Non-Prophet Organization
Pastor Russell said (STUDIES, II, 33) that the seventh thousand or the Millennium began in 1872. The same volume, p.101, says Gods kingdom began the exercise of power in A.D. 1878, and that the battle of the great day of God Almighty (Rev. 16:14) which will end in A.D. 1914... is already commenced. (The 1915 edition changed the above date to 1915 — rft)
Judge Rutherfords HARP OF GOD, 1921, used the same general prophetic rules to reach the date 1874 at which time the Lords second presence is due.
In WATCH TOWER, July 15, 1894, we read, They are, we believe, Gods dates, not ours. But bear in mind that the end of 1914 is not the date for the BEGINNING, but for the END of the time of trouble.
Russells STUDIES, VII, published by Rutherford, 1917, said The spring of 1918 will bring upon Christendom a spasm of anguish greater even than that experienced in the Fall of 1914.
Then in 1920, Rutherford published his Millions Now Living Will Never Die. . . It is reasonable to conclude that millions of people now on the earth will be still on the earth in 1925 That millions now living will never die. (p.97)
WATCH TOWER, Sept. 1, 1922 said, The date of 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures than 1914. (p.262) Our thought is that 1925 is definitely settled by the Scriptures. WATCH TOWER, Apr. 23. But in the Scotland Trial (p. 120-121) Fred Franz admitted an error had been made by Judge Rutherford.
In AWAKE, Oct. 8. 68, we read past failures were due to lack of evidence But what about today? Today we have the evidence required, ALL OF IT, and it is overwhelming!
THE WATCHTOWER, Aug. l5,68, in an article WHY ARE WE LOOKING FORWARD TO 1975? says, The nearness of such an important date indeed fires the imagination and presents unlimited possibilities for discussion.
In 1969 the ARIZONA REPUBLIC (Aug. 24) reported Erroll Burton (J.W.) as saying within months, or at the most five years, the end of the world as we have known it will occur... The L.A. HERALD-EXAMINER reported Watch-tower president Nathan Knorrs lecture: Although he did not pinpoint the predicted date, Knorr did narrow it down to the mid-seventies. The year 1975 has been specifically mentioned in Witness publications.
WATCHTOWER, Oct. l5,74, p.635 says: The publications of Jehovahs Witnesses have shown that, according to Bible chronology, it appears that 6,000 years of mans existence will be completed in the mid-1970s. The writer hedged on saying this meant worlds end would come then, but he concluded, So we can be confident that the end is near. . .
1975 is past, and so J.W.s are busy trying to cover that failure and try again. CAN ANY REALLY DOUBT THEY HAVE A NON- PROPHET ORGANIZATION?