Posted by ros [ros] on November 24, 1999 at 12:22:34 {BlpRHB6gpcAPLKlRwd1.7/SY5I9NtE}:
In Reply to: 1914 Predicted?? posted by Noggin on November 24, 1999 at 06:45:37:
Dear Noggin:
Last I knew, the WTS still maintains that the "gentile times" ended in 1914 as predicted by Russell. To my knowledge, that's the only WT-unique doctrine they can attribute to Russell, and they're hard-pressed to explain it other than insisting that the "Great War" (now called WWI) was an unprecedented global war--which any historian knows it was not.
They proclaim that Christ returned and began his reign at that time, and the dead "annointed" of the 144,000 were resurrected and began reigning with him in 1919, even though the 1000-year reign is not due to begin until after Armageddon at some undetermined time in the future that is perpetually "very soon."
They claim that Christ and a literal 144,000 will be reigning over the earth as soon as Armageddon is over, but it is not clear how the gentile times are supposed to have ended in 1914 and what/whom they are ruling over between 1914/1919-to-Armageddon, since nothing seems to have changed regarding the nations and world religion, except Jehovah's Witnesses selling magazines from door to door which no longer seem to have a message particularly different from a lot of other religions. They they are the only ones preaching "God's Kingdom", but this is very naieve.
Blessings,
Ros