Expert: Robert Jones - 1/19/2009

Question
QUESTION: I am puzzled and somewhat amazed about JWs and their attitude towards dates. Robert, you say that the announcement of 1975 was effectively a trick played by God to 'sift out' - your phrase - those who were serving with dates in mind. But JWs have provided a number of dates as being Biblical significant. Can you tell me then about the significance of 1914 and 1925? 1914 was meant to mark the beginning of the time of the end and the generation that saw that date, ie were of an age of understanding, would not pass away until the new order was ushered in. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there are very few 104 or 105 year olds left in the world! Then what about the millions that would never die in 1925?

This leads on to what you said about the light getting brighter. Precisely what is new and clearer now?



ANSWER: Hi David,

The teaching about the significance of 1914 has not changed. The year 1914 is understood to be the end of the Gentile Times and the year that Satan was ousted from heaven. Satan immediately caused the outbreak of World War I, marking 1914 as a significant year. The Bible Students in Allegheny, PA were the only group back then looking for the signs of the times. They were inspected by Jesus 3 1/2 years later and approved as faithful slaves. The International Bible Students (now the anointed remnant among Jehovah's Witnesses) have served as "the faithful and discreet slave class" since 1918.

1925 has not turned out so well. The early saints were supposed to have arrived in 1925 and begin administering Jehovah's purpose in the earth. That part didn't happen BUT it was promised that millions then living would never die. Well, there are still millions living who were alive in 1925. The millions are not Jehovah's Witnesses, but let's not quibble about minor details.

What is new and clearer now? It is all so very clear to me now. I am living proof that the light does get brighter and brighter, as long as we do not shield our eyes from what comes into view.
Robert Jones

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Correct me if I am wrong but I understood the 'generation that saw 1914 would not pass away' and they had to be of an 'age of understanding' at the time. Surely that must have changed?

Answer
You are correct. The generation teaching connected with 1914 has changed. In fact "this generation" teaching has changed many times. Below are the three major teachings about who makes up "this generation" although there have been others with slight differences.

1. Prior to 1914 "this generation" was taught to be the generation who was on the watch, who had identified the signs that Christ's kingdom had come in 1874, and were proclaiming the end of all things by 1914. When the end of all things did not occur in 1914, the generation was still "on the watch" and the end was imminent.

2. By 1925, the end was obviously not imminent, and many of those who had been part of the Bible Students movement for many years had died off. So "this generation" became the generation who were alive in 1914 and recognized the signs of the times.

3. By 1995 most, but not all, of those alive in 1914 had died. So, "this generation" became all contemporaneous people living at a certain time who SHOULD have been watching the signs and SHOULD have identified the times in which they were living.

I realize that I am making a distinction on details here, but the significance of 1914 teaching has not changed. It is the "this generation" teaching that has changed several times. The current teaching should stand the test of time because it now means any group alive at the same time who should have identified the signs that we are living in the last days.
Robert Jones