Posted by Bibleman [Bibleman] on November 18, 1999 at 10:08:20 {KEdmzBXaT6MRXA6xmpscslyACFuF8c}:
In Reply to: 1914 and Carl Sagan posted by Ed on November 18, 1999 at 08:36:47:
This is a very interesting look at whey "1914" is compelling.
The reason why is because of the current teachings that Jesus arrived in kingdom power in 1914 and that is when Satan got kicked out of heaven. And that is associated with him coming down to the earth and being very angry. Of course, if Satan and one-third of the wicked heavenly host are kicked down to earth one would expect "something" to indicate this. And that's the connection. World War I!
Thus WWI in the mind of witnesses was a sure sign that Satan was now here to cause the world trouble. And that's why 1914 works in the witness mentality. Couple with that how coordinated the "last generation" prophecies work in that it would start with a world war, "nation against nation and kingdom against kingdom" and you have a nice predictable date that bedazzles the masses, even if only loosely Biblical.
So it works because Satan being kicked out of Heaven is related to his having great anger and causing World War I.
Thanks for this comment. I don't think I have really read anything specific that analyzes the fixation of 1914 (actually, I think R. Franz might have commented on it peripherally).
Of course, predicted or not, 1914 still is the Biblical date for the beginning of the "last generation" though the WTS has misapplied this date also to the "end of the gentile times."
So you can see with this complexity how it definitely remains an impressive argument for believing in the witnesses and their ability to "predict the future."
Cheers,
Bibleman