Jehovah's Witnesses, how many years have elapsed since Adam and Eve...?

Question

were thrown out of the Garden of Eden? I understand why you think 6,000 years of human existence since then is important. But has that time already come, or is it future?

Misinformation? By whom?

Zions Watch Tower, February 1881 where 'Pastor' Russell said (on page 188) "Well, 1873 came, the end of 6,000 years, and yet no burning of the world" (reference to Armageddon).

Awake! magazine October 1968 admitted that "previous predictions re 'the end' of this world... they were guilty of false prophesying." How refreshing. That same article (1968) then went on to say "Today we have the evidence required, all of it! And it is overwhelming! All the many, many parts of the great sign of the last days are here, together with verifying Bible chronology."

Watchtower May 22, 1969, page 15 - "If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things... Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years... Therefore, as a young person, you will never fulfill any career that this system offers." This, in reference to 1975. I was a JW then, and believed every word of it.

1969 'Aid to Bible Understanding' - 'Adam was 130 years old when Seth was born' (page 333). 'At 130 years Eve gave birth to Seth' (page 533).

Now, I'm not making anything of this up. This is what the Watch Tower Society has published. It can all be verified.

Yet we are being told that 6,000 years of human existence since Adam and Eve has "never been a matter of theological significance... it is hardly a central doctrine of faith." Then "The only way that 1975 could represent 6,000 duration into the 7th creative day is if Adam's creation was mere months before Eve's. That idea seems remarkably odd; decades ago (that's 30 years ago when I was an active, believing JW) JW's merely mentioned that as a possibility." WRONG. It was an absolute certainty.

In 1971 the Watch Tower Society said in their book 'The Nations Shall Know That I am Jehovah' (on page 216) "Within our 20th century the battle in the day of Jehovah will begin". That means Armageddon.

It is now the 21st century.

Answer 1

Yum Yum, lets let the Witnesses answer the question.

From the Watchtower, October 15, 1969 pages 622 and 623

"More recently earnest researchers of the Holy Bible have made a recheck of its chronology. According to their calculations the six millenniums of mankind's life on earth would end in the mid-seventies. Thus the seventh millennium from mans creation by Jehovah god would begin within less than ten years. Apart from the global change that present-day world condition indicate is fast getting near, the arrival of the seventh millennium of mans existence on earth suggests a gladsome change for war-stricken humankind.. In order for the Lord Jesus Christ to be Lord even of the Sabbath day, his thousand-year reign would have to be the seventh in a series of thousand-year periods or millenniums. (Matt 12:8, AV) Thus it would be a sabbatic reign. Since early in the existence of mankind Satan the Devil has been on the loose, making the human family to toil in hard bondage, causing the earth to be filled with violence before the global flood of Noah’s day and inducing the same old earth to be filled with even greater violence today. Soon now six millenniums of his wicked exploiting of mankind as his slaves will end, within the lifetime of the generation that has witnessed world events since the close of the gentile times in 1914 till now, according to the prophetic words of Jesus in Matthew 24:34. Would not, then, the end of six millenniums of mankind's laborious enslavement under Satan the Devil be the fitting time for Jehovah God to usher in a Sabbath millennium for all his human creatures? Yes, indeed! And his King Jesus Christ will be Lord of that Sabbath."

No theological significance? Think again.

This 1969 article trumps the above 1968 quote.

Hey, did they just flip flop? In writing, folks.

UPDATE J.C.

The 1969 Watchtower says "According to their calculations the six millenniums of mankind's life on earth would end in the mid-seventies" They printed it, they belived it, I lived it. I don't get your "According to their calculations" reference. How does that support your position?

I'm sorry that you don't feel other Religions don't get equal "bashing" time. Why is that an issue?

I can't tell you how ludicrus the claim is that the Witnesses didn't say that 6000 years of mans existance ended in 1975. You are definitly delusional.

Troll to Troll, good info!

UPDATE J.C. So their chronology was updated because of some other group or persons calculation? Funny that person/group is not quoted. Whats the mystery? Is the Society depending on outdside sources? At anyrate, it's a moot point. Where ever the "calculations" came from they say "Thus the seventh millennium from mans creation by Jehovah god would begin within less than ten years."

Yes they did say Armageddon was coming in 1975. Read my Watchtower quote again. Note: "Would not, then, the end of six millenniums of mankind's laborious enslavement under Satan the Devil be the fitting time for Jehovah God to usher in a Sabbath millennium for all his human creatures? Yes, indeed! And his King Jesus Christ will be Lord of that Sabbath."

It would be "the" fitting time" and Jesus "will" be Lord of that Sabath. No probabilities, the definite article "the"

Also, if they didn't mislead in print why did they issue kind of a left handed appology in Watchtower of March, 15, 1980, (note, 5 years later) in the article “ Choosing the Best Way of Life “the following:

"In modern times such eagerness, commendable in itself, has led to attempts at setting dates for the desired liberation from the suffering and troubles that are the lot of persons throughout the earth. With the appearance of the book Life Everlasting—in Freedom of the Sons of God, and its comments as to how appropriate it would be for the millennial reign of Christ to parallel the seventh millennium of man’s existence, considerable expectation was aroused regarding the year 1975. There were statements made then, and thereafter, stressing that this was only a possibility. Unfortunately, however, along with such cautionary information, there were other statements published that implied that such realization of hopes by that year was more of a probability than a mere possibility. It is to be regretted that these latter statements apparently overshadowed the cautionary ones and contributed to a buildup of the expectation already initiated.”

"It is to be regretted".So an organization led by God publishes stuff it later regrets?

It comical to hear you guys continue to repeat that the Society didn't say anything was going to happen in 1975, and yet there are numerous references to it in your literature. By your comments you simply ignore the inconvenient truth.

UPDATE J.C.

As far as the "recheck of its chronology", it's not relevant who's math we're talking about. Whoever it was, the Society agreed with it. I made the comment because it is unusual for them to go to outside sources. Also, it doesn't identify the sources so I probably was them. I do not know of any other group that made the same 1975 clculations.

Also, in your above quote of the Watchtower October 15, 1969, you leave out the last part:

"Would not, then, the end of six millenniums of mankind's laborious enslavement under Satan the Devil be the fitting time for Jehovah God to usher in a Sabbath millennium for all his human creatures? Yes, indeed! And his King Jesus Christ will be Lord of that Sabbath."

Look it up on the CD. Don't take my word for it.

Yes indeed it will be "the" time and Jesus "will be" Lord, etc.

You're still skirting that issue. They said it would be "the" time, yes indeed!" The,The,The,The,The,!!!!!! Not a good time, not a time, not might be a good time, THE time.

Just like the Witness John 1:1 arguement, THE God or A God.

You have no answer except the Society called 1975 the time and than sort of apologized for it, 5 years later.

You really can't see that?

Answer 2

There is no way of knowing for certain, nor has it ever been a matter of theological significance to Jehovah's Witnesses.

While the matter is hardly a central doctrine of the faith, Jehovah's Witnesses do believe the bible to teach that the creation of Eve represented the last act of the sixth creative "day" (the sixth day did NOT end at Adam's creation, which was earlier than Eve's by some unknown number of years, decades, or centuries). It seems possible but not certain that the date of the sixth creative day's end has theological significance, but the questioner does not mention it.

As the questioner does mention, bible chronology seems to teach that Adam was created about 6000 years ago (a milestone apparently reached in 1975). The date of Adam's creation does not itself seem theologically significant since it is an unknown number of years, decades, or centuries before the end of the sixth creative day.

Similarly, the date Adam and Eve were ousted from Eden does not seem to have theological significance.

The only way that 1975 could represent 6000 years' duration into the seventh creative day is if Adam's creation was mere months before Eve's. That idea seems remarkably odd; decades ago, Jehovah's Witnesses merely mentioned that as a possibility. It is significant and often overlooked that there is no way of knowing how many years or decades or centuries transpired between the creation of Adam and the creation of Eve. Of course, it was long enough that Adam was able to observe and name all the animals. Only the latter date of Eve's creation would determine the end of the sixth creative day, which may have theological significance to Jehovah's Witnesses. They have never insisted that they are sure it does.

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

Answer 3

Watchtower Aug. 15 1968

"It does not necessarily mean that 1975 marks the end of the first 6,000 years of Jehovah’s seventh creative "day." Why not? Because after his creation Adam lived some time during the "sixth day," which unknown amount of time would need to be subtracted from Adam’s 930 years, to determine when the sixth seven-thousand-year period or "day" ended, and how long Adam lived into the "seventh day." And yet the end of that sixth creative "day" could end within the same Gregorian calendar year of Adam’s creation."


UPDATE:
isnrblogdotcalm

What I quoted above was to show that the Watch Tower never fully believed 1975 really marked the end of the creative date. It was all based on speculation and thats what they believe..

Also in your quote, you clearly missed the point where it states "According to their calculations."

Its funny I don't see Anti-Jehovah's Witnesses doing this much research on Christendom. Do you guys actually do that?

UPDATE:
The reason why I pointed out the part "According to their calculations" is because it wasn't a flip flop as you claim - It was based off of a different calculation of someone else. The organization was speculating too much on this date, but they never said this date "WILL" mark the day of Armageddon.

UPDATE:
Mommyof1

How can you say I "normally avoid" this question when I'm always on here discussing it? Its not all about "finally" telling the truth, because I always said the Organization speculated too much on this date, which was the end of 6000 years of existence. However, they never said the date "WILL" mark the end of the system. Did they say that it could? Yes, but "could" and "will" are two completely different sayings altogether.

UPDATE:
isnrblogdotcalm

The society depending on other outside sources? The organization sometimes get information from outside sources, and you should have already known that. Why do you think they always quote the encyclopedia most of the time?

Now, lets look at the actual quote from..

The Watchtower, October 15, 1969, pp. 622-623

39. More recently earnest researches of the Holy Bible have made a recheck of its chronology. according to their calculations the six millenniums of mankind's life on earth would end in the mid-seventies. Thus the seventh millennium from man's creation by Jehovah God would begin within less than ten years"

40. Apart from the global change that present -day world conditions indicate is faster getting near, the arrival of the seventh millennium of man's existence on earth suggests a glad some change for war stricken humankind. According to the first two chapters of the Holy Bible man and women were created towards the close of the sixth creative day. We are now living in the seventh creative day. and on this seventh day Jehovah God has been resting from earthly creation. To run parallel with the resting of God on his seventh creative day, he gave the Ten commandments to his prophet Moses, in the fourth one of which God commanded that his chosen people should rest on the seventh day the week. (Ex. 20:8-11) That day was therefore the weekly sabbath day, the day of resistance from human toil.

41 The Lord Jesus Christ, the prospective Price of Peace, pointed forward to a greater Sabbath Day, Pointing forward to this he said on a certain weekly sabbath day when he came under criticism: "Lord of the sabbath is what the son of man is." (Matthew. 12:1-8) he was referring to his peaceful reign of a thousand years.. Jehovah God measures human affairs according to a thousand year length rule.


It states it "would" be a fitting time, not that it marked it. Also, I'm not talking about equal bashing.

Answer 4

It's amazing - this is one of the "trigger" subjects that will shut an active jw down. When they hear anybody argue this date, they think "apostate!" The funniest thing about it is that along with Raymond Franz, just about every history book available can show them the the 607 date is wrong. And, since the 607 date is wrong, that makes their 1914 and 1919 dates wrong, too. Looks like a certain publishing company in Brooklyn Heights has really screwed some people over...... Jadore, you are either lying or just ignorant. Raymond Franz WAS a member of the governing body for many years. He wrote the Aid to Bible Understanding book, among many others. He was disfellowshipped for eating a meal with a former ex-jw. I hope for your sake you are just misinformed, and not deliberately lying to mislead others.

Answer 5

Achtung & JC, just answered a pivotal question that they normally avoid which is the big 1975 "predictions".

I believe Nina asked about it before. Notice JC's comment he finally tells the truth about it, and I quote "the organization was speculating too much on this date."

THIS IS PRICELESS.

So, to answer your question the 6,000 years of human existence WAS important at one point becuase it was "speculated" by the society that it ended in 1975 thus they felt this would be the "end of the system of things."

This however became another "failed" prediction and was disregarded. So, it is no longer of importance.

Answer 6

Attention Hot is at it again:

Here are two quotes -

At 130 years Eve gave birth to Seth.

Aid to Bible Understanding (1969), p.533

Adam was 130 years old when Seth was born.

Aid to Bible Understanding (1969), p.333

There are couple places that the WTB&TS in the AtBU state Eve was created the same year as Adam...
so:
By WT chronography 4026 + 2007 = 6033

Jewish year is 5768

Here is the verse in three translations: Matthew 24:36

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. (NASV)

But of that day and hour knoweth no one, not even the angels of heaven, neither the Son, but the Father only.(ASV)

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. (KJV)

The WTB&TS asserted subtilty and blantantly that 1975 was the end and to look for the end of this system of things as in Armeggedon.

JWs were quiting jobs and going door to door, cashing different policies and gave the money, did not plan for the future, and did not send many of their children to college for the future.

Through the subtlety of the WT many were decieved:
2 Corinthians 11:3

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (KJV)

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ. (ASV)

The WT did this to get the members out as much as possible door to door for converts and so forth. Typical of many cult like entities to build a fervor and sense of immediacy to motivate their followers.
__________________
Mo1
Yes it is important for it shows not only the cult activity of mind control but also shows the WTB&TS as false teachers and false prophets.
So the WT and it's apologists minimize the lies but put it back on their followers and blame them of misunderstanding what they stated.

Answer 7

The Watchtower Society has consistently maintained that the end of 6,000 years of human existence should see Armageddon, followed by the 1,000 millennial rule of Christ over a paradise earth. So I was surprised to note one JW answer admitting, 'The seventh day has lasted about 6035 years so far.' That's interesting because JW teaching has always been (to the best of my knowledge) that after 6,000 years of man's existence on earth, God would usher in the 1,000 year millennial rule of Christ. That's what the Wt.Soc said in 1966:

'This independent study gives the date of man's creation as 4026 BCE (Ft. See 'Chart of Outstanding Historical Dates' on p292 of the book 'All Scripture is Inspired of God and Beneficial' published in 1963 by the Wt.B&T Soc of Pennsylvania.) According to this trustworthy Bible chronology six thousand years from man's creation will end in 1975, and the seventh period of a thousand years of human history will begin in the fall of 1975 C.E. So six thousand years of man's existence on earth will soon be up, yes, within this generation.... So in not many years within our own generation we are reaching what Jehovah God could view as the seventh day of man's existence.'

Two years later, the Wt.Soc repeated: 'The seventh one-thousand-year period could be likened to the seventh day, the sabbath, of that week. How fitting it would be for God, following this pattern, to end man's misery after six thousand years of human rule and follow it with His glorious Kingdom rule for a thousand years!... According to reliable Bible chronology, Adam AND EVE were created in 4026 BCE... This would leave only seven more years from the autumn of 1968 to compete 6,000 full years of human history. That seven-year period will evidently finish in the autumn of the year 1975.'

In 1975 the Wt.Soc reaffirmed: 'According to dependable Bible chronology, 6,000 years of human history will end this coming September according to the lunar calendar.. There's no basis for believing that mankind, faced with what it now faces, can exist for the seventh thousand-year-period [under the present system]... We should NOT THINK THAT THIS YEAR OF 1975 IS OF NO SIGNIFICANCE TO US.'

There is immense theological significance at back of the excitement aroused amongst JWs by their leaders initial statements that Adam AND Eve were BOTH created in the year 4026 BCE. But less than half-way through 1975, their leaders began to suggest that Eve could have been created some months, or even a year or two later than Adam. Now we have a JW being honest enough to say that some 35 years must have passed without Eve appearing in the Garden. But where does this leave JW theology about a day being - in God's eyes - 1,000 years long? Are we going to learn of 'new light' revealing the Millennium as not being due now for another 965 years? Or will some more reliable chronology be worked out showing that 6,040 years is biblically significant in terms of God's 'days'? Or 6,081 years? Take your pick... Or will JWs soon be told by their leaders that Adam was actually created in 3,050 BCE? (... take your pick - your guess is as good as theirs.)

Answer 8

They counted on 6,000 years for prophecy but all the dates set failed.

Answer 9

I am so happy to see that they admit that they do not know. That means that God has not told them that even though they claim to be the only people God communicates with..