When did the resurrection of the 144k begin?

by Bona Dea 7 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  Bona Dea

  When do the JWs teach that the resurrection of the 144,000 began?

  Just curious...

  Thanks in advance for any help
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  blondie

  In Russell's time it was 1878.

  In Rutherford's time it was updated to 1918.
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  Bona Dea

  thanks a bunch!!!
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  artful

  Bona Dea:

  NeonMadman wrote in another post, regarding the WTS 1918 date:
  "Now, I'm sure you're wondering, why 1918? WTS says because it took 3 1/2 years for Solomon to build the temple, and the spring of 1918 is 3 1/2 years after the fall of 1914, when the "Gentile Times" ended. If you understand why those two time periods should be of the same length, you're one up on me. "

  Hope this helps...bizarre!
  Cheers
  Artful

  here is the address for the other post:
  http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.aspx?id=42729&site=3
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  onacruse

  "The earthly ministry of Christ Jesus was for three and one-half years, and then he ascended into heaven. Corresponding to that same three and one-half years: Christ began his reign in 1914; three and a half years later he appeared at the temple of God and began to gather to himself those faithfully devoted to him and to his kingdom. That was in 1918 that he came to his temple. That marks the beginning of the assembly or gathering to himself of the members of the Holy City." (Children [1941] pp. 152-3)

  "Consistently, then, the King would not begin receiving his congregation, his bride, to him in heaven until after that "war in heaven" was finished and he had halted further operations until Armageddon, in this way cutting short the days of tribulation upon the Devils organization. (Matt. 24: 21, 22) The facts, Scripturally examined, indicate this occurred in the spring of 1918, or three and a half years after he assumed Kingdom power and his royal presence began." (Watchtower [1949] p. 231)

  As I recall, another publication even fixed the very day that the resurrection occured (in the spring of 1918).

  Craig
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  blondie

  1878

  Proclaimers Book page 632 28 Testing and Sifting From Within ***

  
  Based on the premise that events of the first century might find parallels in related events later, they also concluded that if Jesus baptism and anointing in the autumn of 29 C.E. paralleled the beginning of an invisible presence in 1874 , then his riding into Jerusalem as King in the spring of 33 C.E. would point to the spring of 1878 as the time when he would assume his power as heavenly King . They also thought they would be given their heavenly reward at that time . When that did not occur, they concluded that since Jesus anointed followers were to share with him in the Kingdom, the resurrection to spirit life of those already sleeping in death began then. It was also reasoned that the end of Gods special favor to natural Israel down to 36 C.E. might point to 1881 as the time when the special opportunity to become part of spiritual Israel would close .

  Interesting 1918 Sidepoints

  Bible Students directed to pray for the war effort.

  June 15, 1987 WT page 15 Testing and Sifting in Modern Times
  When Jehovah accompanied his "messenger of the covenant" to the spiritual temple, He found the remnant in need of refining and cleansing. For example, The Watch Tower had encouraged its readers to set aside May 30, 1918, as a day of prayer for victory for the democratic powers, as requested by the U.S. congress and by President Wilson. This amounted to a violation of Christian neutrality.John 17:14, 16.

  Satan cast out of heaven by March 26, 1918.

  April 15, 1960 page 249 Part 36: "Your Will Be Done on Earth"

  
  In 1914, when Michael stood up, the war in heaven was begun to oust the Devil and his demons. He was defeated by Michael, and there is Scriptural reason to believe that by the time of the annual celebration of the Lords evening meal on March 26, 1918, Satan the Devil was hurled down to the earth.
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  onacruse

  Thanks blondie! That was the date I was thinking of.

  Craig
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  Nathan Natas

  How disappointing it must have been for those resurrected in 1878 to find out that they had to go back to the dirt nap for 40 years!