Two items appear below:
1 Jehovah's Witness Dates;
2 JWs Dates list Still Expanding.
JEHOVAH'S WITNESS DATES
B Stett (Assisted by B J Kotwall)
(Investigator 56, 1997 September)
We can categorize the false predictions published in Jehovah's Witness literature into four categories of falseness:
1 Predictions with no date specified but which almost certainly will not be fulfilled.For example:
Some day, a not distant day, the clergy will awaken to the fact that the Lord has come, and that the second advent has been an accomplished fact since 1874; and then they will echo the question one to another, "Why are we the last to welcome back the King?"(The Watchtower 1922 June 15 p.181)Since the J Ws themselves discarded the 1874 date in the 1930s it is virtually certain that "the clergy" will NOT "awaken to the fact that ...the second advent has been an accomplished fact since 1874".
2 Predictions about things which will "never" or not happen but which have indeed happened.For example:
It therefore follows and the Scriptures conclusively prove that the nation of Israel or Jews will never be restored as a nation ...Since Israel was restored in 1948 "never" lasted 9 years and was obviously false.
(Consolation Australian edition 1939 November 29 p.17)
3 Predictions that the J W preaching is almost completed or the "time of the end" is almost over. These become false when the time period after the statement exceeds the time prior to it.For example:
We also know that the 1914 generation is well into the evening of its existence, thus allowing for only a little time... (The Watchtower 1985 5/1 p. 7)This was written 71 years after 1914 and would be a false prophecy if this world lasted anywhere near 71 years beyond 1985.The problem is that statements implying that most of the time as measured from 1914 (or 1918 or 1922) is over were made in the 1930s! Such statements therefore became false prophecies in the 1940s or 1950s!
For example:
The work of giving testimony has been progressing during the past ten years...and is almost done.
(Good News 1932 p. 60)
4 Predictions for specific dates.The following list of prophetic dates may not be exhaustive. On some dates a great many prophecies failed simultaneously, on others only one or two.
No Jehovah's Witness prophecy for any date has ever been fulfilled. Some prophecies with their accompanying date were repeated often and others only once or twice. The following list limits itself to one or two quotes for each date:
LIST OF QUOTES
1874 I know of three people who sat all day long with others, watching, I think it was the 2nd of October, 1874, right in Chicago, in their ascension robes, looking up into the sky for Jesus to come and take them away. But the sun went down and Jesus did not come... I know one dear old sister who was there, old Sister Johnson of Los Angeles, she is 91years old. In 1874 she sat here in this city with her ascension robes on, and Jesus did not come. She is Norwegian. She said, in broken language, I know it was time for Jesus to come, but he did not come, and I did not know what to make of it.
(Souvenir Notes Bible Students Conventions 1913, p. 102)1878 Based on Paul's statement at 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52 it had been expected ‘that at some time the living saints would be suddenly and miraculously caught away bodily, thenceforth to be for ever with the Lord.' Believing this would take place in 1878, some were disappointed because nothing occurred that they could see.
(Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose 1959, p.19)1881 OUR CHANGE SEEMS DUE. We do not know the day or the hour, but expect it during 1881, possibly near the autumn...
(Zion's Watchtower Reprints 1881, Feb. p. 191)1906 A great storm is near at hand. Though one may not know exactly when it will break forth, it seems reasonable to suppose it cannot be more than twelve of fourteen years yet future.
(Zion's Watchtower 1893, June p. 194)1910 ...but a trouble chiefly upon the church may be expected about 1910 A.D.
(Studies in the Scriptures Volume 3, 1891, p. 364)The culmination of the trouble in October, 1914, is clearly marked in the Scriptures; and we are bound therefore to expect a beginning of that severe trouble not later than 1910; — with severe spasms between now and then.
(Watchtower Reprints 1901, September 15, p. 2876)1912 According to our expectation the stress of the great time of trouble will be on us soon, somewhere between 1910 and 1912 – culminating with the end of the "Times of the Gentiles," October, 1914.
(Studies in the Scriptures Volume 6, 1904, p. 579)1914 And with the end of A.D. 1914, what God calls Babylon, and which men call Christendom, will have passed away, as already shown from prophecy.
(Studies in the Scriptures Volume 3, 1891, p. 153)1915 Be not surprised then, when in subsequent chapters we present proofs that the setting up of the Kingdom of God is already begun, that it is due to begin the exercise of power in A.D. 1878, and that the ‘battle of the great day of God Almighty' (Rev. 16:14) which will end in A.D. 1915, with the complete overthrow of earth's present rulership, is already commenced.
(Studies in the Scriptures Volume 2, 1889, p. 101)1916/1917 The present great war is the beginning of the Armageddon of the Scriptures.
(Pastor Russell's Sermons 1916, p. 676)1918 In one short year, 1917-1918, the vast and complicated system of sectarianism reaches its zenith of power, only to be suddenly dashed into oblivion.
(The Finished Mystery 1917, p. 285)1920 The three days in which Pharoah's host pursued the Israelites into the wilderness represented the three years from 1917 to 1920 at which time all of Pharoah's messengers will be swallowed up in the sea of anarchy.
(The Finished Mystery 1917, p. 258)1921 It may be that the worldly nations will go down in the fall of 1921.
(Millions Now Living Will Never Die 1920, Australian edition p. 114)1924 …we might expect the harvest to end 50 years after 1874 or with the end of 1924.
(The Watch Tower 1924, January 1, p. 5)1925 Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and the faithful prophets of old...
(Millions Now Living Will Never Die 1920, Australian Edition pp. 91, 93, 101, 112-120)1926 Let us suppose that you are living after the Kingdom is established and the blessings have begun to flow out to the people in abundant measure. Of course it will take some time to get things in smoothly running order after the great stress between now and 1926. It may take ten years before you get your home all fixed up...
(The Way to Paradise 1924, p. 328)1928 So the generation now upon the earth is the generation that was on earth in 1878, and many of them must abide until God's favor is fully returned to the Jews, and the Kingdom set up. (Souvenir Notes Bible Students Conventions 1913, p. 235)
Compare:
Because the time has come for the fulfillment of these great truths, because the Lords kingdom is at hand, and because a generation of people exists upon the earth in ordinary times for fifty years or more, we are now able to confidently say there are millions of people...
(The Standard for the People 1926, p. 50)1935/1936 Suppose we should be wrong in the chronology and that the kingdom will not be fully set up in 1925. Suppose that we were ten years off, and it would be 1935 before restitution blessings began. Without a doubt there are now millions of people on the earth who will be living fifteen years from now; and we could with equal confidence say that ‘Millions Now Living will Never Die'. Whether it be 1925 or 1935, restitution blessings must soon begin...
(The Watch Tower 1920 October 15, p. 310)During the few remaining months until the breaking of that universal cataclysm the powers that rule the nations of the earth will continue to make treaties… (Universal War Near 1934, p. 27)
1942 Let everyone now who really loves the Lord...make the few remaining months the greatest witness yet given or possible.
(The Watchtower 1941, July 15, p. 222)Receiving the gift [the book Children], the marching children clasped it to them, not a toy or plaything for idle pleasure, but the Lord's provided instrument for most effective work in the remaining months before Armageddon.
(The Watchtower 1941 September 15, p. 288)1940s Those Jonadabs who now contemplate marriage, it would seem, would be better if they wait a few years, until the fiery storm of Armageddon is gone, and then to enter the marital relationship...
(Face the Facts 1938 p. 50)The book Children (1941) is about two J W teenagers who decide to postpone marriage for "only a few years" (pp. 281, 328 Australian edition) until after Armageddon. Delay of marriage and of child-bearing until after Armageddon was taught in the book as the "divine mandate".
1950 It does not seem unreasonable, therefore, to think that twenty-five years, possibly more, will pass before the awakening of the dead shall begin.
(The Watchtower 1925, February 15, p. 58)1950s? or 1960s? All the facts show that Armageddon is only a short time away, and that period much less than the length of a generation.
(Health and Life 1932, p. 24)Compare:
The average length of human life is now approximately forty years.
(ibid p. 20)1975 According to this trustworthy Bible chronology six thousand years from man's creation will end in the fall of 1975 C.E. How appropriate it would be for Jehovah God to make this coming seventh period of a thousand years a Sabbath rest and release... It would be most fitting on God's part... It would not be by mere chance or accident...
(Life Everlasting - In Freedom of the Sons of God 1966, pp. 28-29)Before 1976-1986 It is to be carefully noted that the youngest of those who saw with understanding the developing sign of the end of this system of things from its start in 1914 are well over 60 years of age! In fact, the greater part of the adult generation that experienced the start of the "last days" has already passed away in death.
(Awake! 1966 October 8, p. 18)Compare:
A generation according to Psalms 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. Luke 21:24, 32-36.
(The Watchtower 1968 December 1, p. 715)1970s But why is there reason to hope that this changeover may take place even within the present decade?
(Awake! 1971 October 8, p. 27, 28)1989 (Implied) The Hebrews...reckon seventy five years as one generation.
(Awake! 1988 April 8, p. 14)Within 20th century Shortly within our 20th century the 'battle in the day of Jehovah' will begin against the modern antitype of Jerusalem, Christendom.
(The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah – How? 1971, p. 216)Some of that 'generation' could survive until the end of the century. But there are many indications that 'the end' is much closer than that.
(The Watchtower 1984 March 1, p. 19)This generation The generation that saw the beginning of woes in 1914 would also see the end of Satan and his entire wicked system of things. It is to be carefully noted that the youngest of those who saw with understanding the developing sign of the end of this system of things from its start in 1914 are now well over sixty years of age.
(Awake! 1966 October 8, p. 18)
BRIEF REPORT
(Investgator Magazine No. 62 p. 58)JW DATES LIST STILL EXPANDING
Investigator No. 56 had a list of 26 dates on which J W prophecies failed with a quote for each date. We can now make that 27. The Finished Mystery (1917) says:The Time of the establishment of the Kingdom in power is indicated as "in the fourteenth year after that the city (Christendom) was smitten" – or fourteen years after 1918, viz, in 1932. – Ezek. 40:1.The context suggests that the phrase "the Kingdom in power" meant world wide paradise after global anarchy of 1915-1925, all governments and religions destroyed and gone for good, and the resurrection of the dead to live again on Earth well underway.
Get educated on the topic of Jehovah's Witnesses on these websites:
https://ed5015.tripod.com/
Dictionary of Jehovah's Witnesses at:
https://ed5015.tripod.com/jwdictionary/