It is a matter of fact that the history of the Watchtower Society is riddled with failed date-setting and abandoned doctrine,¹ and the Society has gone to great lengths to hide this past from its members. Older (incriminating) Watchtower publications are virtually impossible to obtain through the Society,² while at the same time members are overwhelmed with "current" Watchtower material.

The Watchtower Society has even gone as far as to publish disinformation about its own history in an attempt to convince readers that Watchtower doctrine has remained consistent over the years, and that the Society is not a false prophet. In so doing, they earn themselves the title of liar in addition to false prophet.

Consider the following quotations from Watchtower publications, in each case noting the date the article was published:

Case 1:

Why, then, do the nations not realize and accept the approach of this climax of judgment? It is because they have not heeded the world-wide advertising of Christ's return and his second presence. Since long before World War I Jehovah's witnesses pointed to 1914 as the time for this great event to occur. –The Watchtower, June 15, 1954, page 370.

According to the Watchtower article above, "since long before World War 1", Jehovah's Witnesses pointed to 1914 as the time for "Christ's return and his second presence". Note the date of this article just quoted from (1954). Now read the following to see what the Watchtower Society was actually teaching "long before" (and actually well after) 1914:

Bible prophecy shows that the Lord was due to appear for the second time in the year 1874. Fulfilled prophecy shows beyond a doubt that he did appear in 1874. Fulfilled prophecy is otherwise designated the physical facts; and these facts are indisputable. –The Watch Tower, November 1, 1922, page 333.^view

In actuality, as late as 1922, the Watchtower Society was still teaching that "beyond a doubt" Christ returned in 1874! The 1954 statement is nothing more than disinformation from the Watchtower Society designed to deceive readers into believing that Watchtower doctrine has remained consistent "since long before World War 1", and that the Society is not a false prophet. Not only are they proven false on both counts, but they are proven to be liars as well.

Case 2:

Similarly, a prophecy providentially caused sincere 19th-century Bible students to be in expectation. By linking the "seven times" of Daniel 4:25 with "the times of the Gentiles," they anticipated that Christ would receive Kingdom power in 1914. –The Watchtower, September 15, 1998, page 15.

Here (in a 1998 publication) the Watchtower Society claims that 19th century "Bible students" (as Jehovah's Witnesses were then known) were expecting "that Christ would receive Kingdom power in 1914". This is demonstrably false, as can be seen by examining Watchtower publications from the era:

Since that time it has been emphatically manifest that the time had come in A.D. 1878 when kingly judgment should begin at the house of God. It is here that Rev. 14:14-20 applies, and our Lord is brought to view as the Reaper crowned. The year A.D. 1878, being the parallel of his assuming power and authority in the type, clearly marks the time for the actual assuming of power as King of kings, by our present, spiritual, invisible Lord–the time of his taking to himself his great power to reign, which in the prophecy is closely associated with the resurrection of his faithful, and the beginning of the trouble and wrath upon the nations. –The Time Is At Hand, 1902, page 239.^view

19th century "Bible students" were not "anticipating that Christ would receive Kingdom power in 1914" at all. In the early 20th century (1902 in this case), the Watchtower Society was still teaching that Christ received Kingdom power in 1878. The 1998 statement is another blatant lie.

Case 3:

At the back of our house in Tojo-cho, Osaka, there was a house with a sign: "Osaka Branch of the International Bible Students Association." Assuming it to be a Christian group, I visited the house. "Do you believe in the Second Advent of the Lord?" I asked the young man who came to the door. "Christ's Second Advent was realized in 1914," he answered. In astonishment, I told him that was impossible. "You should read this book," he said, handing me The Harp of God. –The Watchtower, May 1, 1988, page 22.

Now this is an interesting "experience" relayed by the Watchtower Society. According to this quote, "Christ's Second Advent was realized in 1914". Then the astonished listener is told to read the Watchtower publication The Harp of God. I guess the listener never got around to reading The Harp of God, because if he had, he would have come to an entirely different date for the supposed return of Christ:

From 1874 is the time of the Lord's second presence, as above stated. ... It was in the year 1874, the date of our Lord's second presence... –The Harp Of God, 1921, page 234.^view

In the 1988 article, the Watchtower Society gives the deliberate impression that The Harp of God (and by extension, the Watchtower Society of the era) taught that Christ's second advent occurred in 1914. Obvious deceit.

Case 4:

Jehovah's witnesses pointed to the year 1914, decades in advance, as marking the start of "the conclusion of the system of things." –Awake!, January 22, 1973, page 8.

Really? Let's double-check anyway:

There are two important dates here that we must not confuse, but clearly differentiate, namely, the beginning of "the time of the end" and of "the presence of the Lord". "The time of the end" embraces a period from A.D. 1799, as above indicated... –The Harp of God, 1921, page 231.^view

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 pointed out in prophecy as 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. 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth's present rulership, is already commenced. –The Time Is At Hand, 1902, page 101.^view

Current Watchtower doctrine is that 1914 marked the start of the "conclusion of the system of things" (the "end of the age" in the NIV), and once again the leaders of the Watchtower Society want their members to believe that the Society predicted this supposed event. In actuality, the Watchtower organization predicted the absolute end of the system of things (the end of the "battle of the great day of God Almighty" - Armageddon) for 1914. It was only after (and in response to) their failed predictions that the doctrine was changed. But it just wouldn't do to have the average Jehovah's Witness learn about the Society's false prophecies, now would it?

Case 5:

True to such calculations, 1914 did mark the end of those times and the birth of God's kingdom in heaven with Christ Jesus as king. Just think of it! Jehovah granted his people that knowledge nearly four decades before those times expired. –1975 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, page 37.

In 1975, the Watchtower Society claimed that "nearly four decades before those times expired" (i.e. four decades before 1914), Jehovah granted the Society the knowledge that 1914 marked "the birth of God's kingdom in heaven with Christ Jesus as king." This is another outright lie, as can been seen from the following Watchtower publication, dated only one year before the end of "those times":

Our Lord, the appointed King, is now present, since October 1874, A.D., according to the testimony of the prophets, to those who have ears to hear it: and the formal inauguration of his kingly office dates from April 1878, A.D.: and the first work of the Kingdom, as shown by our Lord, in his parables and prophecy (the gathering of "his elect"), is now in progress. "The dead in Christ shall rise first," explained the Lord through the Apostle; and the resurrection of the Church shall be in a moment. Consequently the Kingdom, as represented in our Lord, and the sleeping saints already fitted and prepared and found worthy to be members of "his body," the "bride," was set up in 1878; and all that remains to be done for its completion is the "gathering together unto the Lord" of those of the "elect" who are alive and remain, - whose trial is not yet complete. –The Battle of Armageddon, 1913, page 621-622.^view view

Forget about "nearly four decades before those times expired". Only one year before "those times expired" the Watchtower Society was still teaching that "the birth of God's kingdom in heaven with Christ Jesus as king" occurred in 1878. In actuality the Watchtower Society did not start teaching that 1914 marked "the birth of God's kingdom in heaven with Christ Jesus as king" until decades after 1914.

Case 6:

After the war ended in 1918, there was no work available in England, so I rejoined the army and went off to India as part of the peacetime garrison. In May 1920 the malaria flared up again, and I was sent up into the hills to recuperate. There I read all the books I could get my hands on, including the Bible. Reading the Scriptures intensified my interest in the Lord's return. Months later, down in Kanpur, I started a Bible study group, hoping to learn more about the Lord's return. It was there that I met Fredrick James, a former British soldier who was now a zealous Bible Student. He explained to me that Jesus had been present since 1914, invisible to man. This was the most thrilling news I had ever heard. –The Watchtower, September 1, 1990, page 11.

Another "experience" relayed by the Watchtower Society. Once again, examining Watchtower publications from the era in question reveals something different:

The indisputable facts, therefore, show that the "time of the end" began in 1799; that the Lord's second presence began in 1874; that the harvest followed thereafter and greater light has come upon the Word of God. –The Watch Tower, March 1, 1922, page 73.^view

The proof is quite clear and convincing that the second presence of our Lord dates from 1874, and that from that time forward the Lord Jesus has been gathering together those who have made a covenant with the Lord God by sacrifice. –The Watch Tower, February 15, 1927, page 54.^view

As late as 1927 the Watchtower Society was still teaching 1874 as the date for the supposed invisible return and second presence of Christ. In fact, the proof for it was said to be "quite clear and convincing" at that time.

What is indeed "clear and convincing" is that the Watchtower Society is not above lying to achieve their goals - in this case, whitewashing their past. It should be noted that the very publications in which we find these lies are said to represent "spiritual food" from God, and the Lord's "means of communication to his people on earth."³

For another look at the honesty of the Watchtower Society, click here.