World War I started on August 1st, 1914; the Gentile Times were supposed to end on Oct 1st, 1914.
So the whole "Satan hurled down and war broke out" does not really work.
I remember in an 1940ish Watchtower issue there was a "QfR"-part that dealt with it. It said something like Satan knew about 1914 and started the war earlier to confuse mankind.
Does anybody have this QfR scanned?
QfR (1940s): End of Gentile Times and Start of WWI
by GermanXJW 4 Replies latest watchtower bible
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GermanXJW
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Bryan
I don't know but try this one. It is cached by google.
here
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Neo
I don't have that article, but I guess that the explanation you'll find may be the following:
(Revelation 12:4) And the dragon kept standing before the woman who was about to give birth, that, when she did give birth, it might devour her child.
The dragon "kept standing before the woman," so he was already in "persecutor mode" before "the Kingdom was born" in October. He was 'angry and furious' and that 'reflected' upon earth with the start of WWI.
I know it's completely ridiculous but that's how a guy who's now a Bethel higher-up explained away that contradiction to me, and he's a WT-literature egghead.
Neo
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GermanXJW
Well, but "Woe to the earth" was said AFTER the serpant had been hurled down.
But I am sure there is an official QfR in the end 40s which I read many years ago in the German issue from our congregation library. -
ozziepost
Good question, GermanXJW. It's something I've raised over the years with the dubs only to get blank stares in response. I guess it doesn't fit into their understanding so it just gets ...............................
I'd be very interested in this reference from the WT if you find it.
Email to me at [email protected]
Cheers, Ozzie