Year 1922 – The fullness of expectations
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Although during the 1922, no new book or booklet was published, Watchtower Society was publishing in their magazines articles about 1925. In addition to the numerous lectures on “millions who will not die”, giving the campaign a global dimension (!):
The message published during 1922 was concentrated chiefly around the theme “Millions Now Living Will Never Die.” The Society set aside February 26, 1922, as a day for worldwide “Millions” lectures. In Germany the talk was delivered on that day in 121 different towns and was attended by some 70,000 persons. A second great worldwide witnessing day was June 25, when 119 lectures were held in Germany, with an attendance of about 31,000. Two more such “worldwide lectures” were delivered during the year, attended in Germany by 75,397 persons on October 29 and by 66,143 on December 10. So thousands of persons were being reached with the good news. (1974 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses p. 90).
In 1922 the Watchtower Society also began broadcasting on radio, and announcing news of the “millions who will not die” and 1925:
“Radio Tells the World Millennium Is Coming,” declared the Philadelphia Record of April 17, 1922, continuing: “Judge Rutherford’s Lecture Broadcasted from Metropolitan Opera House. Talks into Transmitter. Message is Carried Over Miles of Bell Telephone Wires to Howlett’s Station.” So began a newspaper report of J. F. Rutherford’s first radio address, given on Sunday, April 16, 1922, at the Metropolitan Opera House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The subject? “Millions Now Living Will Never Die.” His visible audience was a mere handful compared with an estimated 50,000 residents of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware who heard the speech on primitive radios in their homes. (1975 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses pp. 139-140). See God’s Kingdom Rules! 2014 p. 72.
In 1922 the Watchtower Society published an article “THE STRONG CABLE OF CHRONOLOGY,” in which they claimed divine origin of the chronology that brought them to 1925:
These internal connections of the dates impart a much greater strength than can be found in other chronologies. Some of them are of so remarkable a character us clearly to indicate that this chronology is not of man, but of God. Being of divine origin and divinely corroborated, present-truth chronology stands in a class by itself, absolutely and unqualifiedly correct. (The Watchtower July 15, 1922 p. 217).
Besides, numerous articles that taught about 1925 started to appear:
Since we expect the ancient worthies to be back on earth in a few years it would be entirely proper to advise the children to prepare themselves with all the knowledge of the divine arrangement they can, to be ready to act should the ancient worthies call upon them or assign them to any service. No place could be found for a child that would be equal to or better than serving under the direction of Abraham or some of the other ancient worthies. (The Watchtower April 1, 1922 p. 104).
What will transpire in 1925? Wait upon the Lord and see. Be truthful to present privileges. Every Christian’s faith is on trial. “According to your faith be it unto you.” (The Watchtower May 1, 1922 p. 139).
WE HAVE no doubt whatever in regard to the chronology relating to the dates of 1874, 1914, 1918, and 1925. Some claim to have found new light in connection with the period of “seventy years of desolation” and Israel’s captivity in Babylon, and are zealously seeking to make others believe that Brother Russell was in error. (The Watchtower May 15, 1922 p. 147).
(...) and counting the full 70 cycles of 50 years each, as clearly indicated by Jehovah’s sending of the Jews into Babylon for the full 70 years, it is an easy matter to locate 1925, probably the fall, for the beginning of the antitypical jubilee. There can be no more question about 1925 than there was about 1914. The fact that all the things that some looked for in 1914 did not materialize does not alter the chronology one whit. (...).That all that some expect to see in 1925 may not transpire that year will not alter the date one whit more than in the other eases. (...) The results following the dates of 1918 and 1921 indicate more and more distinctly that they were turning-points or mile-stones on the chronological highway, and clearly foreknown and foretold by the Designer of the Divine Plan of the Ages. (The Watchtower May 15, 1922 p. 150).
See also the long passage about 70 and 80 years added to 1844 (Ps 90:10), which led to 1914 and 1924 (The Watchtower June 1, 1922 p. 171).
The millennium sets in in the year 1925, human woe will then start to vanish, and disease and sickness, and death itself will be no more, was the message pronounced through a radio-transmitter by ex-Judge J F. Rutherford… (The Watchtower June 15, 1922 p. 180).
Pastor Russell pointed out that the Jubilee cycles instituted by God to be observed by Israel “when they entered into the land” was a period of 3500 years and would expire in 1925 (The Golden Age August 16, 1922 p. 731).
The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures because it is fixed by the law God gave to Israel. Viewing the present situation in Europe, one wonders how it will be possible to hold back the explosion much longer; and that even before 1925 the great crisis will be reached and probably passed. The present conditions are strengthening to the faith of the Christian. (The Watchtower September 1, 1922 p. 262).
Are the dates 1874 and 1925 beginnings of the two times of restitution? (...) We understand that the Jubilee type began to count in 1575 B.C.; and the 3,500-year period embracing the type must end in 1925, and that there should begin the operation of the antitype. It follows, then, that the year 1925 will mark the beginning of the restoration of all things lost by Adam’s disobedience. (The Watchtower November 1, 1922 p. 346).
Now the decisive battle is on, and the victory is certain; for it is only a matter of a few short years until Satan will be bound. (The Watchtower November 1, 1922 p. 347).
In 1922 the Watchtower Society cited, most likely to support its teaching, one of the preachers who had nothing to do with this organization:
“MILLENNIUM BEFORE 1924,” SAYS WATTS (The Watchtower June 15, 1922 p. 181).
Other magazines also published several times the articles about the 1925:
The Golden Age January 4, 1922 p. 217; The Golden Age January 18, 1922 pp. 246, 250; The Golden Age March 1, 1922 p. 350; The Golden Age August 2, 1922 p. 695.
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