Question for Jehovah's witnesses, when is the 1000 years said to begin?

Question

I have been wondering, Does the Watchtower teach that the 1000 year reign of Jesus started in 1914, or will start after Armageddon?

Watchtower quotes to support your answer would be greatly appreciated.

The answers so far indicate some confusion about the doctrine. Jesus reigns for 1000 years, which is said to have started in 1914. But Satan is bound for 1000 year,s which starts after Armageddon. This appears to be contradictory.

Answer 1

Jehovah's Witnesses look to the bible itself as the source of their teachings. This passage from Revelation seems to proceed directly from a description of Armageddon to a description of Christ's Millennial Rule.

(Revelation 19:11-20:6) And I saw the heaven opened, and, look! a white horse. And the one seated upon it is called Faithful and True, and he judges and carries on war in righteousness. 12 His eyes are a fiery flame, and upon his head are many diadems. He has a name written that no one knows but he himself, 13 and he is arrayed with an outer garment sprinkled with blood, and the name he is called is The Word of God. 14 Also, the armies that were in heaven were following him on white horses, and they were clothed in white, clean, fine linen. 15 And out of his mouth there protrudes a sharp long sword, that he may strike the nations with it, and he will shepherd them with a rod of iron. He treads too the winepress of the anger of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 And upon his outer garment, even upon his thigh, he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. 17 I saw also an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice and said to all the birds that fly in midheaven: “Come here, be gathered together to the great evening meal of God, 18 that YOU may eat the fleshy parts of kings and the fleshy parts of military commanders and the fleshy parts of strong men and the fleshy parts of horses and of those seated upon them, and the fleshy parts of all, of freemen as well as of slaves and of small ones and great.” 19 And I saw the wild beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage the war with the one seated on the horse and with his army. 20 And the wild beast was caught, and along with it the false prophet that performed in front of it the signs with which he misled those who received the mark of the wild beast and those who render worship to its image. While still alive, they both were hurled into the fiery lake that burns with sulphur. 21 But the rest were killed off with the long sword of the one seated on the horse, which [sword] proceeded out of his mouth. And all the birds were filled from the fleshy parts of them. 20 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven with the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he seized the dragon, the original serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 And he hurled him into the abyss and shut [it] and sealed [it] over him, that he might not mislead the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After these things he must be let loose for a little while. 4 And I saw thrones, and there were those who sat down on them, and power of judging was given them. Yes, I saw the souls of those executed with the ax for the witness they bore to Jesus and for speaking about God, and those who had worshiped neither the wild beast nor its image and who had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand. And they came to life and ruled as kings with the Christ for a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Happy and holy is anyone having part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of the Christ, and will rule as kings with him for the thousand years.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/article_04.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/lmn/article_10.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/dg/article_10.htm


Followup to additional question:

Christ is and becomes a King in more than one sense.

Christ became a king immediately upon his death, but only of the Kingdom of the son of his love (the Christian congregation).
(Colossians 1:13-14) He [Christ Jesus] delivered us from the authority of the darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of his love, 14 by means of whom we have our release by ransom, the forgiveness of our sins

In 1914, Christ sat on the throne of God's Kingdom, which began functioning as a real government in heaven, ousting Satanic elements to the earth, and purifying the heavens.

(Psalm 110:1-2) The utterance of Jehovah to my Lord is: “Sit at my right hand Until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet.” 2 The rod of your strength Jehovah will send out of Zion, [saying:] “Go subduing in the midst of your enemies.”

(Revelation 12:10) Now have come to pass the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ, because the accuser of our brothers has been hurled down, who accuses them day and night before our God!

After Armageddon, Christ's Millenial Reign begins. He was already a King before that time arrives.

Answer 2

I don't know for sure what the JW's teach, but the Bible teaches that the 1000 years starts after Jesus comes back to take His people to Heaven for a thousand years. The earth will lay desolate for the whole time with only Satan and his demons inhabiting it, locked in chains of circumstance, unable to tempt or taunt humans. After the 1000 years, Jesus will return with His saints and completely destroy Satan and his demons, as well as the wicked that will be resurrected at that time. That is the second Resurrection, and unhappy will be the ones that find they are in it.

Answer 3

the bible answers it at rev 20:1-3 it is when Satan is bound for a thousand years so he wont have any influence on the earth and gods kingdom.this will take place soon because of the signs we see.it is a time of judgment for the resurrected ones. that are found in the book of life.rev 20:12,13 also spoken of at john 5:28-30 so the thousand year reign of Jesus without Satan involved in the earth is still future. but Jesus is our king and is ruling in heaven because he has cast Satan and his demon out.that's why there is so much violence today in the world

Answer 4

According to official starfish history the Witnesses expected Jesus at the end of the first millennium but he didn't show. So instead of giving up on him they decided to wait another thousand years, so I guess now they're going to wait some more? I mean being a little late is one thing, but a thousand years late going on two is kind of a long time to keep a return appointment reserved.

Answer 5

There is a distinct error with this theology; hence, you won't be able to really support it Biblically or through any part of Scripture. I suggest reading the different faults of this theology through the work of Biblical scholars. Suggested reading below.

Answer 6

I'm not completely certain, but I think that it started in 1814.