How can wts followers who appear on this board imagine the wts doesn't decieve it's members or how there is no contradictory statements in the wts publications is beyond me. Today, I would guess that 99% of witnesses don't know that Russell taught not thought that Christ returned invisibly in 1874 and that 1914 was to be the end not the beginning of the last days. When wts quotes old publications they make it appear so that today's members assume that Christ's return was preached for some 40 years prior to 1914 as various dates taught by Russell were amalgamated into 1914 and today's followers only know of a single date - 1914. It may be hard to find outright lies by wts as they are careful to quote old publications with intent to deceive while at the same time they can blame the reader for assuming what was being stated by the society. We've seen this sort or deception on a number of occasions and here are couple quotes in regard to 1914 published by Russell.
From WT July 15, 1894
CAN IT BE DELAYED UNTIL 1914?
----------
Seventeen years ago people said, concerning
the time features presented in MILLENNIAL
DAWN, They seem reasonable in many respects,
but surely no such radical changes could occur
between now and the close of 1914: if you
had proved that they would come about in a
century or two, it would seem much more
probable.
What changes have since occurred, and what
velocity is gained daily!
"The old is quickly passing, and the new is coming in."
Now, in view of recent labor troubles and
threatened anarchy, our readers are writing to
know if there may not be a mistake in the
1914 date. They say that they do not see how
present conditions can hold out so long under
the strain.
We see no reason for changing the figures--
nor could we change them if we would. They
are, we believe, God's 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. We see no reason for changing
from our opinion expressed in the View
presented in the WATCH TOWER of Jan. 15, '92.
We advise that it be read again.
Here is wt jan 15 1892 quote of interest,
The Scriptures give unmistakable testimony
to those who have full faith in its records, that
there is a great time of trouble ahead of the
present comparative calm in the world--a trouble
which will embroil all nations, overthrow
all existing institutions, civil, social and religious,
bring about a universal reign of anarchy
and terror, and prostrate humanity in the very
dust of despair, thus to make them ready to appreciate
the power that will bring order out of
that confusion and institute the new rule of
righteousness. All this, the Scriptures show us,
is to come to pass before the year 1915 (See
MILLENNIAL DAWN, Vol. II., Chapter IV.)--that
is, within the next twenty three years. And in
view of these calamities the Lord's consecrated
ones are told not to be alarmed, knowing what
the grand outcome is to be.
WT April 15, 1989
For some 40 years the Bible Students boldly proclaimed that the year 1914 would mark the end of the Gentile Times. As expected, that year brought world-shaking events, not the least of these being the first world war
WT Nov 1, 1988
From their study of the Bible, they learned that the year 1914 would be a turning point in human history,and they gave warning of this for 40 years. True to Bible prophecy, 1914 was the beginning of a time marked by famines, pestilences, and earthquakes, as well as war.
WT July 1, 1987
For about 40 years preceding 1914, a small group of Christians had been warning that that year would mark the end of the Gentile Times as prophesied by Jesus.
WT Sep 1, 1985
From 1876 onward, Jehovah’s people served notice upon the world, and particularly upon Christendom, that the Gentile Times would end in the fall of 1914. (Luke 21:24, King James Version) The clergy could not ignore this preliminary work of almost 40 years—a work corresponding to that of John the Baptizer. Those clergymen waited eagerly to pounce upon this journal’s editor should 1914 pass without any outstanding events to correspond with those about which he warned. But, oh, how they were silenced when on July 28, 1914, peace was shattered by the outbreak of World War I!
