why did jehova witnesses think the world wld have ended in the 70's / 80's?

Answer 1

don't believe those who answer "JWs never -said- the system of things was going to end in 1975." I was around and a JW during that time and heard it said from the podium by the Elder/Preacher giving instruction to the Church (meetings is what htey call them). The "never said that" stance is what they now call "new light" and not what was said from the podiums and mentioned in literature during that time period. They're literally talking themselves into believing a new version of their history.

They had some screwy calculation that had to do with 607bce and 1914, but the real issue here is 1975 came and went and here we all are still.

From what I read all over this board, they now seem to believe it's going to happen soon, but when isn't being mentioned. I would hope the majority of them are investing in their educations and 401(k) plans and hanging onto their homes.

Answer 2

They did not think the world would end. Their leadership, however, did encourage them to believe that a 1000 year reign of peace under the Prince of Peace, Jesus, would be underway by the year 1975. This was based on the leadership's teaching that 1975 would mark the beginning of the last 1000 years of the seventh creative day. From 1966 through the early 1970s, the WT leadership emphasized repeatedly that each creative day was 7000 years long and 6000 years of it would end in 1975.

It was an idea that originated with the WT leaders, but when it didn't happen, at first the leadership did not acknolwedge their responsibility in promoting the idea. A few years later, they did acknowledge it, but their initial attempt to "put the blame" on the rank and file members has persisted among newer Jehovah's Witnesses who were not around in 1975 to really know how it was.

If someone says that it wasn't the "view of the organization" that 1975 would be a marked year, they are just plain wrong. There is plenty of proof in Watchtower literature printed during that time period and it wasn't the "rank and file" members who were printing the literature - it was the leadership.

It should be noted that as a precaution against being called "false prophets" - again - if their speculations were wrong - again - the WT did periodically issue a disclaimer that they weren't saying it would definitely happen.

Edited

I don't bother to quote the WT's that directed attention to 1975, but there are several other answers on Yahoo that do have the direct quotes. Most of these quotes here on this answer are the "disclaimer" quotes where the WT occasionally reminded the members not to be specific about 1975, since by their own admission, they had learned to "quit fixing dates" after their 1925 fiasco.

Answer 3

such as you, I omit how young toddlers used to play exterior. you do not see that anymore. We used to run the streets. And the music became extra effectual, and the radio stations have been extra effectual. I recommend you're able to pass to NYC, Texas, l. a. and pay attention distinctive music. Now each and all of the $hit sounds the comparable. Even leisure for toddlers became extra effectual. The cartoons today don't have $hit on those in the eighty's or early ninety's. additionally, there have been extra Black sitcoms for the duration of those days...I omit that, too.

Answer 4

Jehovah's Witnesses have never believed the world would end.

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This is taken from a Watchtower in in August 1968:

"One thing is absolutely certain, Bible chronology reinforced with fulfilled Bible prophecy shows that six thousand years of man’s existence will soon be up, yes, within this generation! (Matt. 24:34) This is, therefore, no time to be indifferent and complacent. This is not the time to be toying with the words of Jesus that “concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matt. 24:36) To the contrary, it is a time when one should be keenly aware that the end of this system of things is rapidly coming to its violent end. Make no mistake, it is sufficient that the Father himself knows both the “day and hour”!

36 Even if one cannot see beyond 1975, is this any reason to be less active? The apostles could not see even this far; they knew nothing about 1975.... So too with Jehovah’s faithful witnesses in this latter half of the twentieth century. They have the true Christian point of view. Their strenuous evangelistic activity is not something peculiar to this present decade. They have not dedicated their lives to serve Jehovah only until 1975."

Then there is this quote from a Watchtower in October 1966:

"At the Baltimore assembly Brother Franz in his closing remarks made some interesting comments regarding the year 1975. ‘What about the year 1975? What is it going to mean, dear friends?’ asked Brother Franz. ‘Does it mean that Armageddon is going to be finished, with Satan bound, by 1975? It could! It could! All things are possible with God. Does it mean that Babylon the Great is going to go down by 1975? All things are possible with God. But we are not saying. And don’t any of you be specific in saying anything that is going to happen between now and 1975."

Answer 5

Jehovah's Witnesses believe the bible to teach that this system of things is nearing its end. It would be entirely accurate to say that many or most Witnesses believed that Armageddon might arrive in the 1920's, 1930's, 1940's, 1950's, 1960's, etcetera.

Yet, Jehovah's Witnesses have not slowed in their efforts to preach the bible's message to the nations.

(2 Peter 3:9-10) Jehovah is not slow respecting his promise, as some people consider slowness, but he is patient with you because he does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance. Yet Jehovah’s day will come as a thief

(Matthew 24:42;25:13) Keep on the watch, therefore, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. ...Keep on the watch, therefore, because you know neither the day nor the hour.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20040201/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20041208/article_03.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20040601/article_01.htm

Answer 6

75? Yes.

80s? No.

6000 years of human history was to end at that date. The Watchtower told its members not to put much into that date, but some actually did.

Watchtower quote:
8 Does this mean that the year 1975 will bring the battle of Armageddon? No one can say with certainty what any particular year will bring. Jesus said: "Concerning that day or the hour nobody knows." (Mark 13:32)

. And don’t any of you be specific in saying anything that is going to happen between now and 1975.

unsilenced Lamb: These quotes were taken not to long before 1975? Wrong, These quotes were taken in 1968

Answer 7

There are many answers to that question but today i think that if the WBTS keeps deluding the congregation that the end is day after tomorrow, then there is no reason for JW's to save for the future, thus freeing up finances to give to the MIninsty.....



http://towerwatch.com


I would be curious as to how much money the average JW gives to the wbts....how much they have saved for the future, and whether they have a degree or not......When I was a witness...The average Witness had little savings, no education, and no long term plans.......sad.....




JR....Those are newer Watchtower quotes....they started to put those quotes in the watchtower magazines when it started to look like armageddon was in fact NOT comming......the prior years, we were told to not save....not go to schoolo....not invest in this system.......they are experts at changing what they say.....They are even trying to remove proof of thier false prophecies out of the re-released c.d.s and litterature, but the old bound volumes are still around and there for all to see.......go look

Answer 8

Please get your facts straight.

1) Jehovah's Witnesses DO NOT think the world is going to END. We know that this current SYSTEM of things is soon going to end. Too extremely different things.

2) The year you're groping for was 1975 and that WAS NOT the view of the organization. A few misapplied ideas, a rumor began and a small number of the friends decided something that was not in line with Scripture.

Answer 9

They are completely separate from mainstream Christianity. They do not believe Jesus Christ is the God or Mary is the holey mother.
Most concepts they set up is from Jewish belief.
They may be very good for organization and team forming but personally, I do NOT want to see any change in mainstream Christianity. Christianity is flowing for thousand of years and any change to Catholic would be a disaster.
Stay away from JV people!

Answer 10

I do not know. I think they miscalculated something. No one knows when is the end, not even the Son, only the Father. The only thing a person can see is that the season of the end is near, by looking at the signs.