Why does it seem that the WTBTS rewrites their history regarding 1914? The following quotes from WT Publications are why I ask this question: So when Christs invisible presence began in 1914, happy were these Christians to have been found watching! (WT 12-1-84 p.14) I understand this to be saying that there were JWs watching for Christ to have His invisible presence stating in 1914. 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 Christs return and his second presence. Since long before World War 1 Jehovahs witnesses pointed to 1914 as the time for this great event to occur. (Watchtower June 15, 1954 p.370 paragraph 4) I understand this to be saying that JWs were predicting the invisible return of Christ long before World War 1. 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 Lords return. Months later, down in Kanpur, I started a Bible study group, hoping to learn more about the Lords 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. (Watchtower September 1, 1990 p.11) I understand this to be saying that in 1920 JWs were teaching that Christ has been invisibly present since 1914. BUT.... I can also read the following in WT publications that seems to disagree with all of the above. In 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 the six thousand years of mans existence into the decade of the 1970s. Naturally this did away with the year 1874 C.E. as the date of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ and the beginning of his invisible presence or parusia. (Footnote at the bottom of page 133 of the Proclaimers book) I understand this to be saying that around the year 1943 there was a change in the understanding of when Christ had His invisible return, no longer 1874 but now 1914. 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 entitled Our Lords Return. (Prophecy 1929 p.65-66) I understand this to be saying that AFTER WW1 the JWs were still believing that 1874 was when Christ returned invisibly. The time of the Lords second presence dates from 1874, as above stated. (The Harp of God 1921 p.231) I understand this to be saying that in 1921 it was still the teaching that Christ returned invisibly in 1874. Can any JW please help me understand whatever it is I am not understanding here regarding the teaching of the invisible return of Christ and did the WTBTS predict this event to happen to in 1914 or has this been changed on purpose for some reason? I am confused.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 03:53:55 +0000
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