Dates for the Second Coming

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polonius
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Dates for the Second Coming

Post #1

Post by polonius »

How many different dates for the second coming have the Jehovah Witnesses claimed?
Is there any evidence that any were correct?

"In 1876, Russell became interested in time prophecy, after reading a copy of Barbour's publication Herald of the Morning. The end had not come in 1874, as the Adventists had predicted. However, Barbour explained that Matthew 24:27 meant Jesus' invisible presence commenced in 1874, the rapture would be 1878, and the end of the world was to occur in 1914. (See Watch Tower, 1906 July 15 for a detailed account.) "

See https://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/1800s.php

And there is this:

"And in case you should say in your heart: "How shall we know the word that Jehovah has not spoken?" When the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that Jehovah did not speak..." Deuteronomy 18:20-22

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Re: Dates for the Second Coming

Post #2

Post by brianbbs67 »

polonius wrote: How many different dates for the second coming have the Jehovah Witnesses claimed?
Is there any evidence that any were correct?

"In 1876, Russell became interested in time prophecy, after reading a copy of Barbour's publication Herald of the Morning. The end had not come in 1874, as the Adventists had predicted. However, Barbour explained that Matthew 24:27 meant Jesus' invisible presence commenced in 1874, the rapture would be 1878, and the end of the world was to occur in 1914. (See Watch Tower, 1906 July 15 for a detailed account.) "

See https://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/1800s.php

And there is this:

"And in case you should say in your heart: "How shall we know the word that Jehovah has not spoken?" When the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that Jehovah did not speak..." Deuteronomy 18:20-22
Correct, if a prophet is wrong, even one time, its not from God. Duet. 13 is a great way to test a prophet or spirit to determine validity. Even those of the adversary can work miracles.

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Re: Dates for the Second Coming

Post #3

Post by Checkpoint »

[Replying to post 1 by polonius]



"Setting "Dates for the Second Coming" will never succeed.

Jesus tells us why.
Matthew 24:

44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Acts 1:

6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?�

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.

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Re: Dates for the Second Coming

Post #4

Post by JehovahsWitness »

[Replying to post 1 by polonius]

JEHOVAH'S Witnesses have never given a date for Christ's Second coming; they have however wrongly interpreted some "end time prophecies" notably in three occassions.
1914 - while Jehovah's Witnesses correctly pinpointed this year as marking end of the "Gentiles Times" (the time allocated by God for humans rulership) many (not all) wrongly believed this would also mark the end of their work on earth.

1925 - J F Rutherford wrongly interpreted certain prophecies regarding the earthly resurrecton to be for this year.

1975 Although there was absolutely no definitive statement for Christ's return for this year (and certainly no date ie., day/month) there was much speculation as to if the 6000th year since Adam's creation would mark the endmof the world system.
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Last edited by JehovahsWitness on Sat Mar 26, 2022 3:30 am, edited 6 times in total.
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"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" -
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Re: Dates for the Second Coming

Post #5

Post by Elijah John »

[Replying to post 4 by JehovahsWitness]

So you're denying that CTR never predicted the Apocalypse, Parousia, or Christ's 2nd coming for 1914 then revised it to an "invisible return" when it didn't happen?

What is the evidence that 1914 marked any "Gentile times" or the end thereof, or anything spiritual or celestial at all? Other that the Watchtower say so? Conveniently invisible, unverifiable and undetectable, so it seems.
My theological positions:

-God created us in His image, not the other way around.
-The Bible is redeemed by it's good parts.
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-YHVH is LORD
-The real Jesus is not God, the real YHVH is not a monster.
-Eternal life is a gift from the Living God.
-Keep the Commandments, keep your salvation.
-I have accepted YHVH as my Heavenly Father, LORD and Savior.

I am inspired by Jesus to worship none but YHVH, and to serve only Him.

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Re: Dates for the Second Coming

Post #6

Post by JehovahsWitness »

Elijah John wrote: [Replying to post 4 by JehovahsWitness]

So you're denying that CTR never predicted the Apocalypse, Parousia, or Christ's 2nd coming for 1914 then revised it to an "invisible return" when it didn't happen?
Emphasis MINE


I doubt seriously if you or anyone here knows what any of the terms you used means, much less what they mean in Jehovah's witness terminology. I explained as simply as I could that Russell and others were wrong in their expectations regarding what 1914 would mean for Christians, but correct in regard to pinpointing the year as being pivotal. Jehovah's Witnesses have always held that Christ's Second coming* (advent) would be invisible in nature.

For more on the belief in an "invisible" advent, see LINK
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 41#p891141




* The early bible students did not understand clearly the difference relation between the parousia (Christ's presence ) and the final judement /destruction of the system




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"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" -
Romans 14:8

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Re: Dates for the Second Coming

Post #7

Post by JehovahsWitness »

Elijah John wrote:
What is the evidence that 1914 marked any "Gentile times" or the end thereof, or anything spiritual or celestial at all?
Emphasis MINE


DO ALL CHRISTIANS BELIEVE AN INVISIBLE HEAVEN ?
  • Most do. At the very least they believe in a celestial God that is invisible to humans. Thus it should really not strike anyone as unusual that there are Christians that believe things happen in heaven that go undetected on earth.
  • What evidence do we have there is a heaven and things that happen there unseen to humans?

    While most people come to have a belief in an invisible God through an examination of the material universe, they cannot possible have information about that ones name, purpose and actions but from Divine revelation. For example if asked what evidence they can present that there is an invisible God called Yahweh/JEHOVAH they must point to the bible's record of Moses conversation with that one.
    As with the Divine Name, much of what Christians believe about the invisible realm is based, on their faith in divine revelation as recorded in the bible.
    Although Jehovah's Witnesse are far from unique in believing Jesus is presently ruling invisibly as king in heaven (most Christians believe Jesus is presently a king in heaven), Jehovah's Witnesses are the only religion on earth that believe that rule began in 1914 rather than in 33CE (or earlier).

Image

1914 THE END OF THE GENTILE TIMES
  • In Jehovah's Witness terminology the end of "the Gentile times" referes to the beginning of the period when Jesus began ruling as king in heaven (unseen of course to humans). It is this rulership for which most Christians have long prayed "Let your kingdom [rule] come, let your will be done on earth....". The JWs belief is based primarily on their understanding of bible prophecy, notably the prophecy recorded at Daniel chapter 4 along with their understanding of end time prophecies (see Mat 24, Lk 21, Mk 14, 2 Tim 3:1-5, and the events prophecied in the book of Revelation).


    For a more detailed explanation see LINK here
    https://www.jw.org/en/publications/book ... -prophecy/

    http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 878#890878





JW

Are We Living in the Last Days?
https://www.jw.org/en/publications/book ... last-days/

1914 A Significant Year in Bible Prophecy
https://www.jw.org/en/publications/book ... -prophecy/


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"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" -
Romans 14:8

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Re: Dates for the Second Coming

Post #8

Post by marco »

JehovahsWitness wrote:

I doubt seriously if you or anyone here knows what any of the terms you used means, much less what they mean in Jehovah's witness terminology. I explained as simply as I could that Russell and others were wrong in their expectations regarding what 1914 would mean for Christians, but correct in regard to pinpointing the year as being pivotal. Jehovah's Witnesses have always held that Christ's Second coming* (advent) would be invisible in nature.

Yes, invisibility is the best defence. I read this with some sadness. We have very intelligent humans who have taken astonishing steps in science; we have people whose imagination has given us wonderful literature; and we have artists who have seemingly peeped beyond the human veil and depicted what our eyes cannot see.

And then we have people saying a ghost came in 1914, when humans were engaged in bloody warfare, and this voyaging ghost did nothing to stop the slaughter on the Somme, but instead played invisible games, and is still playing. Perhaps sadness does not quite capture what I feel. It is as though we throw all human achievement out of the window and choose a nice, wet cave.

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Post #9

Post by Difflugia »

According to The Watchtower (emphasis mine):
In examining these Scriptural facts, something else also captures our attention. According to Bible chronology, we are already over fifty-two years into the wicked system of things’ “time of the end.� That time began in the autumn of 1914 C.E., at the termination of the “appointed times of the nations,� and it is already far advanced. Jesus said that “this generation� that saw the beginning of this time period in 1914 would also see its end. The generation that was old enough to view those events with understanding in 1914 is no longer young. It no longer has many years to run. Already many of its members have died. But Jesus showed that there would still be members of “this generation� alive at the time of the passing away of this wicked system of things in both heaven and earth. (Luke 21:32, 33) How much longer will it be, then, before God takes action to destroy the wicked and usher in the blessings of his Kingdom rule?
This was written in 1967. What does "with understanding" mean? Does that mean a Witness? How old is "old enough?" Are we still on track for that?

Searching the Watchtower Library, either online or offline for "1914" is entertaining. Note that the offline version makes sifting through results much easier, if such things amuse you.

Also try:

"goats"
"trinity"
"papal"
"higher education"
"disfellowship"
"science"
"ghost"

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Post #10

Post by JehovahsWitness »

[Replying to post 9 by Difflugia]

Could you state your point more clearly? I cannot see your point because of all the rhetorical questions.

Yes, the OFFICIAL Jehovah's witnesses website is indeed

https://www.jw.org
INDEX: More bible based ANSWERS
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 81#p826681


"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" -
Romans 14:8

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