Yes DREARY... we know how it's written and why. I think that most of us here have gathered, over the years, that Watchtower writes everything with a back door.
If it came to a day in court, the Watchtower would say, "well... the first part of the sentence is true... in its own right. And the second part is also true... in its own right."
The point is, it was compiled, on purpose, to give the impression to the reader that "The Watchtower has consistently presented..."
That's why I followed up with the Awake of 1973 quote (which I got from JWFACTS).
The intent, on the part of the Watchtower writers, was to make JWs in the Kingdom Halls BELIEVE that they should put faith in The WTBTS as it is "consistent".
If, when the study was taking place, you answered the question on this paragraph, and you added that fact, that indeed 1874 was the date... perhaps like this.
He discerned that Christ would return invisibly in 1874 and that “the appointed times of the nations” would end 40 years later in 1914.
I would love to have been there when you said that. It would have been golden. As the elders were disfellowshipping you in the back room, taking a strip off you for your spiritual potty mouth and for "disturbing the peace in the congregation" I would have come to you and asked, hey Dreary, what's the matter now? LOL
When you defend the indefensible on here, you open yourself up for all kinds of abuse.
You are a Watchtower troll. We see you.
