Jehovah's Witnesses , date 1914?

Question

Are JW's still teaching that the generation that saw 1914 will still be alive to see the end? These people are in their 90's now and even if they were 10 or12 years old in 1914 they are now in their 80's...Have they changed their ideas about this generation passing away ? What will be said 10 years from now if and when this system of things is still going strong. I know many JW's thought the end according to the teachings was going to end in 1975, many gave up things, educations, and such at that time, and I believe many are doing the same today because of these teachings of the 1914..What are your thoughts about this?

Sorry, Jehovah's witnesses believe that Jesus returned in 1914. (as for the other question, if someone was born in 1924 they would have been 10..old enough to understand some of the world problems..) JW's I am pretty sure understand this question..they certainly should.

debbie..you didn't answer the question, as I don't think anyone of the JW will. I will continue to get comments as yours..

Answer 1

My thought is that most Witnesses simply don't know what to say. If they are very new converts, they would probably say the WT doesn't teach that, but the older ones couldn't possibly forget the significance that was put on the teaching that "the generation of 1914" wouldn't pass away before Armageddon comes.

Of course this change must be made gradually, in a very subtle way, or else it would be obvious that the "observant men" were wrong yet again. The groundwork was laid in 1995 (after the 80 years of Psalm 90:10 expired) , to gradually wean Witnesses away from the idea without totally abandoning the idea - yet. The Awake! magazine of Oct 22, 1995 was the last to say (on page 4) that it was "the Creator's promise" to bring a new world before the 1914 generation passes away. (Of course it was the "Watchtower's" promise, not the Creator's ).

So my thinking is that some Witnesses still believe it and some have given up on it, but the idea won't totally disappear until if and when every last person who was alive in 1914, has died. (Already the idea has been abandoned that those living in 1914 would have to be old enough then to view the events of 1914 with understanding. ) Then a new generation of Witnesses will deny the Society ever said it and blame it on "some" who ran ahead of the organization. (May 1, 1967 WT, page 262 "Where are we according to God's Timetable?")

Answer 2

I'll share this,...If Christ was the source of the 1914 prediction that would make him out to be an imposter because Russel & Rutherford both denounced the 1914 date as a complete failure on several occasions, and then the Watchtower went backwards reverse in time and re-proclaimed Christ's return happened in the same year that it had previously been announced as a failure...... (1874). EXAMPLE: ..(take note of the date & the Watchtower's use of terms like "facts" & "proof". 1.) "Bible prophesy shows that the Lord was due to appear for the second time,in 1874, the "FACTS" are "INDESPUTABLE"......(emphasis added) 1922 Watchtower yearbook Nov.1, pg.333 2.)"The scriptural "PROOF" is that the second presence of the Lord Jesus Christ began in 1874 A.D." ...(emphasis added) Prophesy 1929 *last sentance on page 65. And then after the mid 30's the Watchtower does the same thing as it did before, it go's backward reverse in time and re-sales the 1914 date as fulfilled ! I asked a question about these discrepancies and was told by a Witness that : "They are both true at different times" That is the most ignorant & deliberatly contrived explation I've ever heard !

Answer 3

I am confused the only important thing I know of in 1914 was the start of World War I , and it is 2007, if people were 10 in 1914, they are around 103 or 102 not in their 80's.

Answer 4

It is a historical fact worth noting that, on the basis of the points and evidence above presented, the March 1880 edition of the Watch Tower magazine identified the year 1914 as the time for the close of “the appointed times of the nations” (and the end of the lease of power granted the Gentile rulers). This was some 34 years before the arrival of that year and the momentous events it initiated. In the August 30, 1914, edition of The World, a leading New York newspaper at that time, a feature article in the paper’s Sunday magazine section commented on this as follows: “The terrific war outbreak in Europe has fulfilled an extraordinary prophecy. For a quarter of a century past, through preachers and through press, the ‘International Bible Students’ . . . have been proclaiming to the world that the Day of Wrath prophesied in the Bible would dawn in 1914.”

The events that took place from and after the year 1914 C.E. are well-known history to all, beginning with the great war that erupted, the first world war in mankind’s history and the first to be fought over the issue, not of the domination of Europe alone, nor of Africa, nor of Asia, but of the domination of the world.

Prophetic information in the Bible about our day details the following: (1) The specific year when God would give “the kingdom of mankind” to “the one whom he wants to.” (2) Significant events that would take place during the period known as “the conclusion of the system of things.” (3) Noteworthy religious developments at that time. (4) The survival of at least some of the generation that saw the beginning of “the conclusion of the system of things.” (5) A striking development in world affairs as a final signal that world destruction is imminent. Let us examine these points.

The “Seven Times” From When to When?

While giving his sign, Jesus spoke of the “seven times,” calling them “the appointed times of the nations.” He said: “Jerusalem will [continue to] be trampled on by the nations, until the appointed times of the nations are fulfilled.” (Luke 21:24) A footnote in the Oxford NIV Scofield Study Bible (1984) tells us that “the ‘times of the Gentiles’ [King James Version rendering of “appointed times of the nations”] began with the captivity of Judah under Nebuchadnezzar, Since that time Jerusalem has been, as Christ said, ‘trampled on by the Gentiles.’”

How long were the “seven times,” or “appointed times of the nations,” to last? Plainly, they would extend much longer than 7 literal years of 360 days each (as Biblical years were calculated), which would amount to 2,520 days. Scriptural precedent indicates that we should substitute one year for each day. (See Numbers 14:34; compare Revelation 12:6, 14.) Such a calculation would mean that the “seven times” lasted 2,520 years. If they began with Jerusalem’s destruction in 607 B.C.E., they would end in the year 1914 C.E.

Answer 5

JWs still teach that Jesus returned in 1914.

If they were 12 years old in 1914 they were born in 1902 and are 105 today.

My thoughts are that JWs believe a lie. And the lies keep changing.

Pastor Art

Answer 6

If you were 10 or 12 in 1914, you would be 103 or 105 now.

Answer 7

John the baptist and Jesus were preaching to repent for the Kingdom of the Heavens draws near.
We are still waiting. Whenever it does come though we will be ready.
We have observant brothers on the watchtower seeing the things coming upon mankind and warning us.
The bible urges to stay awake because you won't know when your master is coming.
He will come as a thief in the night.
We read bible prophecy and pray to God for insight.
We will do as God instructs us and stand still and watch the Glory of God.

Answer 8

Great Question, but I dont think there are any JW on right now.

Answer 9

Didn't God say no one will know the time?