Posted by DaJahVeu [DaJahVeu] on November 09, 1999 at 13:59:25 {4Hfg918T5gwppWPOgFMsoEhE92Gn1k}:
"...Bible chronology also fixes the time for Christ's second presence and the assuming of his right to rule as at 1914; this date was published in The Watchtower as early as 1879, 35 years before 1914." [The Sign of Christ's Presence, p.3]
Has anyone ever seen the above WT where this quote was made? I have looked for it, and I can't find any reference anywhere to support this claim!
The WT has claimed that they have CONSISTENTLY used the date 1914 as the return of Christ. Let's look at the facts:
WT.January 15, 1993 p. 5 states: "The Watchtower has consistently presented evidence...that Jesus' presence in heavenly kingdom power began in 1914."
WOW!!!! WHAT A BULL DROPINGS….
"It is true that the editor and publisher of Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Second presence calculated that the "presence" or parousia of the heavenly bridegroom began in the year 1874 C.E. ...In the year 1943 the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society published the book "The Truth Shall Make You Free." In its chapter 11, entitled "The Count of Time" it did away with the insertion of 100 years into the period of the Judges and went according to the oldest and most authentic reading of Acts 13:20, and accepted the spelled-out numbers of the Hebrew Scriptures. This moved forward the end of six thousand years of man's existence into the decade of the 1970's. Naturally this did away with the year 1874 C.E."
[God's Kingdom Of A Thousand Years Has Approached. 1973. pp. 206, 209.]
"Pastor Russell adhered closely to the teachings of the Scriptures. He believed and taught that we are living in the time of the second presence of our Lord, and that His presence dates from 1874; that since that time we have been living in the "time of the end"--the "end of the Age," during which the Lord has been conducting His great Harvest work; that, in harmony with the Lord's own statement, this Harvest work is separating true Christians designated as "wheat," from merely professing Christians, designated as "tares," and gathering the true saints into the Kingdom of the Lord. It is here interesting to note that Jesus said, "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over His Household, to give them meat in due season?" [Watch Tower Dec. 1916, pg. 357 [R5998]]
"The second coming of our Lord therefore began in 1874..." [Creation, p. 291, early editions, p. 310 later editions, 1927]
"The Scriptural Proof is that the second presence of the Lord Jesus Christ Christ began in 1874 A.D." [Prophecy, p. 65, 1929]
"No one can properly understand the work of God at this time who does not realize that since 1874, the time of the Lord's return in power, there has been a complete change in God's operations." [Watchtower Sept. 15, 1922, p. 278]
"The Scriptures show that the second presence was due in 1874...This proof shows that the Lord has been present since 1874." [Watchtower March 1, 1923, p. 67]
"Surely there is not the slightest room for doubt in the mind of a truly consecrated child of God that the Lord Jesus is present and has been since 1874." [Watchtower Jan. 1, 1924, p.5]
"The Scriptural proof is that the second presence of the Lord Jesus Christ began in 1874 A.D. This proof is specifically set out in the booklet entitledOur Lord's Return. [Prophecy 1929 pp. 65-66.]
"Surely there is not the slightest room for doubt...that the Lord Jesus is present and has been since 1874." [Watch Tower 1924, January, 1, p. 5.]
THE WT 30 years after 1914 was still stating unequivocally that Christ had returned in 1874….
Pastor Russell never taught Christ to return in 1914. He preached that Christ had returned in 1874, and that 1914 would be the end. He also taught that the end of things began in the 1700's