The prevailing belief among Jehovah's Witnesses today is that the Society never predicted "the end" for 1975, but that some over-zealous members mistakenly read this into the message. However, the official prediction is well documented. See, for example, the article titled "Why Are You Looking Forward to 1975?" in The Watchtower of August 15, 1968, pp. 494-501. Allowing for a small margin of error, it concludes a lengthy discussion with this thought: "Are we to assume from this study that the battle of Armageddon will be all over by the autumn of 1975, and the long-looked-for thousand-year reign of Christ will begin by then? Possibly, but we wait to see how closely the seventh thousand-year period of man's existence coincides with the sabbathlike thousand-year reign of Christ. . . . It may involve only a difference of weeks or months, not years." (p. 499) For several other quotes pointing specifically to 1975, see the book Index of Watchtower Errors (by David A. Reed, Baker Book House,
2007-07-05 02:41:35 · 11 answers · asked by davis-marquise P 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The WBTS is the leader in documented false prophesy....They are even changing what they printed in the new release of the CD ROM...The older bound volumes of watchtower articles will be buried soon.
As the older witnesses waiting for WBTS stated prophecy To be fulfilled, start questioning their faith, They will be disfellowshipped and unable to voice doubts to the newer Witnesses....Thus keeping the Organization pure....
This is one of the many reasons why Christians call the WBTS a cult.
2007-07-05 06:32:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 5⤋
Anti-Witnesses recycle this particular "controversy" from time to time, pretending that Jehovah's Witnesses taught Armageddon would come in 1975. Is that the way Jehovah's Witnesses themselves understood the matter?
In 1975, there was a peak of 2,179,256 active Witnesses preaching from house to house. Did they quit in 1976? No.
By 2005, there were 6,613,829 actively preaching Jehovah's Witnesses, more than THREE TIMES as many!
Even in the United States, Jehovah's Witnesses have almost doubled their numbers since 1975. The articles of Jehovah's Witnesses which mentioned 1975 did so because it seemed to represent 6000 years since mankind's creation; no connection was made between that year and Armageddon.
Jehovah's Witnesses have long taught that not even Jesus knew the day and hour of Armageddon.
(Matthew 24:3-36) .The disciples approached [Jesus] privately, saying: “Tell us, When will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?” 4 And in answer Jesus said to them: “Look out... 10 Then, also, many will be stumbled and will betray one another and will hate one another. ...13 But he that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved. 14 And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come. ...36 “Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father.
It is sad when the enemies of truth work to spread misinformation regarding this peaceful Christian religion.
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20000622/
http://watchtower.org/e/dg/index.htm?article=article_09.htm
2007-07-05 11:19:12 · answer #2 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 5⤊ 3⤋
I was there in 1975. I wasn't ruined. Signs looked right but it was not bad enough as it continues to build up till today. World conditions continue to worsen from 1975. The only thing they got wrong was not believing man could get worse.
We don't serve Jehovah on a time clock. Our shift won't be over in 2009 or whenever. We and especially you should be great full for the extra time. From Jehovah's standpoint, it has been barely a day since Adam's trouble. Be glad you have the time to change your mind and heart. Roughly half to one million people each year do.
They see the hypocrisy of religions claiming to be Christian, yet the beliefs are far removed from Jesus or the Bible. They see no salvation of the planet will come from science or political governments.
There are always people more than ready to jump to conclusions. Some are JWs. They are every where. I know of nothing anyone can do to stop them from jumping.
2007-07-05 11:08:35 · answer #3 · answered by grnlow 7 · 4⤊ 3⤋
Assume, possibly, and may are all words used in ways of unsureness. If you allow mortal man and his mistakes to ruin your life, then that's you. But, as for myself, I know that people make mistakes I believe what the bible says and it tells us that "no man knows the day nor the hour", so until then I shall wait on Jehovah patiently and if I don't live to see Armaggedon , then I hope that I am in Jehovah's memory.
2007-07-05 10:36:58 · answer #4 · answered by lkn4em 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
It is also estimated that 85% of the members they had in 1974 left after 1976 and that 95% of the members they have now, came in in the last 5 years.
With a turnover like that, they must be doing something wrong.
2007-07-05 09:48:41 · answer #5 · answered by ? 6 · 4⤊ 4⤋
Because we didn't ruin anyone's life at any time.
People make their own choices.
We just presented chronology from the Bible.
People made their own choices.
What differences does it make what the Society predicted or not.
Why don't you go to the website jwproclaimers.org as actual audio from speakers back then is presented. Thus you don't have to worry about what the Society wrote.
2007-07-05 09:53:48 · answer #6 · answered by sklemetti 3 · 4⤊ 4⤋
ultimately no ones life is ruined unless THEY ALLOW IT to happen through conscious decisions or unconscious ignorance and that is a price the individual makes when they choose to follow in life
2007-07-05 09:48:50 · answer #7 · answered by master A 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Why would someone look forward to the end of the world?
Do they love living or want it to end?
They want it to end.
If they want it to end, do they see this as good or bad?
Good.
Therefore they merely want what is good.
What is good, living life, or wanting the world to end?
Living life.
There, now you know.
2007-07-05 09:48:27 · answer #8 · answered by Julian 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Who cares?
2007-07-05 09:47:24 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
The JW's have the record for the most false end time predictions. This is how I get them to stop coming to my house, the bible tells us that a prophet who gets even one prophecy wrong is a false prophet, and we are not to associate with false prophets. Considering they hold the record for false prophecies, they usually just leave at that point.
2007-07-05 09:47:19 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 6⤋