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The Development of Watch Tower Chronology

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THIS IS MY BEST ATTEMPT AT TRACING THE ORIGINS of Watch Tower’s end-time predictions. Please note, this may be subject to change. Pinning down what dates Watch Tower has published is difficult because there have been so many flip-flops over the years!

William Miller, Baptist preacher and founder of Millerism taught:

  • Jesus’ second advent (second coming) would occur visibly on earth in 1843/1844. This was the start of Second Adventism.
  • The saints would be raptured to heaven in 1843/1844.

These predictions failed, resulting in what was called “The Great Disappointment” of 1844. After 1844, the Millerite movement split up and was continued by a number of groups that held different doctrines from one another. These groups, stemming from their common Millerite ancestor, became known collectively as the Adventist movement.

In 1871, Nelson H Barbour, an Adventist and disappointed ex-Millerite taught:

  • The “last days” began in 1799, the same as other Adventists of the time.
  • Jesus’ second advent (second coming) would occur visibly on earth in 1873/1874 (30 years from 1843/1844). I am unsure why he added 30 years to Miller’s failed date of 1843/1844, but it resulted in “The Disappointment” of 1874.

By 1874, Barbour was teaching:

  • Jesus’ second advent had occurred on earth in 1874, but that his presence was invisible.
  • Jesus would be enthroned as king of God’s kingdom in 1878.
  • The living saints would be raptured (to heaven?) in 1878.
  • The great tribulation would last from 1874 to 1914.
  • The Jews would return to Palestine in 1881.
  • God’s kingdom would be installed on earth between 1881 and 1914.
  • The “gentile times” would end in 1914. This is the only event-date combination that has been retained by Watch Tower down to modern times.
  • The millennial reign of Christ would begin in 1914.

Charles Taze Russell became associated with Barbour in 1876 and accepted all of Barbour’s eschatological understandings.

In 1877, Russell and Barbour jointly taught:

  • Jesus’ second advent had occurred on earth in 1874, but his presence was invisible.
  • 6000 years of human history ended in 1874, and Jesus’ judgement then began. I am unsure if this also refers to his millennial reign.
  • Jesus would be enthroned as king of God’s kingdom in 1878.
  • The saints “asleep in Christ” (ie. dead) had been resurrected in 1875. I am unsure whether they were thought to have been resurrected as spirits on earth (where Jesus was) or to heaven.
  • The living saints would be raptured (not sure where to) in 1878. When this didn’t happen the date was changed to 1881 by Russell.
  • The Jews would return to Palestine in 1881.
  • God’s kingdom would be installed on earth between 1881 and 1914.
  • The “great tribulation” had been underway since 1874 and would culminate in Armageddon in 1914. I am unsure what events occurring in 1874 led Barbour and Russell to believe they were living in the “great tribulation”.
  • The “gentile times” would end in 1914.

In 1879, Russell split from Barbour and began to teach:

  • The “last days” began in 1799.
  • The “great tribulation” had been underway since 1874 and would continue until 1914.
  • Jesus had returned invisibly to the earth in 1874.
  • Jesus had been enthroned as king of God’s kingdom while on earth in 1878.
  • The saints “asleep in Christ” had been resurrected as spirits to the earth in 1878, awaiting their future glorification to heaven in 1881, then before the end of 1910, and finally before the end of 1914.
  • Saints who died between 1878 and 1881 would be immediately resurrected as spirits to the earth, awaiting their future glorification to heaven in 1881, then before the end of 1910, and finally before the end of 1914.
  • The rapture of the living saints would occur in 1881, then before the end of 1910, and finally before the end of 1914.
  • The “gentile times” would end in 1914. In October 1914, Russell announced to the Bethel family that “the gentile times have ended—their kings have had their day”.
  • Armageddon would occur (and be completed) in 1914.
  • The millennial reign of Jesus would be underway by 1915.

Shortly before his death in 1916, despite Armageddon and the millennial reign not coming to pass, Russell wrote: “We believe that the dates have proven to be quite right. We believe that Gentile Times have ended… The Lord did not say that the Church would all be glorified by 1914. We merely inferred it, and, evidently, erred.” Presumably, he believed the First World War, then underway, was somehow related to Armageddon.

At the time of Russell’s death in 1916, the Bible Students believed:

  • The “last days” began in 1799.
  • The “great tribulation” had been underway since 1874, and presumably had not ended in 1914 since they were in the middle of the First World War at the time! (Or had they now adopted the idea that the “great tribulation” had begun in 1914?)
  • Jesus had returned invisibly to the earth in 1874.
  • Jesus had been enthroned as king of God’s kingdom while on earth in 1878.
  • The saints “asleep in Christ” had been resurrected as spirits to the earth in 1878, awaiting their future glorification to heaven any time soon. Meanwhile, they were involved in the “harvest work” of gathering other saints into Christ.
  • Saints who had died since 1878 had been resurrected as spirits to the earth, awaiting their future glorification to heaven any time soon. These too were involved in the “harvest work”.
  • The rapture of the living saints would occur any time soon.
  • The “gentile times” had ended in 1914.
  • Armageddon, followed by the millennial reign of Jesus, would occur any time soon—remember it was the middle of the First World War so this would have fueled anticipation.

Following Russel’s death, Joseph Franklin Rutherford began making changes.

In 1916, Rutherford taught:

  • The rapture and glorification of the saints to heaven was now predicted for 1918. This was further clarified in 1927.

By 1919, Rutherford taught:

  • The earthly resurrection of the “faithful worthies” would begin in 1925. This prediction failed miserably.
  • The millennial reign of Jesus would begin in 1925 and people alive then would live forever on earth, aka “Millions Now Living Will Never Die”.

In 1920, Rutherford taught:

  • Jesus had been enthroned as king in 1914 (not 1878).

In 1927, Rutherford taught:

  • The dead saints had been transferred directly to heaven in 1918, ie. they did not spend any time as resurrected spirits on earth.
  • The living saints who died since 1918 were also transferred directly to heaven.

In 1929, Rutherford taught:

  • The “last days” had begun in 1914 (not 1799).
  • Beth Sarim (House of Princes) was built for the soon-to-be returning “faithful worthies” (date now unknown).

In 1930, Rutherford taught:

  • Jesus’ presence had begun in 1914 (not 1874) and rather than returning to earth invisibly he was now said to have “turned his attention” to the earth, while remaining in heaven.

Throughout the 1960s Watch Tower taught:

  • 6000 years of human history would end in 1975.
  • The “great tribulation” had begun in 1914 with the First World War, was “cut short” in 1918 with the end of the war and, would resume with Armageddon.
  • Armageddon would occur in 1975 (implied).
  • The millennial reign of Jesus would start in 1975 (implied).

In 1969, the “great tribulation” was moved to a future time (date unknown).

In 1989 Watch Tower taught:

  • The preaching work would end “within our twentieth century”, ie. by December 31, 2000 (not 1999 as I have previously stated).
  • The millennial reign of Jesus would begin by January 1, 2001 (implied).

Nowadays, Watch Tower teaches:

  • The “gentile times” ended in 1914, as Russell originally taught and announced in October 1914.
  • The “last days” began in 1914, as Rutherford taught from 1928.
  • Jesus’ invisible presence began in 1914, as Rutherford taught from 1928.
  • Jesus was enthroned as king of God’s kingdom in 1914, as Rutherford taught from 1920.
  • Satan was thrown out of heaven and confined to the earth around 1914. This was previously thought to be sometime between 1914 and 1918. I am unsure when this was changed.
  • The resurrection of anointed ones directly to heaven began in 1918, as Rutherford taught from 1927.
  • The governing body was appointed as the “faithful and discreet slave” in 1919. Prior to 2012, the “faithful and discreet slave” was believed to be all anointed Christians on earth since Pentecost 33 AD, including the apostles and Charles Taze Russell. In jettisoning Russell, they also fired the apostles!
  • Anointed ones who die before Armageddon are instantly resurrected to heaven, as Rutherford taught since 1927.
  • The “great tribulation” is a future event culminating in Armageddon (date unknown, but the “overlapping generations” teaching limits it to 2074 at the latest!)
  • At some point during the “great tribulation”, but before Armageddon, living anointed ones will be raptured, although they don’t use the word “rapture”. This has been the understanding since 20__.

What I believe the Bible teaches:

  • The “great tribulation” is a future event. This may correspond with the hurling down of Satan to the earth (date unknown).
  • The outbreak of the “great tribulation” will mark the beginning of the “last days” (date unknown).
  • Jesus’ second coming (presence) will be a visible event occurring on the earth during the “great tribulation”, but before Armageddon (date unknown).
  • At Jesus’ second coming he will pronounce all true Christians “faithful and discreet” (date unknown). The governing body has acted presumptuously claiming (since 2012) that they alone are the “faithful and discreet slave”.
  • At Jesus’ second coming, the dead saints (anointed) will be resurrected as spirits to the earth (date unknown).
  • At Jesus’ second coming, the living saints (anointed) will be “changed” into spirits on the earth (date unknown).
  • At Jesus’ second coming, all saints (resurrected and changed) will be gathered to him (date unknown).
  • After being gathered, all glorified saints will take part in Armageddon with Jesus (date unknown).
  • Satan will be abyssed for 1000 years.
  • All glorified saints will rule with Jesus “upon the earth” for 1000 years (date unknown).

“It does not belong to you to get knowledge of the times or seasons which the Father has placed in his own jurisdiction.”—Acts 1:7

An alternative, spiritual interpretation:

While I no longer believe the Bible is, in its entirety, the inspired, inerrant “word of God”, I do think some of its writers were spiritual persons who had a connection with Source—the eternal, unchangeable, causal Universal Consciousness underlying “all that is”. I also believe that Jesus was a spiritually enlightened person who was connected to Source. As such, I believe the Bible, and especially Jesus’ teachings, contain certain, profound Universal truths that a spiritual person can intuitively find meaning in, as follows:

  • Jesus’ presence (second coming) is a spiritual connection to Source that a person experiences within themself when he or she is “born again”, ie. they are inhabited by the “holy spirit” (a Universal force emanating from Source) and achieve Christ Consciousness through prayer and/or meditation. I believe this is what I experienced in 2004 when, as a Jehovah’s Witness, I identified as one of the “anointed”. I do not believe this connection is limited to 144,000 Christians.
  • The “last days” and “great tribulation” occurred in 70 AD with the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. Christians who “fled to the mountains” were saved. Beyond this, the “last days” and “great tribulation” have no further application for us today.
  • Revelation’s “Armageddon” and the hurling down (or abyssing) of Satan is allegorical of the victory of “good” over “evil” in a spiritual person’s life.
  • At death, “good” (desirable) conscious experiences return to Source on an eternal (heavenly/spiritual) plane while “bad” (undesirable) conscious experiences persist as “evil spirits”, ie. negative frequencies on a temporal (physical) plane.

Further reading