Did you know the End started in 1799?

by jwfacts 26 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  Olin Moyles Ghost

  1914 already has absolutely no meaning for the average Witness. Unlike most of us who grew up on the "generation" doctrine, today's witnesses have no chronological means to set a boundary for The End. As time passes, 1914 will become less and less relevant to Witnesses.

  That being said, the WTS will continue to use 1914 as the date for (1) the end of the Seven Gentile Times (whatever that means); and (2) the beginning of Jesus' invisible presence in kingdom power.

  Sure, every year they look dumber and dumber, but that's not going to stop them. Remember that the Seventh Day Adventists still hang onto 1844 as a critical year--that's 165 years ago! If they can hang onto 1844, I think the WTS can hang onto 1914 for several more decades.
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  caliber

  1914/1919 is critical to the concept that the Watchtower GB were picked at that time - the awakened virgins. But they also say that there have

  always been an F&D slave so they could phase out the date and still claim there is only one group of leaders on earth to follow. It will become

  harder

  to be convincing that the Watchtower alone is the way to salvation and harder to keep an urgency without some pivotal date.

  I personally feel 120 or so years after 1914 and the date will just not sound logical or relevant at all. In the 2030's it will be hard for any new JWs to think 1914 has any credibility.

  I agree 1914 is a pivotal date to establish God given authority.. but eventual the whole concept of the gathering of the few remaining anointed ones seems to lose it's meaning. So I agree that by 2030 for sure this whole thing will have to be explained in a new manner ! Urgency cannot

  last for over 100 years can it ?
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  Londo111

  To reiterate to any lurkers or newcomers: For the first 48 years of the Watchtower (1879 to 1927) proclaimed 1799 as the beginning of the Last Days, not 1914. Of course, this was an Adventist idea—and despite protestations, the Watchtower is an Adventist offshoot and most of the theology stems from that movement. Evidently, the Seventh-Day Adventists, the cousins of the JWs, still believe in 1798/1799.

  1914 came with a World War. Of course, so did 1799! It was an important year in the French Revolution, a turning point in world history. It was a world war that sparked much of the apocalyptic thinking and spawned movements and theologies that are still in the thinking among tens of millions today.

  1914 seems more “efficient”, it did the job of 1799, 1874 (when Jesus Invisible Presence was said to have started), and 1878 (when the Kingdom was said to be established in Heaven). Why have three dates, when you can have one?
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  Londo111

  Oops! Double post.
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  Londo111

  Bump...since this is my 1799th post...again...if accounting for missing posts during last week's thread purge.
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  Calebs Airplane

  The "Time of the End" was supposed to run from 1799 to 1914, but they waited a few decades (so that everyone will forget) and then started teaching that the "Time of the End" started in 1914...

  They really do make shit up as they go along don't they?
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  yadda yadda 2

  Greg Stafford covered all their wacky dates from 1799 onward in one of his books.