Manipulations using the year 1925
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It seems that after many years, the Watchtower Society is sometimes trying to whitewash the 1925 case. They state that many expected (instead of “all”) and that it was “the hope” (instead of “certainty”). On top they also state that there were just private ‘beliefs’ or ‘surmises,’ etc. Here are some examples of such manipulation:
On the basis of what was said there, many hoped that perhaps the remaining ones of the little flock would receive their heavenly reward by 1925. (...) and millions then living could have the hope of never dying off the earth. (Jehovah’s Witnesses—Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom 1993 p. 632).
Throughout the country, there were some whose motivation for serving God was considerably influenced by the belief that they would receive their heavenly reward by 1925 at the latest. (1994 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses p. 188).
Bible Students, known since 1931 as Jehovah’s Witnesses, also expected that the year 1925 would see the fulfillment of marvelous Bible prophecies. They surmised that at that time the earthly resurrection would begin, bringing back faithful men of old, such as Abraham, David, and Daniel. (Awake! June 22, 1995 p. 9).
However, in their other publications, the Watchtower Society was admitting the expectations of 1925 referred to “all” rather than to “some” of its followers:
At that time, there was a widely held view that pointed to 1925 as the year for the resurrection to begin and for Paradise to be restored to the earth. Thus, many were serving with a fixed date in mind. (...) After 1925 passed, the holy ones no longer served God with an immediate, explicit deadline in view. (Pay Attention to Daniel’s Prophecy! 1999 pp. 303-304).
To prove that the expectations of 1925 were not just a ‘surmise,’ or a private ‘conviction’ of ‘some’ or ‘many’ of them, let us cite the following. This comes from their one of the most important publications of that day:
POSITIVE PROMISE
(...) Based upon the argument heretofore set forth, then, that the old order of things, the old world, is ending and is therefore passing away, 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, it is reasonable to conclude that millions of people now on the earth will be still on the earth in 1925. Then, based upon the promises set forth in the divine Word, we must reach the positive and indisputable conclusion that millions now living will never die. (Millions Now Living Will Never Die! 1920 pp. 96-97).
As we can see, this publication served all Watchtower followers, gave a specific date and stated it firmly and undeniably.
The Watchtower Society very often manipulates the year 1925 by pointing both to the lecture and Millions Now Living Will Never Die! book and at the same time passing over the fact that it treated about the exact date (i.e. 1925). The year 1925 was mentioned ten times there! Here are examples of publications from recent years (since 1990):
The Watchtower: May 15, 2014 p. 31; February 15, 2010 p. 16; August 15, 2009 p. 16; July 15, 2009 p. 24; March 1, 2006 p. 12; September 1, 2002 p. 25; December 1, 2002 p. 25; May 15, 2001 p. 14; August 1, 2001 p. 24; July 1, 2000 p. 24; May 1, 1998 p. 26; January 1, 1997 p. 11; June 15, 1996 p. 32; February 15, 1995 p. 8; February 1, 1995 p. 13; January 1, 1995 p. 20; April 1, 1994 p. 20; December 15, 1990 p. 13; September 15, 1990 p. 17; April 1, 1990 p. 31.
Awake! April 22, 1990 p. 6.
God’s Kingdom Rules! 2014 p. 72; 2014 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses p. 89; 2013 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses p. 85; 2012 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses pp. 103, 162; 2011 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses pp. 167, 180; 2000 Yearbook of Jehovah’s
Witnesses p. 153; 1996 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses pp. 70, 239;
1994 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses pp. 75-77, 179; 1993 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses pp. 80, 83; 1991 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses pp. 77, 134; 1990 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses pp. 73, 155; Revelation—Its Grand Climax At Hand! 1988, 2006 pp. 120, 152, 173, 221.
Anyone who would like to check the publications quoted here will not be able to find even a trace of “the year 1925,” although those publications mention the “Millions Campaign” and the book associated with it!
Even in the 1975 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, the case of the 1925 (p. 146) and the “millions who will not die” (pp. 127, 131, 133, 139-140) was discussed totally separately, as if one had nothing to do with the other. Probably because to make a space to continue to use their slogan of “millions who will not die.”
Only two publications from the years 1990-2015 did consider already mentioned brochure of “millions who will not die” and “the year 1925” year together. It can be found in: Jehovah’s Witnesses— Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom 1993 (pp. 78, 259-260, 632) and The Watchtower November 1, 1993 p. 11.
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