Watchtower in the 1950's said Armagedon was coming in 1976!!!!!! Not 1975!

by Witness 007 12 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

  • Witness 007
    Witness 007

    Watchtower way back in 1955 P. 93-95 Explains that 6,000 years of human history would end in........1976! a decade later in Franz's book "Life Everlasting freedom sons of God" 1966 his chart revised one year down to 1975.

    "Crisis of Conscience" mentions how Knorr argued with Franz in the early 70's as he wanted to revise it back to 1976....anyone remember this!

  • sacolton
    sacolton

    Yeah, Freddy forgot that there was no "0" year and had to re-calculate.

  • WTWizard
    WTWizard

    Either way, it was a bust. The Filthful and Disgraceful Slavebugger wanted everyone to sell out, and they did. And it resulted in major hardship for many--a 1976 Armageddon prediction would have had exactly the same effect as a 1975 prediction did. Either way, we are long past 1976.

  • OnTheWayOut
    OnTheWayOut

    I would like to see publications stating 1975 armagddon was to start. I can't find anything published.

    I will show you how they implied strongly that 1975 would be the end. If you still want to keep your head in the sand, maybe you will think about what the tiny difference between "spirit-directed" and "inspired" is, and maybe you will keep in mind what "discreet" in the FDS is supposed to mean- keeping quiet until you are sure of the matter.

    And I will throw in the implied suggestion that WTS admits to errors in the past so they are still loaded with errors. Anyway, here's some implied comments:

    "The fact that fifty-four years of the period called the "last days" have already gone by is highly significant. It means that only a few years, at most, remain before the corrupt system of things dominating the earth is destroyed by God." Awake!1968 October 8 p.13

    "The immediate future is certain to be filled with climactic events, for this old system is nearing its complete end. Within a few years at most the final parts of Bible prophecy relative to these "last days" will undergo fulfilment." Watchtower 1968 May 1 p.272

    "Many schools now have student counselors who encourage one to pursue higher education after high school, to pursue a career with a future in this system of things. Do not be influenced by them. Do not let them "brainwash" you with the Devil's propaganda to get ahead, to make something of yourself in this world. This world has very little time left! Any "future" this world offers is no future! Wisely, then, let God's Word influence you in selecting a course that will result in your protection and blessing. Make pioneer service, the full-time ministry, with the possibility of Bethel or missionary service your goal. This is a life that offers an everlasting future!" Watchtower1969 March 15 p.171

    "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. Why not? Because all the evidence in fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years. Of the generation that observed the beginning of the "last days" in 1914, Jesus foretold: "This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur."-Matt. 24:34. Therefore, as a young person, you will never fulfill any career that this system offers. If you are in highschool and thinking about a college education, it means at least four, perhaps even six or eight more years to graduate into a specialized career. But where will this system of things be by that time? It will be well on the way toward its finish, if not actually gone!" Awake!1969 May 22 p.15

    In the Awake! 1971 October 8 a timeline was presented with the "Millennial reign of Jesus Christ" starting on the six thousandth year with the caption "As we near the end of 6,000 years of human history in the mid-1970's there is the thrilling hope of a grand relief."

                      The 1968 edition of The Truth book contained subtle quotes pointing to the fact that the world could not survive past 1975.

                        "Back in 1960, a former United States Secretary of State, Dean Acherson declared that our time is "a period of unequaled instability, unequaled violence" And he warned: "I know enough of what is going on to assure you that, in fifteen years from today this world is going to be too dangerous to live in"" The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life p.9 1968 edition

                      The revised edition published in 1981, replaced this quote to read as follows:

                        "Also, as reported back in 1960, a former United States Secretary of State, Dean Acheson, declared that our time is "a period of unequaled instability, unequaled violence." Based on what he knew was then going on in the world, it was his conclusion that soon "this world is going to be too dangerous to live in."" The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life p.9
                            If they weren't implying something, why change it?
                      • willyloman
                        willyloman

                        "Stay alive 'til '75" was the battle cry from the platform in a widely distributed (among dubs, originally) speech by one of the WTS most widely used and "prominent" convention speakers.

                        OTWO's excellent response is just the tip of the iceberg; there is much more if you're interested.

                        However, you're probably not going to do the research.

                        Dubs who deny there is "evidence" for the Watchtower prophecy - and that's what it was - about the 1975 end date are just like those wingnuts who deny the existence of the Holocaust. Their minds are made up and they don't want to be confused with the facts!

                      • booby
                        booby

                        I hope this puts to rest false claims about 1975. Well then there pjschipper. Perhaps you would like to enlighten us all. What was said about 1975. Just recently I was talking to a friend who has been out of the organiztion for some time now, one who I had not talked to in quite some time because of avoiding any religious/scriptural discussions because of not knowing what his situation (with the congregation) was. Now since I myself am out that no longer matters. Anyway after asking what his current standing is and his views of the society, we ending up discussing a few of the teachings of the Society. He related how he gave up a very good paying job, and made other adjustments in the families life, precisely because of the teachings of the society at that time. The end result, since the system has stubbornly gone on for over 30 years since then, his life is much less where he would have been had he not made the decisions that he made back then based on the teaching of the society. An interesting side note is that as he relates this information, with some regrets, he does not hold malice against the society. Views it more as an evolution of his life and his family.

                      • ldrnomo
                        ldrnomo

                        "When the governing body holds up a green book and says it's red, then brothers it's red"

                        "When mother (organization) makes a suggestion, we follow that suggestion because we certainly can't have a better idea"

                        "The governing body is God's channel"

                        What does that last quote mean?

                        Doesn't it mean that the governing body is channeling God?

                        These are the types of thoughts that the rank and file Jehovah's Witnesses have been riddled with ever since the Watchtower started publishing their religious rags over a hundred years ago.

                        Sure, they didn't DIRECTLY say 1975 was the year of Armageddon they don't have to directly say anything, all they have to do is point the rank and file members a certain direction and they will do the rest. After all, are not the leaders channeling Jehovah? And aren't the rank and file supposed to be sheep and follow everything the GB thinks or says or does?

                        LD

                      • shamus100
                        shamus100

                        It is wrong to assume that the creative day ended when adam was created. Jehovah did not finish creating until Eve or sometime after.

                        You can dance, sing, scream until you are blue in the face, but the fact remains that the WTBTS is a false prophet. And that is a simple fact.

                        Jesus taught simply to the common-people. Why does the watchtower need to try to teach such complicated apologist rhetoric when they are wrong? There is only one answer.

                      • villabolo
                        villabolo

                        This gives Adam one year less to name the animals.

                        villabolo

                      • OnTheWayOut
                        OnTheWayOut

                        "When the governing body holds up a green book and says it's red, then brothers it's red"

                        "When mother (organization) makes a suggestion, we follow that suggestion because we certainly can't have a better idea"

                        "The governing body is God's channel"

                        That explains why some deny that WTS said certain things. Mother told them she didn't say it, that the green book is red.

                        Back on the original point: "Crisis of Conscience" mentions how Knorr argued with Franz in the early 70's as he wanted to revise it back to 1976....anyone remember this!

                        I don't remember anything but 1975 until it was over. But either way, it doesn't matter.

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