Reinterpretation of the date and calculations

Author: Włodzimierz Bednarski

Reinterpretation of the date and calculations

The Watchtower Society’s reinterpretation of the year 1925 calculations was done in several ways and in several publications. Either some excerpts from book reprints were removed, or some words were stamped on the original contents, or lastly, when the date was not directly pointing out the 1925, but stating instead “several years,” it was still printed because it was still up-to-date.

The Finished Mystery

Example 1

(...) that all phases of Babylon will not be disposed of until about ten and a half years from the fall of 1914. (The Finished Mystery 1917 p. 178).

(...) that all phases of Babylon will not be disposed of until about ten and a half years from the fall of 1920. (Polish version of The Finished Mystery. No release date, p. 66 [large format ZG]).

Example 2

While the Temple is an architectural possibility, as shown in the accompanying illustrations, (and may be erected at Jerusalem), it, in its various parts, surroundings, rites and worshippers, is a type and symbol of “better things to come,” after the wars, revolutions and anarchy of the period from 1914 to 1925 have passed. (The Finished Mystery 1917 p. 569).

While the Temple is an architectural possibility, as shown in the accompanying illustrations, (and may be erected at Jerusalem), it, in its various parts, surroundings, rites and worshippers, is a type and symbol of “better things to come,” after the wars, revolutions and anarchy of the time of trouble have passed. (The Finished Mystery 1926 p. 569).

Example 3

(...) and we therefore expect three and a half years of proscription of the Truth, from the spring of 1918 to the fall of 1921. This will give the Great Company splendid opportunities for martyrdom and allow another three and a half years, to the spring of 1925, for the world to think the matter over, by which time, doubtless, they will be quite ready to listen to the voice that speaketh from Heaven. – Heb. 12:19” (The Finished Mystery 1917 p. 177).

(...) and we therefore expect three and a half years of proscription of the Truth, from the spring of 1918 to the fall of 1921. But it is well remember that prophecy is not given with a view to satisfying curiosity, but with a view to enabling the Lord’s people to identify events as they transpire. For this reason any advance view of dates is liable to be blurred, and the experience of the church has abundantly shown this to be so. But this fact would be no adequate reason for indifference toward chronology. (The Finished Mystery 1926 p. 177).

Millions Now Living Will Never Die!

An interesting reinterpretation of the text of the Watchtower Society was made in the English edition of the book Millions Now Living Will Never Die! Since this publication was not fully used before 1925, the words “soon” were stamped in the remaining English copies on the date “1925.” This way the contents got updated and was ready for distribution.

Example 1

(...) and that these will have the first favor, we may expect 1925 to witness the return of these faithful men of Israel from the condition of death, being resurrected and fully restored to perfect humanity and made the visible, legal representatives of the new order of things on earth. (Millions Now Living Will Never Die! 1920 p. 88).

In this text in the English edition (p. 88) the word “soon” was stamped on the date “1925.”

Example 2

Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old, particularly those named by the Apostle in Hebrews chapter eleven, to the condition of human perfection. (Millions Now Living Will Never Die! 1920 pp. 89-90).

In this text in the English edition (p. 89) the word “soon” was stamped on the date “1925.”

Example 3

(...) and that the new order is coming in, and that 1925 shall mark the resurrection of the faithful worthies of old and the beginning of reconstruction... (Millions Now Living Will Never Die! 1920 p. 97).

In this text in the English edition (p. 97) the word “soon” was stamped on the date “1925.”

Obviously, it was not possible to insert the English word soon instead of 1925 in every place. So, when the calculating method of the date was given, then the text was left unchanged:

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. (Millions Now Living Will Never Die! 1920 p. 88).

In this text in the English edition (p. 88) 1925 was stamped with the word soon.

Maybe after 1925, the newer publishers came across such a changed copy of the book by which they were bewitched:

IN THE summer of 1929, when I was two years old, something wonderful happened to my father, Matthew Allen. He obtained the booklet Millions Now Living Will Never Die!, published by the International Bible Students, as Jehovah’s Witnesses were then known. After devouring just a few pages, Dad exclaimed, “This is the greatest thing I have ever read!” (The Watchtower September 1, 2002 p. 25).

In 1926, when our family was living in Fort Frances, Ontario, Canada, my mother accepted the booklet Millions Now Living Will Never Die from a Bible Student (as Jehovah’s Witnesses were then known). She read it with keen interest, and that very week she attended a group Bible study, using the Watch Tower magazine. (The Watchtower January 1, 1995 p. 20).

If in this book, instead of 1925 the readers have found the word soon, everything becomes clear and their fascination can be partly justified.

Perhaps the President J.F. Rutherford also meant this changed version of his book when in 1926 answered the question of the publisher:

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. (The Watchtower July 1, 1926 p. 196).

If the President of the Watchtower Society did not refer to the revised version, he simply departed from the truth, because the original of the publication did not contain what Rutherford mentioned (see chapter 1920 – Millions Now Living Will Never Die!).

The Harp of God

The Harp of God (1921) was a universal book because it did not used the term 1925, but instead “several years.” Consequently, while it was teaching about “millions who will not die,” it could have been printed for many years without any corrections. And it was published (an English version) until 1940! Here are those universal sentences:

The proof cited herein shows that the old world (the Devil's organization) ended and began to pass away in 1914, and that this will be completed in a few years and righteousness fully established. (The Harp of God 1921 p. 333).

Because Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the other faithful prophets described by the Apostle Paul in Hebrews 11 are promised a better resurrection; (...) Hence these faithful men may be expected on earth within the next few years. They will constitute the legal representatives of the Christ in the earth. (The Harp of God 1921, 1925 p. 339-340).

In the 1928 edition, the words “within the next few years” have been removed:

Because Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the other faithful prophets described by the Apostle Paul in Hebrews 11 are promised a better resurrection; (...) Hence these faithful men may be expected on earth at the inauguration of the new covenant. They will constitute the legal representatives of The Christ in the earth. (The Harp of God 1928 p. 346).

Also from the cover and the title page of the book titled The Harp of God, 1928, the promise of Proof Conclusive that Millions now Living Will Never Die has disappeared.

A Desirable Government

In 1924 the Watchtower Society issued a brochure entitled A Desirable Government, which quoted some words from The Harp of God (1921). The book issued in 1921 announced the arrival of the patriarchs in “a few years,” which might indicate 1925, but a brochure dated 1924 also mentioning “a few years,” could have pushed the patriarchs’ resurrection several years ahead.

The Way to Paradise

There was also another universal book that was not pointing out directly the 1925. The Way to Paradise published in 1924, contained the phrases “shortly after 1925” or “1925-1926!” Thanks to it, it was possible to delay the coming of the expected new world. It was still published in 1925, but there was no need to make corrections.

This event will put an end to world number two. The Bible and “The Bible in Stone” give the date 1914 for the beginning of the great change. History proves that the ouster proceedings began promptly on lime. Prophecy indicates that 1925-1926 will see the greater part of the ousting completed. All the world's statesmen are dreading the next few years. (The Way to Paradise 1924, 1925 p. 171).

We should, therefore, expect shortly after 1925 to see the awakening of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Melchisedec, Job, Moses, Samuel, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, John the Baptist, and others mentioned in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. (The Way to Paradise 1924, 1925 p. 224).

The Watchtower, The Golden Age

The Watchtower Society’s journals secured the Society from collapse of the year 1925 by providing an alternative calculation pointing to the year 1926. Here are some examples:

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).

Other texts of this type are included in the chapter titled: Year 1926 – Another pointless expectation.

Also, the statements of the Watchtower Society from 1922-1925 of “several years” allowed the organization to prolong the waiting period for the period immediately after 1925:

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).

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).

More and more love is called for, now that it is but a few short years until the glorious Sun of Light will shine in full brightness for the ingathering and reconciliation of the willing and obedient of the whole world. (The Watchtower May 1, 1923 p. 132).

It will not do to say that 1925 is approaching and the work will not be finished during that year, and that therefore one can slack up for awhile and take on the work again some time later. Who knows that the work of the Church this side the vail may not be completed in 1925? (...) Suppose the Lord should say to his people in 1925 words to the effect that several years more will be required to give the witness to the nations before all the body members shall be changed into glorious spirit beings. Would not the truly loyal ones respond in effect thus? (The Watchtower July 15, 1924 p. 211).

The Lord is in his temple. The King and his kingdom are here, Whether all the church is taken beyond the vail in 1925 or not is a matter of little moment. If we realize that we have found a safe hiding place in the Lord and that we are commissioned to be his witnesses, then let us delight ourselves in the Lord and joyfully perform the blessed duties granted unto us whether on this side a few months or a few years. (The Watchtower August 15, 1925 pp. 247-248).

In just a few years after 1925 passed, this date has become completely useless. New expectations for the other years appeared (for the 1930s and 1940s, and finally the 1975). The Watchtower Society has also corrected its chronology and summarized it as follows:

Later on, during the years from 1935 through 1944, a review of the overall framework of Bible chronology revealed that a poor translation of Acts 13:19, 20 in the King James Version, along with certain other factors, had thrown off the chronology by over a century. This later led to the idea—sometimes stated as a possibility, sometimes more firmly—that since the seventh millennium of human history would begin in 1975, events associated with the beginning of Christ’s Millennial Reign might start to take place then. (Jehovah’s Witnesses—Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom 1993 pp. 632-633).

A seven-year period

We mentioned in the chapter Alternative methods of calculating 1925 that the Watchtower Society used to add 3.5 and 7-year periods in its calculations. In the case of “the year 1925,” they applied exactly this logic that allowed to shift ‘the end’ to the year 1932:

They had preached that in an early time God would overthrow “Christendom”. Many had emphasized the year 1925 as the date, and then when that date did not materialize the date was moved up to 1932. Again, 1932 came and “Christendom” was not destroyed, and now it was discovered that “Christendom” would be spared for a while longer for the sake of the Jonadab class... (The Watchtower February 15, 1938 pp. 54-55).

However, according to its principle, the organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses also had alternative ways of calculations, which were to confirm the years 1931-1932 in case the 1925 failed:

The Time of the establishment of the Kingdom in power is indicated as “in the fourteenth year after that the city (Christendom) was smitten” – or thirteen years after 1918 viz.. in 1931. – Ezek. 40:1. (The Finished Mystery 1917, 1918 [850,000 Edition] p. 569).

The Time of the establishment of the Kingdom in power is indicated as “in the fourteenth year after that the city (Christendom) was smitten” – or thirteen years after 1918 viz.. in 1932. – Ezek. 40:1. (The Finished Mystery 1918 [75,000 Edition] p. 569).