The following was taken from
A Short History of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Copyright (C) 1995, 2001 by Timothy Campbell
[*emphasis mine]
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (the organization run by the Governing Body of the Jehovah’s Witnesses) claims that it is the sole channel of information between God and humanity.
*1875
They base this claim on a complicated, Bible-based chronology devised by the Adventist N.H. Barbour in 1875. The founder of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Charles Taze Russell, obtained many of his ideas from Adventists and others who speculated in Bible prophecy. In 1884, Russell founded the Watchtower Society, which became the legal corporation used by the International Bible Students, the early name for Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The chronology stated that Jesus had invisibly returned to earth in 1874 to set up his kingdom, and that in 1914, at the end of the “Gentile Times”, Jesus would come to judge the earth and annihilate the wicked.
*1914
When nothing supernatural happened in 1914, the Watchtower Society started transferring all of the doctrines about 1874 to 1914. They explained that Christ’s kingdom had been set up invisibly in 1914, and that although secular governments were still in place, their rule was no longer valid. Based on the Society’s writings, Jehovah’s Witnesses looked forward to momentous events in the year 1918.
When nothing supernatural happened in 1918, the Watchtower Society looked forward to momentous events in 1925.
*1925
When nothing supernatural happened in 1925, the Watchtower Society lost three quarters of its members.
Charles Taze Russell had been held to be the “Faithful and Wise Servant” of Matthew 24:45-47, but by 1928 the Society applied that to its leaders. They taught that the scripture was a prophecy, and that in 1918 they had been chosen by Jesus “over all that he hath”. Since they believed Jesus was ruling the world invisibly, they claimed for themselves a position as God’s channel of communication with mankind.
The Society checked its predictions and explained that all of the prophecies in Matthew 24 and 25 would take place within a “single generation” (Matthew 24:34), so the time of “the end of the world” (Matthew 24:3) could be delayed as long as 30 or 40 years. In 1929, the Society built a mansion (“Beth Sarim”) to house the resurrected prophets, who were expected to arrive soon. The new definition of “generation” promised momentous events during the 1940’s.
*1945
When nothing supernatural had happened by 1945, the Society extended the meaning of “generation” to 80 years (the maximum lifespan of a typical man, as explained in Psalms 90:10). “Beth Sarim” was eventually sold.
Although 1914 plus 80 equals 1994, in 1966 the Watchtower Society decided that the year 1975 was “significant”, because they had calculated that it marked the end of six thousand years since the creation of Adam and Eve. Watchtower publications strongly hinted that “the end” would come in 1975.
*1975
When nothing supernatural happened in 1975, the Watchtower Society lost many members. It explained that the time between Adam’s creation and Eve’s creation was not known, so the 1975 date was only speculative.
*1980
In 1980, the Society suggested that the Witnesses and the publishing staff had been overly enthusiastic about the “possibility” of Armageddon in 1975. This failed to lure back thousands who had left, but regular door-to-door preaching restored the rapid growth the Witnesses had enjoyed since the “significance” of 1975 had been announced.
*1994
When the year 1994 arrived (1914 plus 80 years), nothing supernatural happened. The Society had not ascribed any special significance to 1994, but the “generation” issue was becoming awkward. The ranks of the Society’s special members (the 144,000 who were “anointed”, based on an interpretation of Revelation) were dying out. The claim that Jesus had appointed the Watchtower Society special status in 1918 was becoming hard to defend.
In 1995, the Watchtower Society decided that “generation” did not mean a physical generation (i.e. 80 years) but meant “age”, as in “era”. This extended the “end times” indefinitely, although when the last of the 144,000 special members die out, the Society will have to be run by regular members.
The Watchtower Society states that it alone understands that “generation” means “age” because it has special status, which was granted to it in 1918.
*Today
The Watchtower magazine, published by the Society, has said the end is “soon”, in every issue since it was first printed … in 1879.
Question:
Where does, and how does, the Bible speak to this type of activity?
Jesus warned of these types of practices several times. For example, in Luke 21:7-9,
Christ explains here that people will say that the time is near, and even if it looks like it’s getting bad, the end is not coming when men say it is. The signs that God has ordained to occur must happen first.
2 Peter 2:12 also speaks to this (we looked at this one on Wednesday morning) when it says of false teachers, “they…blasphem[e] about matters of which they are ignorant.”
It is very dangerous for fallen man to become sure of knowledge he found through his own power. The only truth we can be absolutely sure of on our own is the truth we find in God’s Word. And Scripture says, “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42).
I haven’t checked blogs in quite a while, but picked out the latest and found that it addressed something we had talked about in our Bible study Wednesday night.
I definitely agree with Jeffrey that no one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. But the Son left us clues to look for in Matthew 24 to help us recognize the signs of the end times. He tells us that wars and famine and earthquakes will occur more and more frequently just as labor pains progress before the actual birth.
In addition, the progression of the end times is shown to include Christians being persecuted, put to death and hated by all nations because of Christ. It also indicates that many will fall away from the church (most likely because their faith was in something other than Jesus and whatever it was in was no longer available to them), yet the gospel will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations.
An interesting thing is found in the verses to follow. Read through the chapter noting when the Great Tribulation begins and what God does to intervene on behalf of the elect. Also note when the rapture takes place within chapter 24.
Concerning the rapture, 1 Cor. 15:52 and 1 Thess. 4:16 agree with the account given in Matt. 24. Yet in Rev. 8 we can find the number of trumpets and continue to read until the last trumpet sounds in Rev. 11:15.
If we are to follow what Jesus laid out as the end times and what He revealed to Paul and John in 1 Cor., 1 Thess, and Rev., then we as a church need to be prepared for everything that happens up to Rev. 11:15.
Another interesting side note is the possible correlation between Matt. 24:22, the amount of time the Gentiles will trample the holy city (Rev. 11:2 and alluded to by Jesus in Luke 21:24), and the duration of the ministry of the two witnesses (Rev. 11:3). The number of years of ‘the time of the Gentiles’ is mimicked even in the number of days that Lord waits to breathe life into the two witnesses again. I like numbers, so things like that interest me.
It appears that this length of time preceeds the rapture, since the last trumpet sounds in Rev. 11:15.
2 Peter 3 encourages us to be ready as we look forward to His coming, because He will come unexpectedly.
Many in the church have identified when the rapture will take place, some say it will happen before the Great Tribulation citing that the church is no longer mentioned after chapter 3 of Revelation. Others say that we will endure all or part of the Tribulation. Some argue that if the rapture happens before the Great Tribulation, then His return afterward will not be His second coming.
But Peter reminds us that regardless of when He comes, we can seek to live holy and godly lives as we look forward to the day of God and the speed of its coming to bring us the home of righteousness. And until that day, we can bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation for all who will come to repentance.
Ahhhh. Finally a chance for me to be a fly in y’all’s Premillennial ointment.
What do you do with Mt. 24:34? I’ve heard Premil. folks try to re-translate “generation” as “race” but what is the linguistic rationale?
If it does in fact mean “generation” then it would seem to me that the text would demand that there are some from that generation that are still alive if these passages describe future events.
Also, the “Son of Man coming in the clouds of the sky…” is a quote from Dan. 7:13. Note that when the one like a son of man comes (with) the clouds of heaven, he approaches God and receives his kingdom. This says nothing about him coming down to earth. The coming Daniel sees is his coming in the vision to God’s throne.
It seems to me that the rapture described in 1 Thes. 4 is a very public event (announced with a loud trumpet). To me, this doesn’t fit at all the notion of a quiet event which leaves the unraptured scratching their heads trying to figure out what happened.
It also appears that Paul continues his thoughts in 2 Thes. 1:7ff where he makes it pretty evident that when Jesus comes from heaven that he will bring with him the last judgment.
Ken,
We meet again on this topic. OK, first let me admit that I am not completely sold on my eschatological views. At the current moment I lean towards a premillenial post-tribulation rapture view. I could possibly slide over to an ammillenial camp if I could hear a good interpretation of Revelation 20 from their viewpoint (but I have yet to hear one that convinces me).
First the discussion on the word generation. It comes from the Greek word genea which can mean:
Technically it is possible to see this as race, but I agree with most translations and see this as the word generation. I will get to my view on this later.
Second, the reference to Dan 7:13 as only referring to Jesus coming into his kingdom seems problamatic for two reasons. One, is that how the Jewish people would have interpreted that prophecy? Personally, I do not think so, it seems that they were looking for an earthly reign. And two, if that is what the coming in the clouds refers to then it means that Jesus wasn’t enthroned from 33 AD to 70 AD. That doesn’t seem to jive with other passages that place Jesus at the right hand of the Father with everything under his feet (Eph 1:20-23).
Third, your critique of the rapture view only applies to the premillenial and pre-tribulational view, not all premillenial views. In fact I agree with much of your assessment (one of the reasons I am post-tribulational).
Now, for a brief summary of the interpretational options of Revelation. There are typically four schools of thought in looking at Revelation:
I think the last three all hold some validity to them. Personally, I believe that the fall of Jerusalem was one of the key events foretold by the Olivet Discourse (not Revelation as I date it after 70 AD). I think that much of what Jesus was referring to was the fall of Jerusalem (fixes the generation problem), but that much like the Old Testament prophecies which had a contemporary fulfillment, also have an eschatological one.
However, I do not think that the fall of Jerusalem is enough to answer the imagery of the ultimate fall of evil. There is still a future fulfillment waiting (though I don’t take much of the symbolism of Revelation as very concrete). I think the idealist view helps combine the preterist and futurist view. There were concrete events which occurred in the time of the original audience which reflect the general pattern of what the church will be going through, which will ultimately be fulfilled at the end of the age.
As a side question, if preterists see the Olivet Discourse (and Revelation) as only being fulfilled in the fall of Jerusalem then why should all of these Gentile churches watch out for it? Why should the Thessallonians care that the day of the Lord is coming like a thief in the night (1 Thes 5:2 – c.f. Matt 24:43)?
Matt,
Great comments. It’s great to see that there is a middle ground position growing among the thinkers in Baptist circles (you included!).
I would actually consider myself a partial/modified preterist (in that I find straight-up preterism to be narrow and also I can’t buy all the Post Millennial arguments either). I agree that there must be some more to the Olivet discourse and I am open to exploring the possibility of a “dual” fulfillment.
I just find it impossible to swallow the nice, tight package that the Pre-trib. camp puts forth.
Isn’t it true (I may be mischarcterizing) that all Pre-Mil. positions must embrace a sort of multiple 2nd Coming scenario (Rapture is one “coming” and then the REAL 2nd coming, etc.)? What is your understanding?
Most post-trib people see the Rapture as occuring immediately before the “REAL” second coming. But in the Rapture the saints are not taken up to heaven but merely meet Christ “in the air” and return with him. In a sense those raptured join Christ’s army and join his triumphant descent to the earth.
Rose, thanks for offering those points. Ken likes to pounce on this subject, please don’t let it keep you from responding. He may sound rough, but he has a heart of a large teddy bear (of course, Teddy Bears are stuffed toys with no heart, but you get my drift). The subject of end-times gives a great opportunity to chronicle the legitimate differences that Christians can have on certain subjects.
For example, I would be “classified” as “Historic Pre-millennial.” What does this mean? It means that I see the strongest evidence for the end time’s structure being a post-tribulational outlook with us going through a yet future millennial period.
I was a pre-tribulationist for the majority of my life in Christ. But I found certain stretches impossible to bridge within its framework. For example, Paul, in an effort to provide answers to where dead relatives are in an attempt to spread a future hope, tells the believers in Thessalonica (4:-13-15) that Jesus [“the Lords own word”] told them that those “who are left till the coming of the Lord” will be will not proceed those who have fallen asleep (i.e. “have died”). The next question is: where did Jesus say this? The only answer is Matthew 24-25 and within this context the character of His coming (24:30-31) is a public descent at the end of the tribulation (see v.15 – Christ’s describes his coming as after the antichrist desecrates the Temple). Also, the “loud trumpet” (v.31) fits the account of Paul to those in the church also (v.16). Even pre-tribulationist will admit that Matt. 24-25 does not contain a reference to a pre-trib. departure. There is no place in Christ’s teaching that will support this and yet, Paul references Christ. If Christ did not teach it, then Paul can’t be teaching it. There are many other “proofs” that fit a post-tribulational scheme that seems to best represent the coming of Christ, but that is a few.
Whichever eschatological format one ascribes to, it is true that the coming of false teaches will fit certain parameters. Also, all reputable, end-times positions should emphasize the hope of Christ’s coming; our joy looking for it, and not overemphasis on a specific formula at the expense of it’s core intended truth of Jesus coming again. We must not lose the heart of end-times teaching – Jesus is coming! We need to avoid dwelling/developing nice, clear end-times boxes in which inspires people to love the scheme more than the “schemer.” For example, I think Christ would rather people read His Word than read the “Left Behind” series. By all means read the books if you have time and like fiction, but don’t read it to get your theology nor at the expense of reading the Bible. Rose, I know you understand this, but there are many who do not.
Make sense?
BTW. I think the word “generation” has an “already/not yet” intention. This principle is scattered throughout the Bible and seen clearly from the Olivet Discourse since there are things that have already happened (people scattering from Jerusalem and the Temple’s destruction), and other things that have not (the sun will be darkened, the moon not giving it’s light, stars falling, etc.). Just as types and shadows have a literal expression within Old Testament writings, they have an extended, “deeper” fulfillment in the Life of Christ.
Actually, my comments were meant to bring out the various viewpoints, because I, too, was taught a pre-trib eschatological viewpoint, but do not believe that the Bible supports that anywhere (even if the church is no longer mentioned in after Rev. 3).
The reason I am not a fan of the Left Behind series is because it contains flawed teaching (knowing of and rejecting Jesus Christ and able to come to Christ after the rapture I believe opposes Paul’s explanation in 2 Thess. 2:9 – 12).
I have enjoyed talking to Ken about various things, and have never found our differences to be threatening. I enjoy understanding why people believe as they do, so I am piqued to find out Ken’s view of Rev. 20.
I believe that premillenialism does not require a pre-trib viewpoint nor a quiet rapture. I agree that Jesus comes from heaven in judgment, and do not understand where premillenialism would contradict the purpose of Jesus’ return to earth during the Tribulation.
Ken,perhaps an understanding of your viewpoint of Rev 20 would help me understand your comment (please include your understanding of the first resurrection and the last resurrection). Additionally, I see the millenial reign as another nail in the coffin of man’s inherrent goodness that occurs after the Tribulation, and see the last three chapters of the Bible reflecting/mirroring the first three in Genesis.
Dan, Ken, and Matt thanks for your comments. I guess I have interpreted the generation to mean that those who see all these things happening can be sure the end is near (not to believe the Lord is still a long way off), and does not refer to the generation present while Jesus was detailing the signs of the end of the age.
It is nice that we don’t have to have all this figured out, but I do believe dialogue helps us to seek truth not just for our knowledge but to walk in wisdom and, more importantly, with Wisdom.
Hey Dan, the remainder of this ‘discussion’ can be found under ‘Revelation 20’ on Ken’s blog.