Did Jesus return to power in 1874 or 1914 or ...??

Question

so... I see some people say JW continue with communion because Jesus took power in 1914 but didnt 'return' yet and won't till armageddon... ok ... by why did the Watchtower say 1874... and did they change it to 1914... and will they change it again.. or am I missing something

1922 The Watchtower, 9-15, p.278
"No one can properly understand the work of God at this present time who does not realize that since 1874, the time of the Lord's return in power, there has been a complete change in God's operations."

1924 Watchtower, 1-1, p. 5
"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...."

Jesus is pressent since 1874.... returned in 1874... or returned in 1914... or can they make up their minds?

I see some claims that the date 1874 was modified to 1914 around 1943.. wow that was after 54 years... and now 54 years later... sounds like its being pushed back again

"no man knows the day or hour" sounds like good dvise to me

Answer 1

The Bible teaches that no one knows when Jesus will return to earth. We are supposed to be ready for his coming at any time.

Answer 2

Hello, Whirling:

I read a very old and worn out book where JW's used pyramidology to set those dates. Instead of saying: "God's word says", it sayd: "The Pyramids testify." Suppose that is why their founder is buried under a pyramid. And I suppose you have seen T.V. documentaries written in the 1990's saying those pyramid tunnels predict Armageddon in 2004. OOPS!

Such foolishness leads to guaranteed failures, and there have many for the JW's. I believe that it was 1974 that they lost 1/3 of their membership when that date also failed.

I don't mean to belittle these sincere people or any religion; such bigotry caused early Christian persecution by the Jews--and JW's are respectable citizens, and quite honest; however, If my church was leading me astray, I would begin searching for another group to associate with--you know, and read the Bible with prayer, cover to cover. Our Savior promises: "Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:16).

And yes, Wirling, we are living at the end of the days and an Online publication tells you how to unlock a secret Bible code in the only part of the Bible that says it is closed until now. Find it at www.revelado.org/revealed.htm.

Blessings and AGAPE love, One-Way

Answer 3

I think the days of Charles Russell and Joseph Rutherford are so embarrassing for today's Witnesses, what with Pagan practises, changing dates when Jesus returned to Earth, the numerous years predicted for Armageddon,etc, no wonder today's JWs are taught by their Organisation that history is of no importance.

Answer 4

1914—A Significant Year in Bible Prophecy

DECADES in advance, Bible students proclaimed that there would be significant developments in 1914. What were these, and what evidence points to 1914 as such an important year?

As recorded at Luke 21:24, Jesus said: “Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations, until the appointed times of the nations [“the times of the Gentiles,” King James Version] are fulfilled.” Jerusalem had been the capital city of the Jewish nation—the seat of rulership of the line of kings from the house of King David. (Psalm 48:1, 2) However, these kings were unique among national leaders. They sat on “Jehovah’s throne” as representatives of God himself. (1 Chronicles 29:23) Jerusalem was thus a symbol of Jehovah’s rulership.

How and when, though, did God’s rulership begin to be “trampled on by the nations”? This happened in 607 B.C.E. when Jerusalem was conquered by the Babylonians. “Jehovah’s throne” became vacant, and the line of kings who descended from David was interrupted. (2 Kings 25:1-26) Would this ‘trampling’ go on forever? No, for the prophecy of Ezekiel said regarding Jerusalem’s last king, Zedekiah: “Remove the turban, and lift off the crown. . . . It will certainly become no one’s until he comes who has the legal right, and I must give it to him.” (Ezekiel 21:26, 27) The one who has “the legal right” to the Davidic crown is Christ Jesus. (Luke 1:32, 33) So the ‘trampling’ would end when Jesus became King.

When would that grand event occur? Jesus showed that the Gentiles would rule for a fixed period of time. The account in Daniel chapter 4 holds the key to knowing how long that period would last. It relates a prophetic dream experienced by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. He saw an immense tree that was chopped down. Its stump could not grow because it was banded with iron and copper. An angel declared: “Let seven times pass over it.”—Daniel 4:10-16.

In the Bible, trees are sometimes used to represent rulership. (Ezekiel 17:22-24; 31:2-5) So the chopping down of the symbolic tree represents how God’s rulership, as expressed through the kings at Jerusalem, would be interrupted. However, the vision served notice that this ‘trampling of Jerusalem’ would be temporary—a period of “seven times.” How long a period is that?

Revelation 12:6, 14 indicates that three and a half times equal “a thousand two hundred and sixty days.” “Seven times” would therefore last twice as long, or 2,520 days. But the Gentile nations did not stop ‘trampling’ on God’s rulership a mere 2,520 days after Jerusalem’s fall. Evidently, then, this prophecy covers a much longer period of time. On the basis of Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6, which speak of “a day for a year,” the “seven times” would cover 2,520 years.

The 2,520 years began in October 607 B.C.E., when Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians and the Davidic king was taken off his throne. The period ended in October 1914. At that time, “the appointed times of the nations” ended, and Jesus Christ was installed as God’s heavenly King.—Psalm 2:1-6; Daniel 7:13, 14.

Just as Jesus predicted, his “presence” as heavenly King has been marked by dramatic world developments—war, famine, earthquakes, pestilences. (Matthew 24:3-8; Luke 21:11) Such developments bear powerful testimony to the fact that 1914 indeed marked the birth of God’s heavenly Kingdom and the beginning of “the last days” of this present wicked system of things.—2 Timothy 3:1-5.

[Footnote]

From October 607 B.C.E. to October 1 B.C.E. is 606 years. Since there is no zero year, from October 1 B.C.E. to October 1914 C.E. is 1,914 years. By adding 606 years and 1,914 years, we get 2,520 years. For information on Jerusalem’s fall in 607 B.C.E., see the article “Chronology” in Insight on the Scriptures, published by Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Answer 5

Most cults will change things to suit themselves. Not terribly surprising.

Answer 6

Yes, Jesus has been back