Calculating “Jubilee years” 1874
and 1925
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Calculating the date 1925 was closely related to the time of the proclaimed “Jubilee Year.” This was a new concept of J.F. Rutherford (1869-1942), the President of the Watchtower Society, that surfaced and became widely advertised in 1918. In fact it was created quite a bit earlier, in 1917. Before we introduce it, let’s recall the previous calculation of the “Jubilee Year” dated on 1874 that was introduced by the former President of the organization, C.T. Russell (1852-1916). It can be found in his books, which were printed until 1927 and advertised until 1930 (see e.g. The Watchtower November 1, 1929 p. 322; Polish Watchtower April 1, 1930 p. 111).
It is interesting how the Watchtower Society publishers could reconcile these two distant dates. The „Jubilee” was first set for 1874, but later it was changed to 1925.
How they were able in the years 1917 to 1930 to harmonize two kinds of publications with the two dates of the “Jubilee Year?” The first that was underway and the second, that was about to start? Here is a reminder of the “old” teaching, the Jubilee since 1874:
Calculations based on this cycle of years led to the conclusion that perhaps a greater Jubilee for all the earth had begun in the autumn of 1874, that evidently the Lord had returned in that year and was invisibly present, and that “the times of restitution of all things” had arrived.—Acts 3:19-21, KJ. (Jehovah’s Witnesses— Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom 1993 pp. 631-632).
The “Jubilee Year” teaching of 1925 appeared later, between 1917-1918. The Watchtower Society thus recalls its interpretation:
In a booklet published in that same year, 1920, it was pointed out that if 70 full Jubilees were calculated from what was understood to be the date when Israel entered the Promised Land (...), this could point to the year 1925. (Jehovah’s Witnesses—Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom 1993 p. 632).
Finally, as it seems, in 1922 the Jubilee of 1874 was definitively rejected:
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).
Strangely enough, in another publication the restitution was nevertheless linked to 1874:
Prior to 1874 the Church for a long time had been in bondage to Babylonish systems. That year marked the second presence of our Lord (...) Restitution began in 1874. (The Watchtower April 1, 1924 p. 101).
The table below compares the teaching of the “Jubilee Year” 1874 with the one of 1925.
| The Time is at Hand 1889, 1902, 1923, 1927 | Millions Now Living Will Never Die! 1920 |
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We will now reckon all these from their commencement on entering Canaan, and see where they end. 19 Cycles with Jubilees added (50 years each) = 950 years 51 Cycles without Jubilees (49 years each) = 2499 [years] 70 Cycles, therefore, cover a period of 3449 [years] This period of 3449 years, reckoned from the entering of Canaan, ends as the foregoing, October, A. D. 1874 (...) The period of the 70 cycles, as shown above, from the beginning of the Jubilee system, on entering Canaan, until the antitype, the Great Jubilee, or Times of Restitution, began, Oct., A. D. 1874 (p. 194). The great antitypical Jubilee, the Times of Restitution of all things, had its beginning in the year 1874, when the presence of the great Restorer was also due. (p. 363). |
An understanding of the jubilee system which Jehovah inaugurated with Israel throws a great light upon the immediate future events. (...)Other Scriptures show that there were to be seventy jubilees kept. (Jeremiah 25:11; 2 Chronicles 36:17-21) A simple calculation of these jubilees brings us to this important fact: Seventy jubilees of fifty years each would be a total of 3500 years. That period of time beginning 1575 before A. D. 1 of necessity would end in the fall of the year 1925, at which time the type ends and the great antitype must begin. What, then, should we expect to take place? In the type there must be a full restoration; therefore the great antitype must mark the beginning of restoration of all things. (pp. 87-88).>br> The last year of the 3,500 years will be itself a jubilee year witnessing the antitype, the great jubilee, of restitution. (p. 110). |
Characteristic for both calculations of “Jubilee Years” is that both years (1874 and 1925) are obtained by adding certain amount of years to the baseline, i.e. 1575 before Christ. In the first case, it is 3449 years and in the second 3500 years. For further changes regarding the “Jubilee Year,” please see the chapter: Reinterpretation of the Jubilees.
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