So where did this come from? Respectful comments only!
Sandra P.
2007-10-27 15:49:29 · 31 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The parable of the faithful and discreet slave helps bible students to recognize that it was only after Christ's "return" that one "slave" would receive unique privileges. Jehovah's Witnesses look at the evidence and believe that happened soon after 1914.
(Matthew 24:45-47) Who really is the faithful and discreet slave [class] whom his master [Jesus] appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time? Happy is that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so. Truly I say to you, He will appoint him over all his belongings.
Regarding 1914, the Scriptures do show that Jesus sat on the throne of the Messianic Kingship that year. In hindsight, most of humankind can see the historic upheaval that began with World War I. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that mankind in general has seen a wide range of specific signs since 1914, and that anyone can perceive these as significant without even opening a bible.
Yet the bible DOES comment upon it! Jesus foretold this specific collection of signs as evidence that his "presence" or so-called 'second coming' had arrived. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that "presence" to be Jesus' presence as the King of God's Kingdom. Citations are from both New World Translation (NWT) and Youngs Literal Translation (YLT).
(Matthew 24:3, NWT) disciples approached [Jesus] privately, saying: "Tell us, When will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence
(Matthew 24:3, YLT) the disciples came near to [Jesus], saying, 'Tell us, when shall these be? and what is the sign of thy presence...?
(Luke 21:7,24, NWT) Teacher, when will these things actually be, and what will be the sign when these things are destined to occur?
(Luke 21:7,24, YLT) Teacher, when, then, shall these things be? and what is the sign when these things may be about to happen?'
Amazingly, since the 1870's, Jehovah's Witnesses had recognized 1914 as a significant year according to the chronology indicated in bible prophecy. Decades before 1914, Witnesses noted that Jesus' discussion of his second "coming", or second "presence" specifically mentions "the appointed times of the nations", which Jehovah's Witnesses believe to be a centuries-long period of relative godlessness when God's rulership through the Davidic kingship was interrupted (the line of hereditary kings beginning with King David of Israel). Jehovah's Witnesses recognize that the Davidic kingship ended in 607 BCE when Jerusalem fell to Babylon, and would begin again during the fulfillment of the composite "sign" of Matthew 24 and Luke 21.
(Luke 21:24, NWT) Jerusalem [or 'Davidic kingship'] will be trampled on by the nations, until the appointed times of the nations are fulfilled.
(Luke 21:24, YLT) Jerusalem [or 'Davidic kingship'] shall be trodden down by nations, till the times of nations be fulfilled.
How long would "the appointed times of the nations" last? Daniel chapter 4 contains a prophecy in which God's rulership, through the Davidic kings is represented by a "tree". That tree is kept down for "seven times", which seems to be seven periods of 360 "days" (See Rev 12:6,14). So Daniel 4:15 seems to be referring to 2520 "days" when God's governmental rulership would not be seen.
(Daniel 4:11-17, NWT) The tree grew up and became strong, and its very height finally reached the heavens, and it was visible to the extremity of the whole earth. ...14 He ["a holy one"] was calling out loudly, and this is what he was saying: "CHOP the tree down... 15 However, LEAVE its rootstock itself in the earth... let seven times pass over it. 17 ...that people living may know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind and that to the one whom he wants to, he gives it and he sets up over it even the lowliest one of mankind.
(Daniel 4:11-17, YLT) Become great hath the tree, yea, strong, and its height doth reach to the heavens, and its vision to the end of the whole land...14 He ["a holy one"] is calling mightily, and thus hath said, Cut down the tree...15 but the stump of its roots leave in the earth...and seven times pass over him; 17 ...that the living may know that the Most High is ruler in the kingdom of men, and to whom He willeth He giveth it, and the lowest of men He doth raise up over it.
But in history, 2520 days is not a significant amount of time. Jehovah's Witnesses look to Scriptures such as Num 14:34 and Ez 4:6 and re-examine the history using 2520 YEARS instead. From 607 BCE to 1914 CE is 2520 years; so many significant things happened that year, and World War I was only one part!.
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/dg/index.htm?article=article_09.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_10.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_02.htm
2007-10-28 17:27:46 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
You have to remember that no book in the Bible was written more recently than the early 2nd century, at the latest. That's at least 1800 years before 1914. So no, Scripture doesn't say anything about Jesus returning in 1914 (or any other specific year). That idea was proposed by Charles Taze Russell, the founder of the Jehovah's Witnesses. So far as anyone can prove, it didn't happen.
2007-10-27 15:59:34 · answer #2 · answered by Allan S 2 · 2⤊ 4⤋
It is something that the JW's believe and with good reason.
I am sure one of them will answer soon it has to do with a bible prophecy that requires a little adding but they predicted the world would change for the worse in 1914 and they where spot on.
As far as Jesus returning that has a good scriptural base too.
Read Matthew 24 and Luke 21 and ask yourself if you can see the signs of what will be happening when Jesus has returned.
As i said a JW would answer it for you read xyleisa answer thats the maths explained.
2007-10-27 15:58:54 · answer #3 · answered by pestie58 the spider hunter 6 · 8⤊ 3⤋
in 1912 the devil beleived he'd won the war against the human race.... he saw two important figured die through prophecy... they were to be born after 1960..... one, in prophecy would be called the woman of the wilderness REV 12..... the other would be refered to as Jesus.... for the first was creator of the catholic church,,, and the others various sects of christianity... He was so sure that he had won that they got really comfortable and called themselves god and christs..... but the woman lived to restor nature and destroy their plans... the first thing she destroyed was heaven... totally obliterated... and all their plans of eternal life got destroyed when she killed them where ever they were... her power was such that the trees, animals, insects, stones and oceans would call her god... that is why in the 70's or 80's humans declaired god a woman... but she would not allow that lie to continue... for she says she is human ... and maintained the integrety of that ever since... she is helping nature heal ... and is called mother nature... as a form of respect.... all these gods... every one of them ever known to humanity was or is human.. nothing more.... the man his purpose... he is the one who found her... through prophecy she was condemned... so she faced constant rejection.. she's the one who practiced self responsibility, self authority... she the one who says people who seek to not harm others require no laws... she's the one who sees how to balance nature... but she is not a people person... she doesn't write enough to get published... the man who found her , the one who's prophecy is called jesus... he found her... he will write the books she is unable to... what she knows about spirit and nature explains the world... as long as there is religions... christianity especially they both are in danger... for the crusifixion (murder) is the path they are on... unless they start to listen they will never learn...
2007-10-27 16:09:25 · answer #4 · answered by Gyspy 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Since the books of the bible were written prior to 100 AD I don't think there is any place that states Jesus returned invisibly in 1914.
The bible does state that Jesus will return again but when he does every one will see him and every knee shall bow.
2007-10-27 16:01:01 · answer #5 · answered by 9_ladydi 5 · 1⤊ 4⤋
Well, there are no verses that say that he would. The scriptures were written thousands of years ago. That is definetely a new age myth. I'm not going to say whether it's wrong or right but in my opinion it sounds improbable
2007-10-27 15:54:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
The Witnesses taught that 1914 was the beginning of the Gentile times. They believe that the scriptures say that Armageddon will come before a generation passes away.
Take 1914, and add to it 75 years ( Greek generation was closer to 35 years, but we will give them the 75 year modern day life span) you come up with the year 1989! Oops! Now they claimed that Armagedon would come by the year 1975! Oops again. do you get where this is going? Actually they really believed that a generation was just 60 years, and that is how they came up with the 1975 date ---simple!
2007-10-27 16:41:58 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 8⤋
Since the last entries of scripture (the Bible) were written around 100 AD, it could be!
2007-10-27 16:04:16 · answer #8 · answered by Hey You 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
No that's not in the bible.
There are many "witnesses" who wrote the bible and all said pretty much the same things. That is why the bible is credible in part as well as fullfilled prophecies. Anytime you have a religion that has a CORNER on the truth you are dealing with a Cult. God wants ALL MEN Saved.
2007-10-27 15:54:32 · answer #9 · answered by sisterzeal 5 · 4⤊ 4⤋
You need to ask the Jehovah's Witnesses it's part of their belief
2007-10-27 16:10:21 · answer #10 · answered by an-noy 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
No. That shows that the Watchtower Society is a false channel of communication between God and humans.
2007-10-28 13:03:25 · answer #11 · answered by Nina, BaC 7 · 2⤊ 4⤋