Eschatology of Jehovah's Witnesses

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The eschatology of Jehovah's Witnesses is central to their religious beliefs. They believe that Jesus Christ has been ruling as king since 1914, and that after that time a short period of cleansing has begun taking place. They further believe that from 1919, Jehovah's Witnesses were selected by God to be his people.

Contents 1 Current beliefs 1.1 Presence of Christ Jesus 1.2 Sign of Last Days 1.3 Judgment of Religion and Selection of True Followers 2 History of eschatology 2.1 1847-1965 2.2 1966-1975 2.3 1976-2006 3 Issues 3.1 Fall of Jerusalem 4 References

[edit] Current beliefs

There are three major events within the eschatology of Jehovah's Witnesses. This reflects what Jehovah's Witnesses currently teach and believe.

[edit] Presence of Christ Jesus

Jehovah's Witnesses currently believe that Christ Jesus has been ruling as king invisibly since October 1914. Jehovah's Witnesses distinguish the Greek word parousia, often translated "coming" as being more accurately understood as "presence."

[edit] Sign of Last Days

Jehovah's Witnesses teach that since Satan's alleged (Revelation 12:7-12) expulsion to the Earth in 1914, humanity has been living in a period of intense increased trouble known as "the last days". War, disease, famine, earthquakes, lack of love, the progressive degeneration of morality worldwide, and the preaching work done by Jehovah's Witnesses are said to mark these "last days" (Matt. 24, Luke 21:7-13). Events that are typically used to demonstrate these beliefs are the fighting of World War I in August 1914, the outbreak of Spanish flu in May 1918, the onset of World War II in 1939, and more recently, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

[edit] Judgment of Religion and Selection of True Followers

Jehovah's Witnesses believe 1918 to be the time when Christ Jesus judged all world religions. They teach that after a period of 18 months, among all groups and religions, there was found only one that was humbly doing the will of Christ. Jehovah's Witnesses claim the "Bible Students" who later became known as "Jehovah's Witnesses" in 1931 (See History of Jehovah's Witnesses) are that one unique group.

[edit] History of eschatology

Overview of Jehovah's Witnesses' Eschatology
Historical Year	1874–1919	1920–1925	1926–1965	1966–1975	1976–1995	1996–2006
Start of "Last Days"	1799		1799, then 1914	1914
Christ's Invisible Return	1874		1874 then 1914	1914
Christ's Kingship	1878		1914
Resurrection of "Anointed"	1878–1914	1878–1925	1878, then 1918	1918 onward
Gathering of "Anointed"	1878–1914	1878–1925	33 A.D. onward
Destruction of "False Religion", Great Tribulation & Armageddon	1910–1914, 1915, 1918	1920, then 1925	1935, 1941 "remaining months"	1975?	imminent

Throughout its history, the eschatology of Jehovah's Witnesses has undergone various changes, mostly surrounding the dates 1874, 1914, and 1918. Witness publications have made statements in the past, assuring that their predictions were correct^[1][2], but have also candidly admitted that their interpretations have at times been in error^[3], and that there was no claim to infallibility with regard to their interpretations.^[4], and they have never claimed to originate prophecies.^[5][6] More recently The Watchtower stated, “The brothers preparing these publications are not infallible. Their writings are not inspired as are those of Paul and the other Bible writers. (2 Tim. 3:16) And so, at times, it has been necessary, as understanding became clearer, to correct views. (Prov. 4:18)”^[7] Thus portions of their eschatology and its accompanying chronology have been discarded.

Currently they teach that modern events correspond to Biblical prophecies, however, they do not predict a specific year for Armageddon to occur (1 Thesessalonians 5:1-5). The Witnesses still rely on their understanding of Bible chronology for establishing the significance of the year 1914.

[edit] 1847-1965

The Second Adventists affiliated with Nelson H. Barbour expected a visible and dramatic return of Christ in 1873, and later in 1874. They agreed with other Adventist groups that the "time of the end" (also called the "last days") had started in 1799.^[8] Soon after the 1874 disappointment, Barbour accepted the idea that Christ had actually returned to the earth in 1874, but invisibly. 1874 was considered the end of 6,000 years of human history and the beginning of judgment by Christ. Charles Taze Russell and the group that later was known as Bible Students accepted these views from Barbour. Russell taught that while Jesus was invisibly present here on earth, he was made its King in 1878. Rejected by God in 1878 was the "nominal Church" (considered to be "Babylon the Great").^[9]Russell also taught that in 1878 Christ resurrected all the "dead in Christ" as spirit beings to be with him here on the earth awaiting a future glorification. (As each of the remainder of the 144,000 would die after 1878, Christ would resurrect them as spirit beings to join those already resurrected.) Together with Christ here on earth, these invisible resurrected spirit beings were said to be engaged in directing a harvest work gathering the remainder of those with the heavenly calling.^[10]This harvest would run from 1874-1914, and the culmination of Armageddon would occur in 1914 preceded by the gathering of all the saints (both resurrected and living) to heaven.^[11]

From as early as 1891, Russell taught that the Great Pyramid of Giza contained prophetic measurements that pointed to 1874, derived from a measurement of 3416 inches^[12]. The 1910 edition revised the measurement to 3457 inches to point to 1915.^[13] It was claimed that the pyramid was of prophetic significance until at least 1925^[14], but the belief was rejected by 1928^[15].

Typical examples of the Watchtower's belief that God will destroy churches can be found in the publication The Finished Mystery (SS-7), 1917 edition: "Also, in the year 1918, when God destroys the churches wholesale and the church members by millions, it shall be that any that escape shall come to the works of Pastor Russell to learn the meaning of the downfall of 'Christianity.'" (Page 485) "The people who are the strength of Christendom shall be cut off in the brief but terribly eventful period beginning in 1918 A.D. A third part are 'burned with fire in the midst of the city.' Fire symbolizes destruction. . . .After 1918 the people supporting churchianity will cease to be its supporters, be destroyed as adherents, by the spiritual pestilence of errors abroad, and by the famine of the Word of God among them." (Pages 398, 399)

From 1925-1933, the Watchtower Society radically changed their beliefs after the failure of these eschatological expectations.^[16] In 1925, the Watch Tower explained a major change that Christ had been enthroned as King in heaven in the year 1914 instead of 1878.^[17]1874 was retained as the time of Christ's invisible return until the early 1930s.^[18]But, Christ's Second Advent was now explained not as a return to the earth but as a "turning of attention" to the earth with Christ remaining in heaven.^[19]By 1933, it was clearly taught that Christ had returned invisibly in 1914 and the "last days" had also begun then.^[20]A 1927 Watch Tower had transferred the 1878 resurrection date to 1918.^[21]However, it was now held these were raised as spirit creatures to heavenly life to be with Christ there.^[22]The judgment on Babylon changed from 1878 to 1919 with the publication of the book Light in 1930.^[23]These are the current teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses regarding 1914,1918 and 1919. Witnesses no longer consider the dates 1799, 1874 and 1878 to have any eschatological significance. The idea that the "great tribulation" had begun in 1914 and was "cut short" in 1918 to be resumed at Armageddon was dropped in 1969.^[24]

1915^[25], 1918^[26], 1920^[27], and 1925 were other years for which predictions were made. The resurrection of Old Testament "princes" including Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was expected by many Bible Students (as Jehovah's Witnesses were then known) in 1925 based on what was published in The Watchtower^[28], Millions Now Living Will Never Die^[29], and The Way to Paradise.^[30] In 1929, Joseph Rutherford (the second Watch Tower president) built a luxury villa in California called Beth Sarim^[31]to house these ancient biblical "princes" who were expected to be resurrected immediately prior to Armageddon.^[32] Rutherford lived in the villa until his death in 1942, and in 1948 the villa was sold.^[33] In 1950, the belief that these Old Testament "princes" would be resurrected before Armageddon was dropped.^[34]

In the mid 1930s and early 1940s, the organization published material again encouraging a strong emphasis on the urgent nearness of Armageddon. In 1935 Armageddon was described as a "Universal war is absolutely certain to come and that soon, and no power can stop it. . . during the few remaining months until the breaking of that universal cataclysm"^[35]Later in 1941 after, Armageddon had failed to materialize, similar wording was used: "for most effective work in the remaining months before Armageddon"^[36] The rhetoric was stepped up in 1942 with "Now, with Armageddon immediately before us, it is a matter of life or destruction"^[37]

Witnesses have encouraged singleness not only because of the nearness of Armageddon but also because they believe the Bible encourages it.^[38] For example, young Witnesses were counselled: "It is better and wiser for those of the Lord's 'other sheep' who hope to survive Armageddon and be given the divine mandate to fill the earth with a righteous offspring to defer matters until after the tribulation and destruction of Armageddon is past."^[39]

[edit] 1966-1975

During the 1960s and early 1970s, many Witnesses were stimulated by articles in their literature ^[40] and further encouraged by speakers at their assemblies prior to 1975, to believe that Armageddon and Christ's thousand-year millennial reign would begin by 1975. Although the views of Armageddon and Christ's millennium beginning in 1975 were never fully or explicitly supported by the Watch Tower Society, many in the organization's writing department, as well as several elders and overseers^[41]in the organization heavily suggested that Christ's millennial reign over earth would begin by 1975. Caution was shown by some, however, especially as the time approached. For example, a lecture^[42] by then Vice-President Fred Franz in early 1975 pin-pointed after sundown on September 5, 1975 as the end of 6,000 years and saying all the prophecies "could happen" by then, while admitting that looked improbable ^[43] While Witnesses have always been encouraged to increase the preaching work, and avoid secular life goals or careers, this emphasis was especially strong prior to 1975.

Some Witnesses gave up good jobs, ^[44] college, scholarships, and some imprudently sold their houses in the hopeful expectation that God's Kingdom would literally be established on earth in 1975 after the biblical Armageddon, encouraged by the Watch Tower Society: "Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world's end.-1 John 2:17." ^[45] It is worth noting that similar language persists in publications of Jehovah's Witnesses, who still hold that the time remaining in the present system is relatively short, and that having an active share in the preaching work is the best use of a believer's time. Some Jehovah's Witnesses irresponsibly ran up debt believing they would not to have to pay it back, and some unwisely spent their life savings believing that the 1975 date was a certain and unchangeable fact due to the many encouraging Watch Tower articles.^[46] In spite of the Watch Tower Society's previous admonition that Witnesses should let nothing cause them to tire and give out^[47], there were many who left the organization (or became inactive) due to the disappointment of Armageddon not coming in 1975, although the majority remained. The large numbers leaving or becoming inactive were seen as baptisms continued at over 100,000 per year (around 200,000 in 1976). However, the organization still continued to lose more members than it gained for several years after 1975, until 1979 when numbers started to recover and increase again.

In 1979, in a lecture entitled "Choosing the Best Way of Life", the Society acknowledged responsibility for the some of the disappointment around 1975.^[48] In 1980, in an article based upon that talk, the following statement appeared: "There were statements made then, and thereafter, stressing that this was only a possibility. Unfortunately, however, along with such cautionary information, there were other statements published that implied that such realization of hopes by that year was more of a probability than a mere possibility. It is to be regretted that these latter statements apparently overshadowed the cautionary ones and contributed to a build up of the expectation already initiated."^[49]

[edit] 1976-2006

In 1995 changes regarding their interpretation of the statement "this generation" made by Jesus^[50] were published. During the previous four decades, Jehovah's Witnesses had taught that the generation which saw the events of 1914, which would not die before Armageddon came, but were described as those who would "still be alive to see the end of this wicked system"^[51]or "those who are living at the given period".^[52]

The Watch Tower Society taught that a "generation" can be a literal term encompassing about 70 to 80 years in length. ^[53]They also understood that the term “generation” can mean, “a class of persons,... characterized by certain qualities or conditions”, although this definition was not used to apply to Jesus’ words. ^[54] The Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses taught that "before the 1914 generation completely dies out, God's judgment must be executed"^[55] and "We also know that the 1914 generation is well into the evening of its existence, thus allowing only little time for this prophecy yet to be fulfilled. But we also know—for this we have Jesus' own promise—that "this generation will by no means pass away until all these things happen."^[56]

As the generation of 1914 dwindled in numbers, the Governing Body used this for many decades as evidence that the end was "very near and immediately impending." Former Governing Body member Raymond Franz describes how privately the Governing Body discussed alternate interpretations. One suggestion made by Albert Schroeder, Karl Klein and Grant Suiter proposed moving the beginning of the "generation" to the year 1957, to coincide with the year Sputnik was launched. The proposal, however, was not ratified by the rest of the Governing Body.^[57] The generation of 1914 doctrine was finally discarded when the youngest had reached 80 years of age. In 1995, a new interpretation of "this generation" was then published in The Watchtower. Rather than a literal lifespan of 70-80 years as previously taught, the understanding of Jesus' term "generation" was changed to “a class of persons,... characterized by certain qualities or conditions” and thus an unspecified amount of time. ^[58] This class of persons are described as "the peoples of earth who see the sign of Christ's presence but fail to mend their ways."^[59] However, Jehovah's Witnesses still believe that Armageddon is imminent. That same article continued, "Does our more precise viewpoint on 'this generation' mean that Armageddon is further away than we had thought? Not at all!"

The Watch Tower Society correspondingly changed the wording in the stated purpose of Awake! magazine from "the Creator's promise of a peaceful and secure new world before the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away" to "the Creator's promise of a peaceful and secure new world that is about to replace the present, wicked lawless system of things."

Jehovah's Witnesses continue to encourage study of the Bible over post-secondary secular education. ^[60]Instead, Witness youths were encouraged to devote themselves in full-time ministry. This policy was moderated in 1992^[61]but a 2005 Watchtower again discouraged college education.^[62]

For further discussion of the "end of the world", see Doctrines of Jehovah's Witnesses#Salvation.

[edit] Issues

There are controversial issues in the history of the eschatology of Jehovah's Witnesses.

[edit] Fall of Jerusalem

The date 1914 is based on the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 607 BC. No non-Witness scholars support 607 BC for the event; most scholars date the destruction to within a year of 587 BC, twenty years later. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that periods of seventy years mentioned in the books of Jeremiah and Daniel refer to the Jewish exile.^{[citation needed]}

In The Gentile Times Reconsidered: Chronology & Christ's Return by Carl O. Jonsson^[63], he presents 18 lines of evidence to support the traditional view of neo-Babylonian chronology. He accuses the Watchtower of deliberately misquoting sources in an effort to bolster their position.

In Assyrian, Babylonian, Egyptian, and Persian Chronology Compared with the Chronology of the Bible, Volume 1: Persian Chronology and the Length of the Babylonian Exile of the Jews Rolf Furuli (one of Jehovah's Witnesses) presents a very detailed study of 607 BC and supports the conclusion that Witnesses publish.^[64]

Witnesses believe that the year 607 BC is critical in two other prophetic interpretations. First, the destruction of Jerusalem for a seventy year time span.^[65] Second, the arrival of Christ in kingly power coincides with the 2,520 year period from October 607 BC to October 1914 AD.^[66]

[edit] References