Year 1926 – Another pointless expectation
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When nothing came of the expected facts in 1925, the Watchtower Society attempted to bail out the situation and move its hopes to the “year 1926.”
As early as from 1920, the organization presented some chronological calculations, which pointed to “the year 1926,” and so it opened the door for further hope when “the year 1925” passed. Here are these words:
(...) then we have the probable date when Abraham and the other ancient worthies will have actually come into the possession of the promised land, and when Abraham will know that he has inherited the land, in answer to his question to the Lord. This will be 3960 – 2034 3/4 which equals 1925 1/4 years, or the spring of the year 1926. (The Watchtower July 1, 1920 p. 205).
The 2,901 vessels, plus the 1,000 plus 30 plus 29 enumerated vessels, totaling 3,960 vessels, correspond to the number of years from the ratification of the Abrahamic Covenant, in 2035 B.C., to the time when Abraham will inherit the promised land, in the spring of 1926. (2,034 3/4 plus 1,925 1/4 equals 3,960.) See Z. 1920, pp. 204, 205. (The Watchtower January 15, 1924 p. 31).
(...) we expect the full glorification of the church in about two years. (The Golden Age February 13, 1924 p. 313).
In the type the priests and Levites would have been very busy during the year, assisting their fellows and the people properly to settle their affairs and relationships in harmony with the Law and their inheritances. This would have been in preparation for the work commenced in 1926 for the Gentiles. If we have correctly interpreted the matter, 1926 is still the year for God’s blessings to begin towards the Gentiles. (The Watchtower February 15, 1925 p. 56).
How much of all this will come to pass in 1926 is not stated. At present we do not find any definite date beyond 1926 indicated in the Scriptures. When the Bible Students found 1914 in the Bible they heralded it far and wide, but the Lord left the curtain down at that date until we had reached it. God set his seal upon 1914, and the work started that year is still going on. We find the date 1925-1926 clearly indicated in the prophetic outline, and the Lord has not lifted the curtain sufficiently for us to see distinctly beyond. We feel sure that he will set his seal upon that date as clearly as he did upon 1914, and he will then let us see beyond as soon and as far as will be good for us. Let us learn from experiences of the past not to be too positive about details. We need have no worry. (The Watchtower February 15, 1925 p. 58).
Many of us may be called home during 1925 and 1926. Whether we shall be called, or whether Jehovah shall leave some of us here for a little further work, what does it matter? If we are faithful, we are just as acceptable and commendable on this side the vail, and just as sure of our reward. (The Watchtower February 15, 1925 p. 58).
In December 1924, in an extensive article, it was confirmed that everything points to “the year 1926:”
Following that, we should expect that the year 1926 would be, chronologically, the beginning of the antitype the beginning of the great Jubilee for all the world, during which every son of Adam, who will, may become a free man, and return to his father’s estate, to the inheritance of the earth, and to perfection of mind and body. Instead of being a period of one year the antitype will be a period of 1,000 years, during which Christ the Lord shall be King over all the earth. (Zechariah 14:9) If this is indicated in the Pyramid, we should expect to find it in connection wit His resurrection, ascension and return to establish His kingdom. It would also be after His special work with the Church, typified by the sudden closing of the Grand Gallery at the south end. (The Golden Age December 31, 1924 p. 221; See p. 218).
The same passage was already published more than half a year earlier, but some words have been changed:
Instead of being a period of one year the antitype will be a period of 1,000 years, during which Christ will have charge of the entire work. (The Golden Age May 21, 1924 p. 537).
In another publication of the year 1925, the imminent fulfillment of the promises was confirmed:
According to their jubilee system, which God inaugurated with them under. Moses, their last typical jubilee is the year 1925; and shortly thereafter the great blessings which God has promised to the Jews should begin to be made manifest. We may look with keen expectancy for some marked manifestation of God's favor in the latter part of 1925, or shortly thereafter. (Comfort for the People 1925 p. 39).
However, in 1926 the Watchtower Society began to delay the resurrection of patriarchs:
In due time the ancient worthies, who were tried and proven faithful and true unto God, shall be brought forth perfect men and be given a place in this blessed government of Zion, the new nation, because God hath prepared a place for them in that government. (The Watchtower March 15, 1926 p. 87).
It would be rather expected after failure of “the year 1925” prophecy that the “millions of people living today would never die,” the Watchtower Society would reject the slogan. In opposite, it continued, and the Deliverance book issued in 1926 keeps this prophecy although its fulfillment has been moved forward in time and it still promised the following:
The faithful shall live for ever and never die, receiving from the Lord the right to live. This blessing is now about to begin, hence it may be properly said that millions now living will never die; because the presumption is that millions, after knowing of the fact of God's love, will be willing to avail themselves of the opportunity for life. (Deliverance 1926 p. 339).
This shift of expectations has not changed anything, thus over time the Watchtower Society withdrew from everything it had previously designated.
Here is an attempt of some commentary on the fact that nothing happened of the expected events in 1925:
In 1918 many of the Lord’s people were discouraged, and some said, at least by their conduct: “The Lord hath forgotten us.” (...) Again in 1925 many said: “The ancient worthies have not returned; and some who seem to be saints are still on the earth: surely the Lord hath forgotten us.” (The Watchtower August 15, 1926 p. 247).
In August 1926, probably for the first time, the Watchtower Society stated that only “some” had expected to complete the Lord’s work in 1925:
Some anticipated that the work would end in 1925, but the Lord did not so state. (The Watchtower August 1, 1926 p. 232).
So, we see that in the end nothing left of the supposedly divine chronology of the resurrection of the Prophets and the “1925,” and the statement: the positive and indisputable conclusion that millions now living will never die.
In one of his trips to Europe, in 1926 the president J.F. Rutherford had to explain the unfulfilled expectations of 1925. He was answering questions, that were later reported in one of the publications. Did he tell the truth about the resurrection of the Prophets in 1925, according to his book about “millions who will not die?” The answer to this question everyone can find in this book, in the chapter Year 1920 – Millions Now Living Will Never Die! However here is a report from the meeting with publishers:
QUESTION MEETING
QUESTION: Have the ancient worthies returned?
ANSWER: Certainly they have not returned. No one has seen them, and it would be foolish to make such an announcement. It was stated in the “Millions” book that we might reasonably expect them to return shortly after 1925, but this was merely an expressed opinion; besides it is still shortly after 1925. There is no good reason why we should expect the ancient worthies to return until the church is complete and the work of the church on earth is done. At this time the work is not complete, and it is quite evident that many of the members of the body of Christ are still here.
QUESTION: id the work of the church cease in October, 1925, as some claim, or is there something else yet to do?
ANSWER: The work did not cease in 1925 and is still going on. The Lord is at the head of his work and it is going on with the same force and momentum that it has heretofore. Some misguided ones in Switzerland conceived the thought that the work had ended in 1925, that only a small remnant of the consecrated were within the fold, and that everybody who did not agree with this thought were out. Of course such a thought is a foolish one; it is the result of a disturbed mind and not the result of candid consideration of God’s Word. There is nothing in the Scriptures to indicate that the Lord will reveal to his church just how soon the work is going to end, but each one who is devoted to the Lord should be willing and anxious to press on and do with his might what his hands find to do, until the Lord says it is enough. Let no one be disturbed by the foolish proclamation that has been put forth by one or two misguided brethren to the effect that the ancient worthies were back in 1925 and that the work of the church there ceased, and that all those who do not agree with them are outside. The Lord is still able to manage his own affairs and to carry out his work in his own good way, without the expressed wisdom of some self-constituted wise people. Trust in the Lord and follow his Word, and you will be safe. (The Watchtower July 1, 1926 p. 196).
Other magazines also touched the 1925 case several times:
The Golden Age April 7, 1926 p. 445; The Golden Age May 19, 1926 p. 537; The Golden Age June 30, 1926 p. 635; The Golden Age July 14, 1926 pp. 663-664; The Golden Age August August 25, 1926 p. 755; The Golden Age September 22, 1926 p. 823.
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