "battle of the great day of God Almighty" (Rev. 16:14), which will end in A.D. 1915, with the complete overthrow of earth's present rulership, is already commenced." The Time is at Hand p.101

From 1904 onward, Watchtower articles show Russell changed the start of Armageddon to be 1914.

There was a great deal of Scriptural "proof" used to show Jesus' presence began in 1874, such as:

● The end of the jubilee cycles (Zion's Watch Tower 1881 January).

● It was the end of 6000 years after creation
● Daniel's prophecy of the 1335 days. This was interpreted to mean 1335 years after papal rule had started in 539 AD. Historical years were changed and adjusted in order to fit the year to the prophecy.
● Russell followed Barbour's idea that the Adventists were wrong to think the end of the world would be 1874 as this was just 30 years from 1844. As a generation is 70 years, the end of the world itself would not be until 1914. This fitted nicely with Barbour's understanding of the seven times.

It is interesting that prophecies vigorously used today to point to special events in the 1900's were used to point to completely different events in the 1800's. Even the methodology to work out these prophecies has changed. For instance, the 1335 days were said to represent years, now we are supposed to believe they represent lunar days; that is, about 1320 solar days! These prophecies are meant to strengthen faith in the Watchtower interpretation of the Bible, when they are obviously being used to fit any situation the Watchtower Society desires.

Wonderful thread!

false prophecies/false date settings, of the so called Jehovahs witnesses from jwfacts dot com


1874 was still being used well after 1914.

"Bible prophecy shows that the Lord was due to appear for the second time in the year 1874. Fulfilled prophecy shows beyond a doubt that he did appear in 1874. Fulfilled prophecy is otherwise designated the physical facts; and these facts are indisputable." Watchtower 1922 Nov 1 p.333

"Surely there is not the slightest room for doubt in the mind of a truly consecrated child of God that the Lord Jesus is present and has been since 1874;…" Watchtower 1924 Jan 1 p.5)

"The Scriptural proof is that the second presence of the Lord Jesus Christ began in 1874 A.D." Prophecy 1929 1,589,000 ed. p.65

"Applying the same rule then, of a day for a year, 1335 days after 539 A.D. brings us to 1874 A.D. at which time, according to Biblical chronology, the Lord's second presence was due." Creation 1927 2,175,000 ed. p.298

"The Scriptural proof is that the period of his presence and the day of God's preparation is a period from 1874 A.D. forward. The second coming of the Lord, therefore, began in 1874; and that date and the years 1914 and 1918 are specially marked dates with reference to his coming. Prophecy can not be understood until it has been fulfilled or is in the course of fulfillment. From 1874 to 1914 the prophecy concerning the Lord's coming was being fulfilled and could be understood, and was understood, by those who were faithful to the Lord and who were watching the development of events, but not by others."Creation 1927 2,175,000 ed. p.289

Everyone have reasons to respect the Jehovah's Witnesses!

false prophecies/false date settings, of the so called Jehovahs witnesses from jwfacts dot com

The Harp of God contains many references to 1874 in both the 1921 and 1928 editions. The 1927 edition of Creation uses inventions from 1874 onwards as evidence of the Lord's presence since that date. These included:

"But mention is made of some of those things that have come to light since 1874, as a further evidence of the Lord's presence since that date, as follows: Adding machines, aeroplanes, aluminium, antiseptic surgery, artificial dyes, automatic couplers, automobiles, barbed wire, bicycles, carborundum, cash registers, celluloid, cream separators, disc plows, electric railways, electric welding, elevators, escalators, fireless cookers, gas engines, harvesting machines, illuminating gas, induction motors, linotypes, monotypes, motion pictures, pasteurization, radium, railway signals, Roentgen rays, skyscrapers, smokeless powder, submarines, subways, talking machines, telephones, television, typewriters, vacuum cleaners, wireless telegraphy and wireless telephony." Creation 1927 2,175,000 ed. p.297

1874 was not dropped as the start of the second coming until the 1930s, when articles such as the following started to be released.

"The prophecy of the Bible, fully supported by the physical facts in fulfilment thereof, shows that the second coming of Christ dates from the fall of the year 1914." What is Truth? (1932) p.48

1874 was not removed entirely from Watchtower doctrine until 1943, when a change in how the 6000 years were calculated meant it could no longer be used as the end of the 6000 years. (see God's Kingdom on a Thousand Years Has Approached p.209)

God bless this OP!

false prophecies/false date settings, of the so called Jehovahs witnesses from jwfacts dot com

The Society generally glosses over its history and wrong interpretations. However, some of the excuses it provides for these errors are quite shocking;

"According to an inaccurate chronology that had been worked out from the King James Authorized Version Bible, Russell calculated Christ's "presence" had begun in the year 1874 C.E., unseen to human eyes and seen only by the eye of faith." Man's Salvation Out Of World Distress At Hand (1975) p.287

Is indicating that God allowed the Bible to come down to us incorrectly really the best way to exonerate Russell's wrong teachings? Doesn't this raise more problems than it answers?

1878

1878 was expected to fulfil many events, on the basis it was 3 ½ years after 1874, a period paralleling Jesus' 3 ½ year earthly ministry. 1878 was the year Jesus would take rulership in heaven, was the start of the heavenly resurrection, and expected to result in the rapture.

false prophecies/false date settings, of the so called Jehovahs witnesses from jwfacts dot com

Jesus Heavenly Rulership

1878 was the year Jesus took rulership in heaven.

"... he would in reality assume the kingly office, power, etc., viz., in the spring of 1878, three and a half years after his second advent at the beginning of the harvest period, in the fall of 1874." Studies in the Scriptures - The Time of the Harvest (1911 ed.) p.234

"Be not surprised, then, when in subsequent chapters we present proofs that the setting up of the Kingdom of God is already begun, that it is pointed out in prophecy as due to begin the exercise of power in A.D. 1878... " Studies In the Scriptures - The Time Is At Hand (1889) p.101

"... 1874 as the time of our Lord's second presence as Bridegroom and Reaper, and to April 1878 as the time when he began to exercise his office of King of kings and Lord of lords ..." Studies in the Scriptures - Thy Kingdom Come (1911 ed.) p.150

"The spring of A.D. 1878 (three and a half years later) corresponds to the date at which our Lord assumed the office of King, rode on the ass, cleansed the temple of its money-changers, and wept over and gave up to desolation that nominal church or kingdom; and it marks the date when the nominal church systems were "spewed out" (Rev. 3:16), and from which time (A.D. 1878) they are not the mouth pieces of God, nor in any degree recognized by him." Studies In the Scriptures Series - The Time Is At Hand 1915 ed. p.235

"Based on the premise that events of the first century might find parallels in related events later, they also concluded that if Jesus' baptism and anointing in the autumn of 29 C.E. paralleled the beginning of an invisible presence in 1874, then his ride into Jerusalem as King in the spring of 33 C.E. would point to the spring of 1878 as the time when he would assume his power as heavenly King." Jehovah's Witnesses - Proclaimers of God's Kingdom (1993) p.632

Jesus earthly rulership was expected to follow in 1914. In the 1920's, after 1914 had failed to deliver upon its expectations, Watchtower shifted the start of Jesus invisible heavenly rulership from 1878 to 1914.

Wonderful thread!

Rapture or Heavenly Resurrection

Russell expected he and his followers would be raptured to heaven in 1878.

In January 1876, Charles Russell read a copy of Barbour's publication Herald of the Morning. This explained that Jesus had returned invisibly in 1874, and the Rapture would occur in 1878. As the kingdom had not come to earth in 1874 as predicted by Second Adventists, Barbour started to preach that Jesus arrived invisibly in 1874, (exactly the same justification used years later by Rutherford to explain why the kingdom did not manifest itself in 1914.) Russell was deeply influenced by Barbour and started to fund Barbour's publication, believing his resurrection to heaven would be only two years away.

"1878 ... They also thought they would be given their heavenly reward at that time." Jehovah's Witnesses - Proclaimers of God's Kingdom p. 632

"Then Pastor Russell explains an erroneous view that had been held by all up to this point. Based on Paul's statement at 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52, it had been expected "that at some time the living saints would be suddenly and miraculously caught away bodily, thenceforth to be forever with the Lord." Believing this would take place in 1878, some were disappointed because nothing occurred that they could see. However, Pastor Russell was led to a reexamination of the scripture and realized that their "mistake lay in expecting to see all the living saints changed at once, and without dying - an erroneous view shared in by the whole nominal church, and one which we had not yet observed or discarded." Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose (1959) p.19

Let the light shine!

Aemmyjah:
Let the light shine!

Hmmmmmmmmmm!

27 of August shey?

No wahala!

Aemmyjah:
Let the light shine!

The light has already been shinning since Jesus came to the world. John 1:5

Great thread!

MaxInDHouse:


Hmmmmmmmmmm!

27 of August shey?

No wahala!

😂

false prophecies/false date settings, of the so called Jehovahs witnesses from jwfacts dot com

When questioned about this later, Russell played down such expectation.

"Expecting the Lord Jesus to come in 1878 to catch them up miraculously to be with him in heaven, some who had been Second Adventists (including Barbour) were disappointed when that miracle did not occur. Russell, though, "did not for a moment feel cast down," but "realized that what God had so plainly declared must some time have a fulfillment"; and he "wanted to have it just in God's time and way."

On one occasion while talking with Russell about the events of 1878, I told him that Pittsburgh papers had reported he was on the Sixth Street bridge dressed in a white robe on the night of the Memorial of Christ's death, expecting to be taken to heaven together with many others. I asked him, "Is that correct?"
Russell laughed heartily and said: "I was in bed that night between 10:30 and 11:00 P.M. However, some of the more radical ones might have been there, but I was not. Neither did I expect to be taken to heaven at that time, for I felt there was much work to be done preaching the Kingdom message to the peoples of the earth before the church would be taken away." FAITH ON THE MARCH pp.26-27

Today, Jehovah's Witnesses longingly look forward to their own reward, though now as being on earth. The idea their reward will be "soon" has been used as the carrot for over a century, dating to the very formation of the Watch Tower Society.

Shortly after this time, Russell split from Barbour and in 1879 started his own magazine, Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence. Whilst the rapture had not occurred, Russell retained 1878 as the date for the start of Jesus heavenly rulership.

Aemmyjah:

😂

It's to show you that you're not always welcome here so we take to the master's admonish! Matthew 10:16

Good thread

false prophecies/false date settings, of the so called Jehovahs witnesses from jwfacts dot com

Beginning of Heavenly Resurrection from the Grave

1878 was the start of the resurrection of the dead saints.

In 1906, Russell claimed that the "Lord has helped and guided" him to reveal the truth, explaining that whilst wrong about the living being taken to heaven in 1878, it was the date those already dead were taken to heaven. This was a handy interpretation, since it could not be proven false.

"We did not then see, as we now do,* that that date (1878) marked the time for the beginning of the establishment of the Kingdom of God, by the glorification of all who already slept in Christ, and that the "change" which Paul mentions (I Cor. 15:51) is to occur in the moment of dying, to all the class described, from that date onward through the harvest period, until all the living members ("the feet"] of the body of Christ shall have been changed to glorious spirit beings. But when at that date nothing occurred which we could see, a re-examination of the matter showed me that our mistake lay in expecting to see all the living saints changed at once, and without dying--an erroneous view shared in by the whole nominal church, and one which we had not yet observed or discarded." Zion's Watch Tower 1906 Jul p.230

"Our Lord's resurrection occurred three and a half years after his advent as the Messiah, in A.D. 29; and the resurrection of his body, the Church, we have seen, was due in the year 1878, three and a half years after his second advent, in October 1874." Studies In the Scriptures Series - Thy Kingdom Come p.305

"In the year 1878, the dead in Christ were resurrected, as shown by number 8. It was time for them to be engaged in kingdom work. In that same year a call was issued for the saints on this side of the "veil" to come out of Babylon. The 1845 years of fleshly Israel's disfavor ended in 1878." Explanation of Chart Representing the Plan of the Ages
Despite the Lord's help, this interpretation too was wrong, as Watchtower now claims this event occurred in 1914.

false prophecies/false date settings, of the so called Jehovahs witnesses from jwfacts dot com

End of Gospel Age, Favour to the Jews

1878 was to see the return of God's favour to the Jews. This was discussed in the 1877 book Three Worlds, co-authored by Barbour and Russell.

"The people called out of Babylon must refer to the Jews, we think, because they are to be gathered out of all nations, and restored to their own land ..." Three Worlds (1877) p.165

Russell continued to hold a zionist stance after his separation from Barbour. Jews were to came back into God's favour after the end of the gospel age with the rejection of Catholicism in 1878.

" ... the spring of 1878, the nominal gospel church was given up and their house left desolate.... But since the spring of 1878 we believe that the nominal church is cast off and now only the wheat - “the little flock” - is to be considered the church; and we believe this to be the date of the beginning of the fall of Babylon Church...."Zion's Watch Tower 1879 Oct reprints p.46

Rutherford also presented 1878 as part of God's plan for the Jews in his early writings, though strongly turned against them over time.

"In the summer of 1878, exactly on time and when we should look for God's favor to return to the Jew, we find there transpired a certain event of the greatest importance that had happened to Jewry in more than 1800 years. ... Accordingly from June 13 to July 13, 1878, the Berlin Congress was held. Beaaonsfield compelled Russia to greatly modify her treaty. Turkey was enfranchised and made independent, but upon condition that civil and religious rights be granted to the Jews. This had an important bearing on the history of the Jews." Millions Now Living will Never Die (1920) p.28

Wonderful thread!

false prophecies/false date settings, of the so called Jehovahs witnesses from jwfacts dot com

Brighter Light

Barbour used the concept of "new light" to explain the failure of the rapture to occur in 1878. This concept of new or brighter light was seized upon by Russell, and has been used by generations of Witnesses ever since as justification for failed doctrine.

"The spring of A.D. 1878 (three and a half years later) corresponds to the date at which our Lord assumed the office of King, rode on the ass, cleansed the temple of its money-changers, and wept over and gave up to desolation that nominal church or kingdom; and it marks the date when the nominal church systems were "spewed out" (Rev. 3:16), and from which time (A.D. 1878) they are not the mouth pieces of God, nor in any degree recognized by him. So it was in this harvest also up to A.D. 1878 the time prophecies and the fact of the Lord's presence, substantially as here presented, though less clearly, was our message. Since then the work has widened, and the view of other truths has become brighter and clearer; but the same fact and scriptures, teaching the same time and presence, stand unchallenged and incontrovertible." Studies In the Scriptures Series - The Time Is At Hand 1915 ed. p.235

1878 was considered "incontrovertible" for decades, with necessary changes in understanding repositioned under the guise of "brighter light." Eventually the "brighter light" faded and 1878 is now considered completely irrelevant

Great thread!

false prophecies/false date settings, of the so called Jehovahs witnesses from jwfacts dot com

1880

By 1880 all the signs of the end were said to have started, great earthquakes, war, pestilence, bad behaviour of people and so forth.

"A "generation" might be reckoned as equivalent to a century (practically the present limit) or one hundred and twenty years, Moses' lifetime and the Scripture limit. (Gen. 6:3.) Reckoning a hundred years from 1780, the date of the first sign, the limit would reach to 1880; and, to our understanding, every item predicted had begun to be fulfilled at that date;-the "harvest" or gathering time beginning October 1874; the organization of the Kingdom and the taking by our Lord of his great power as the King in April 1878, and the time of trouble or "day of wrath" which began October 1874, and will cease about 1915; and the sprouting of the fig tree." Studies in the Scriptures Series IV - The Day of Vengeance p.604

The exact opposite is now stated. You Can Live Forever In Paradise on Earth claims that the time before 1914 was a period of peace, and it was not until 1914 that all these signs of the last days started to be fulfilled.