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The Eschatology of Jehovah's Witnesses is central to their religious beliefs. They believe that Jesus Christ has been ruling as king since 1914, and that in 1918 , all religions were found wanting so that in 1919 Jehovah's Witnesses were selected to be the only true religion. CURRENT BELIEFS There are three major events within the eschatology of Jehovah's Witnesses. This reflects what Jehovah's Witnesses currently teach and believe. Presence of Christ Jesus Jehovah's Witnesses currently believe that Christ Jesus has been ruling as king invisibly since October 1914. Jehovah's Witnesses distinguish the Greek word ''parousia'', often translated "coming" as being more accurately understood as "presence". Sign of Last Days Jehovah's Witnesses teach that since Satan's alleged expulsion in 1914 to the Earth, humanity has been living in a period of intense increased trouble known as "the last days". War, disease, famine, earthquakes, lack of love, the progressive degeneration of morality worlwide, and the preaching work done by Jehovah's Witnesses are said to mark these "last days" (Matt. 24, Luke 21:7-13). Events that are typically used to demonstrate these beliefs are the fighting of World War I in August 1914, the outbreak of Spanish Flu in May 1918, the onset of World War II in 1939, and more recently, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 . Judgment of Religion and Selection of True Followers Jehovah's Witnesses believe 1918 to be the time when Christ Jesus judged all world religions. They teach that after a period of 18 months, among all groups and religions, there was found only one that was humbly doing the will of Christ. Jehovah's Witnesses claim the "Bible Students" who later became known as "Jehovah's Witnesses" in 1931 (See History Of Jehovah's Witnesses ) are that one unique group. HISTORY OF ESCHATOLOGY
Throughout its history, the eschatology of Jehovah's Witness has undergone many changes. The Watch Tower Society has spoken with divine assurance of their prophetic interpretations. Regarding the eschatology they held to in the early 1900s, the ''Watchtower'' said: "It is on the basis of such and so many correspondences-in accordance with the soundest laws known to science that we affirm that, Scripturally, scientifically, and historically, present-truth chronology is correct beyond a doubt. Its reliability has been abundantly confirmed by the dates and events of 1874, 1914, and 1918. Present-truth chronology is a secure basis on which the consecrated child of God may endeavor to search out things to come."''The Watchtower'', 15 June 1922, p. 187. "This chronology is not of man, but of God. Being of divine origin and divinely corroborated, present-truth chronology stands in a class by itself, absolutely and unqualifiedly correct.""This chronology is not of man, but of God. Being of divine origin and divinely corroborated, present-truth chronology stands in a class by itself, absolutely and unqualifiedly correct....", ''The Watchtower'', July 15 1922. Most of that eschatology and its accompanying Chronology has been discarded in reaction to the failure of specific dates. Currently they teach that modern events correspond to Biblical prophecies, however, they do not predict a specific year for Armageddon to occur. The Witnesses still rely on their understanding of Bible chronology for establishing the significance of the year 1914. 1847-1965 The Second Adventist s affiliated with Nelson H. Barbour expected a visible and dramatic return of Christ in 1873, and later in 1874. They agreed with other Adventist groups that the " Time Of The End " (also called the "last days") had started in 1799 ."The indisputable facts, therefore, show that the "time of the end" began in 1799; that the Lord's second presence began in 1874." ''Watch Tower'' March 1 1922 Soon after the 1874 disappointment, Barbour accepted the idea that Christ had actually returned to the earth in 1874, but invisibly. 1874 was considered the end of 6,000 years of human history and the beginning of judgment by Christ. Charles Taze Russell and the group that later was known as Bible Students accepted these views from Barbour. Russell taught that while Jesus was invisibly present here on earth, he was made its King in 1878. Rejected by God in 1878 was the "nominal Church" (considered to be "Babylon the Great")."This spuing out, or casting off, of the nominal church as an organization in 1878, we then understood, and still proclaim, to be the date of the commencement of Babylon's fall..."—''Zion's Watch Tower'', April 1883. ''Reprints'' pp. 474-5.Russell also taught that in 1878 Christ resurrected all the "dead in Christ" as spirit beings to be with him here on the earth awaiting a future glorification. (As each of the remainder of the 144,000 would die after 1878, Christ would resurrect them as spirit beings to join those already resurrected.) Together with Christ here on earth, these invisible resurrected spirit beings were said to be engaged in directing a harvest work gathering the remainder of those with the heavenly calling.''Thy Kingdom Come'' (1890), Volume 3 of ''Studies in the Scriptures'', p. 305-308.This harvest would run from 1874-1914, and the culmination of Armageddon would occur in 1914 preceded by the gathering of all the saints (both resurrected and living) to heaven.A list of direct quotes from Watch Tower articles on their original beliefs on what the year 1914 held for humanity, unaltered, with date references, publication, and page numbers etc. http://www.reexamine.org/quotes/1914.htm Typical examples of the Watchtower's judgemental attitude are found in the Watch Tower Society's book publication ''The Finished Mystery'' (SS-7), 1917 edition: "Also, in the year 1918, when God destroys the churches wholesale and the church members by millions, it shall be that any that escape shall come to the works of Pastor Russell to learn the meaning of the downfall of 'Christianity.'" ( Page 485 ) "The people who are the strength of Christendom shall be cut off in the brief but terribly eventful period beginning in 1918 A.D. A third part are 'burned with fire in the midst of the city.' Fire symbolizes destruction. . . .After 1918 the people supporting churchianity will cease to be its supporters, be destroyed as adherents, by the spiritual pestilence of errors abroad, and by the famine of the Word of God among them." (Pages 398, 399) From 1925-1933, the Watchtower Society radically changed their beliefs after the failure of these eschatological expectations.Documentations of these changes can be found on pages 3-37 of ''Historical Idealism and Jehovah's Witnesses,'' by Thomas Daniels, available online at: http://www.catholic-forum.com/members/popestleo/Historical%20Idealism%20and%20Jehovahs%20Witnesses.pdf . In 1925, the ''Watch Tower'' explained a major change that Christ had been enthroned as King in heaven in the year 1914 instead of 1878."A real milestone was reached, therefore, in 1925, when ''The Watch Tower'' of March 1 featured the article "Birth of the Nation."...The article set forth evidence that the Messianic Kingdom had been born—established—in 1914, that Christ had then begun to rule on his heavenly throne, and that thereafter Satan had been hurled from heaven down to the vicinity of the earth."''Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom'', pp. 138-9. The article "Birth of a Nation" can be read on pp. 67-74 of the March 1, 1925 ''Watchtower'' .1874 was retained as the time of Christ's invisible return until the early 1930s.''The Harp of God'' (both the 1921 and 1927 editions) affirmed on page 231 that "the Lord’s second presence dates from 1874." The March 1 1922 ''Watch Tower'' and pages 65-66 of the book ''Prophecy'' (published in 1928) reiterated this position. However, by 1930 some vagueness can be seen. For example, the October 15 1930 ''Watch Tower'', page 308 says the "second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ dates from about A.D. 1875." The November 1 1932 ''Watch Tower'', page 325 is even less precise, stating that from "approximately 1875 forward" Christ was preparing the way.But, Christ's Second Advent was now explained not as a return to the earth but as a "turning of attention" to the earth with Christ remaining in heaven."Presence—Literal or Symbolic?" in ''A People For His Name: A History of Jehovah's Witnesses and an Evaluation'', by Timothy White, pp. 223-224.By 1933, it was clearly taught that Christ had returned invisibly in 1914 and the "last days" had also begun then."The year 1914, therefore, marks the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of glory."—December 1 1933 ''Watch Tower'', p. 362A 1927 ''Watch Tower'' had transferred the 1878 resurrection date to 1918."In June, 1927, The Watch Tower published the proof from the Scriptures that those who thus died faithful were asleep in death until the coming of the Lord to his temple in 1918." ''Light, Book One'', (1930), p. 78.However, it was now held these were raised as spirit creatures to heavenly life to be with Christ there.''Light, Book One'', p. 333The judgment on Babylon changed from 1878 to 1919 with the publication of the book ''Light'' in 1930.''Light, Book One'', p. 318-319.These are the current teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses regarding 1914,1918 and 1919. Witnesses no longer consider the dates 1799, 1874 and 1878 to have any eschatological significance. The idea that the "great tribulation" had begun in 1914 and was "cut short" in 1918 to be resumed at Armageddon was dropped in 1969.September 1 1969 ''Watchtower'', p. 521. 1915"We consider it an established truth, that the final end of the kingdoms of this world, and the full establishment of the kingdom of God will be accomplished by A.D. 1915. At that time the prayer of the church, ever since her Lord took his departure, - 'Thy kingdom come' - will be answered; and under its wise and just administration, the whole earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord"—''The Time is at Hand'', 1915 ed., p. 99 (Other editions are changed), 1918"Also in the year 1918, when God destroys the churches and the church members by millions it shall be that any that escape shall come to the works of Pastor Russell to learn the meaning of the downfall of 'Christianity.'"--''The Finished Mystery'', Volume 7 of ''Studies in the Scriptures'', 1917, p. 485 (Post 1918 editions have changed the text). Scan available at: http://www.jwfiles.com/scans/1917V7p485.htm , 1920"And the mountains were not found. Even the republics will disappear in the fall of 1920. And the mountains were not found. Every kingdom of earth will pass away, be swallowed up in anarchy." ''The Finished Mystery'', 1917 edition, p. 258. (This date is changed in later editions.), and 1925 were other years for which predictions were made. The resurrection of "princes" would be resurrected before Armageddon was dropped.''Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose'' (1959), p. 252 In the mid 1930s and early 1940s, the organization published material again encouraging a strong emphasis on the urgent nearness of Armageddon. In 1935 Armageddon was described as a "Universal war is absolutely certain to come and that soon, and no power can stop it. . . during the few remaining months until the breaking of that universal cataclysm" J.F.Rutherford: Universal War Near, 1935Later in 1941 after Armageddon had failed to materialise similar wording was used: "for most effective work in the remaining months before Armageddon" The ''Watchtower'' 15 September 1941 p.288 The rhetoric was stepped up in 1942 with "Now, with Armageddon immediately before us, it is a matter of life or destruction" The ''Watchtower'' April 1942 p.139Gradually after all these dates failed to produce anything, a new date was found, this time 1975. Starting in 1938, Witnesses were discouraged from marrying and raising children due to the nearness of Armageddon."If in obedience to the divine command the Jonadabs or great multitude will marry and rear children after Armageddon, would it not be Scripturally proper for them to begin doing so immediately before Armageddon? and should the Jonadabs now be encouraged to marry and rear children? No, is the answer, supported by the Scriptures." November 1 1938 ''Watchtower'', p. 323. Scan available at: http://www.davidgladden.com/jw/Docs/MARRIAGE.pdf Young Witnesses were counselled: "It is better and wiser for those of the Lord's 'other sheep' who hope to survive Armageddon and be given the divine mandate to fill the earth with a righteous offspring to defer matters until after the tribulation and destruction of Armageddon is past."''1943 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses'', Daily Texts and Comments for November 7.In 1951, the ''Watchtower'' changed this advice and came out in defense of marriage.See the article "In Defense of Marriage" in the April 15 1951 ''Watchtower'', p. 227. College or university education was discouraged for young Witnesses for many years because of the "little time left."“Many schools now have student counselors who encourage one to pursue higher education after high school, to pursue a career with a future in this system of things. Do not be influenced by them. Do not let them ‘brainwash’ you with the Devil's propaganda to get ahead, to make something of yourself in this world. The world has very little time left! Any ‘future’ this world offers is no future!"--''The Watchtower'', March 15 1969, p. 171.Instead, Witness youths were encouraged to devote themselves in full-time ministry. This policy was moderated in 1992"If Christian parents responsibly decide to provide their children with further education after high school, that is their prerogative."--November 1 1992 ''Watchtower'', pp. 19-20.but a 2005 ''Watchtower'' again discouraged college education.See article, "Parents--What Future Do You Want For Your Children?" in the October 1 2005 ''Watchtower''. 1966-1975 During the 1960s and early 1970s, many Witnesses were stimulated by articles in their literature A comprehensive list of quotes from Watch Tower 1975 articles, unaltered with date references, publication, and page numbers etc. http://www.reexamine.org/quotes/1975.htm and further encouraged by speakers at their assemblies prior to 1975, to believe that Armageddon and Christ's thousand-year millennial reign would begin by 1975. Although the views of Armageddon and Christ's millennium beginning in 1975 were never fully or explicitly supported by the Watch Tower Society, many in the organizations' writing department, as well as several leading WitnessesPublic Address by District Overseer Charles Sunutko in Spring 1967 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Available at http://www.reexamine.org/quotes/ServingWithEverlastingLifeInView.htm in transcript and audio formats. , Elders, and presiding overseers in the organization, heavily suggested that Christ's millennial reign over earth would begin by 1975. One outstanding example is a lectureSound clip of unknown talk by Governing Body Member Fred Franz. http://www.freeminds.org/media/fredfranz75an.html . by then Vice-President Fred Franz in early 1975 pin-pointing after sundown on September 5 1975 as the end of 6,000 years and saying all the prophecies "could happen" by then, while admitting that looked improbable.''Crisis of Conscience'', Raymond Franz p. 249. Scan available at http://users.volja.net/izobcenec4/coc/9.pdf While Witnesses have always been encouraged to increase the preaching work, and avoid secular life goals or careers, this emphasis was especially strong prior to 1975. Some Witnesses gave up good jobs, Scanned text discouraging higher education from the Watch Tower 22 May 1969, p.15 http://www.jwfiles.com/scans/AW5-22-69p15.htm college, scholarships, and some imprudently sold their houses in the hopeful expectation that God's Kingdom would literally be established on earth in 1975 after the biblical Armageddon, encouraged by the Watch Tower Society: "Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world's end.-1 John 2:17." Scanned text from the Watch Tower Society's ''Kingdom Ministry'' monthly publication, article "How Are You Using Your Life?", May 1974, p.3. http://www.jwfiles.com/scans/KM5-1974p3.htm It is worth noting that similar language persists in publications of Jehovah's Witnesses, who still hold that the time remaining in the present system is relatively short, and that having an active share in the preaching work is the best use of a believer's time. Some Jehovah's Witnesses irresponsibly ran up debt believing they would not to have to pay it back, and some unwisely spent their life savings believing that the 1975 date was a certain and unchangeable fact due to the many encouraging Watch Tower articles.List of quoted Watch Tower 1975 articles, unaltered with date references, publication, and page numbers etc, with some critical commentary. http://www.freeminds.org/history/all1975.htm In spite of the Watch Tower Society's previous admonition that Witnesses should let nothing cause them to tire and give out''The Watchtower'' 15 August 1968, p. 501, there were many who left the organization (or became inactive) due to the disappointment of Armageddon not coming in 1975, although the majority remained. The large numbers leaving or becoming inactive were seen as baptisms continued at over 100,000 per year (around 200,000 in 1976). However, the organization still continued to lose more members than it gained for several years after 1975, until 1979 when numbers started to recover and increase again. In 1979, in a lecture entitled "Choosing the Best Way of Life", the Society acknowledged responsibility for the some of the disappointment around 1975.1980 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, p. 30 In 1980, in an article based upon that talk, the following statement appeared: "There were statements made then, and thereafter, stressing that this was only a possibility. Unfortunately, however, along with such cautionary information, there were other statements published that implied that such realization of hopes by that year was more of a probability than a mere possibility. It is to be regretted that these latter statements apparently overshadowed the cautionary ones and contributed to a build up of the expectation already initiated."5In modern times such eagerness, commendable in itself, has led to attempts at setting dates for the desired liberation from the suffering and troubles that are the lot of persons throughout the earth. With the appearance of the book ''Life Everlasting-in Freedom of the Sons of God'', and its comments as to how appropriate it would be for the millennial reign of Christ to parallel the seventh millennium of man’s existence, considerable expectation was aroused regarding the year 1975. There were statements made then, and thereafter, stressing that this was only a possibility. Unfortunately, however, along with such cautionary information, there were other statements published that implied that such realization of hopes by that year was more of a probability than a mere possibility. It is to be regretted that these latter statements apparently overshadowed the cautionary ones and contributed to a buildup of the expectation already initiated. - Choosing the Best Way of Life ''The Watchtower'' March 15 1980, p. 17. 1976- In 1995 changes regarding their interpretation of the statement "this generation" made by JesusMatthew 24:34 were published. During the previous four decades, Jehovah's Witnesses had taught that the generation which saw the events of 1914, which would not die before Armageddon came, but were described as those who would " still be alive to see the end of this wicked system "''You Can Live Forever In Paradise On Earth'', published 1982, rev. 1989, p154or "those who are living at the given period"."He shows the beginning of this time and how the troubles increase, and mentions some of the sorrows to fall on the world, during the time of trouble. The length of time is indicated by him when he said, 'Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.' (Matt. 24:34, NW) The actual meaning of these words is, beyond question, that which takes a 'generation' in the ordinary sense, as at Mark 8:12 and Acts 13:36, or for those who are living at the given period. So it was on 'this generation' that the accumulated judgments were to fall. (Matt. 23:36) This therefore means that from 1914 a generation shall not pass till all is fulfilled, and amidst a great time of trouble. Vision of the 'Time of the End', ''The Watchtower'', July 1951, p. 404 The Watch Tower Society taught that a "generation" can be a literal term encompassing about 70 to 80 years in length. Watchtower 1 December 1968 p.715 'A generation, according to Psalm 90:10, is from seventy to eighty years. The generation that witnessed the end of the Gentile Times in 1914 does not have many more years left; 'Watchtower 15 December 1967 p.751 'the expression "this generation" was used by Jesus to mark a very limited period of time, the life-span of members of a generation of people living during the time that certain epoch-making events occurred. According to Psalm 90:10, that life-span could be of seventy years or even of eighty years.'They also understood that the term “generation” can mean, “a class of persons,... characterized by certain qualities or conditions”, although this definition was not used to apply to Jesus’ words. Insight of the Scriptures Vol 1 p. 917 Generation The Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses taught that "before the 1914 generation completely dies out, God's judgment must be executed" Watchtower 1 May 1985 p.4 and "We also know that the 1914 generation is well into the evening of its existence, thus allowing only little time for this prophecy yet to be fulfilled. But we also know—for this we have Jesus' own promise—that "this generation will ''by no means'' pass away until all these things happen." Watchtower 1 May 1985 p.7; Watchtower 15 February 1986 pp.5-6; Watchtower 1 October 1988 p.7; Watchtower 1 May 1992 pp.6-7 As the generation of 1914 dwindled in numbers, the Governing Body used this for many decades as evidence that the end was "very near and immediately impending." Former 2006 . The generation of 1914 doctrine was finally discarded when the youngest had reached 80 years of age. In 1995, a new interpretation of "this generation" was then published in ''The Watchtower''. Rather than a literal lifespan of 70-80 years as previously taught, the understanding of Jesus' term "generation" was changed to “a class of persons,... characterized by certain qualities or conditions” and thus an unspecified amount of time. "Saved From a 'Wicked Generation'", ''The Watchtower'' ( November 1 ) 1995, pp. 10-15. This class of persons are described as "the peoples of earth who see the sign of Christ's presence but fail to mend their ways.""A Time To Keep Awake", ''The Watchtower'' ( November 1 )1995 p. 19 par. 12, and p. 20 par. 15. However, Jehovah's Witnesses still believe that Armageddon is imminent. That same article continued, "Does our more precise viewpoint on 'this generation' mean that Armageddon is further away than we had thought? Not at all!" The Watch Tower Society correspondingly changed the wording in the stated purpose of '' Awake! '' magazine from "the Creator's promise of a peaceful and secure new world before the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away" to "the Creator's promise of a peaceful and secure new world that is about to replace the present, wicked lawless system of things." For further discussion of the " End Of The World ", see Doctrines Of Jehovah's Witnesses#Salvation . ISSUES There are controversial issues in the history of the eschatology of Jehovah's Witnesses. Fall of Jerusalem The date 1914 is based on the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 607 BC . Scholars place the destruction to 586 BC / 587 BC , twenty years later. In ''The Gentile Times Reconsidered: Chronology & Christ's Return'' by Carl O. JonssonThe Gentile Times Reconsidered: Chronology & Christ's Return by Carl O. Jonsson. A detailed discussion of the cornerstone belief that the Gentile Times began with the fall of Jerusalem in 607 B.C. Jonsson considers the origin of this belief and examines several lines of evidence refuting the starting date of 607 B.C. and the methodology for deriving it. ISBN 0914675060 Publisher: Commentary Press (July, 1998, Fourth edition 2004), he presents 18 lines of evidence to support the traditional view of neo-Babylonian chronology. He accuses the Watchtower of deliberately misquoting sources in an effort to bolster their position. Witnesses believe that the year 607 BC is critical in two other prophetic interpretations. First, the destruction of Jerusalem for a seventy year time span.Jeremiah 29:10;25:11,12 Daniel 9:2 Second, the arrival of Christ in kingly power coincides with the 2,520 year period from October 607 BC to October 1914 AD. ''Pay Attention to Daniel's Prophecy!'' chap. 6 par. 25-29 REFERENCES |
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