Year 1921 – The Harp of God and “Millions who will never die”
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In 1921, the Watchtower Society published The Harp of God, the book by President J.F. Rutherford. It followed on other publications announcing promises for “millions of people.” The book’s front and the cover page contain the following phrase:
Proof Conclusive that Millions now Living will never Die.
This book also contains more concrete announcements for humankind:
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. They will be the visible representatives of the kingdom of heaven. (The Harp of God 1921 pp. 339-340).
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).
Seeing, then, that we are at the end of the old order and the opening of the new, and that according to the Scriptures many must pass over to the new, it can be confidently announced that MILLIONS OF PEOPLE NOW LIVING WILL NEVER DIE, because these being offered restitution blessings the presumption must be indulged that many of them will accept and be obedient to the new order of things. (The Harp of God 1921 p. 333). See p. 248.
The resurrected patriarchs, after a completion of their work during 1000 of years on earth (as princes), were to be taken to heaven:
Abraham, the father of the faithful, and his colleagues of like faithfulness, who have, under the supervision of the Christ, directed the people through their Millennial trial, have finished their earthly career and have been raised to a higher plane as spirit beings. Having during that reign turned many to righteousness, they shine forth as the stars for ever and ever. (Daniel 12:3) (The Harp of God 1921 p. 356).
The Harp of God was issued in 5,819,037 copies (Jehovah’s Witnesses—Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom 1993 p. 560), and since it does not specifically mention 1925 (but it uses the term “few years”), it has become a universal book, useful for many years. Due to that it was issued even until 1940.
Interesting that the Watchtower Society removed the words the next few years from the editions of the 1928, 1937 and 1940 concerning the resurrection of the Prophets, though the another one, on the passing of the old world in a few years, remained unchanged. For the reference: the next few years were present till 1927, i.e. in the editions of 1924, 1925, 1926, and 1927 inclusive.
In addition, the promise “Proof Conclusive that Millions now Living will never Die” disappeared from the cover of 1928 edition of the book as well as from its title.
The 1925 was mentioned only one time in The Watchtower magazine in 1921 (See The Watchtower May 15, 1921 p. 156 [a letter after the Watchtower Society’s visit in Greece]).
The Golden Age magazine published a broad article about 1925, in which they quoted almost word for word passages from Millions Now Living Will Never Die! namely the words about the patriarchs’ resurrection (See The Golden Age [double number] March 16 and March 30, 1921 p. 381).
In 1921, it was also stated that only a few remaining months or years are left to the Bible Students, till they would be taken to heaven.
Seeing, then, that we have come to the end of the gospel dispensation and that the time for the exaltation of the church is at hand, and that there are probably only a few remaining months or years at best, before the last one is glorified, we do well to take a view of the divine arrangement and diligently to put forth honest endeavors to comply with it, to the end that we may quickly grow up into the full stature of a man in Christ Jesus, that the Lord Jehovah may be pleased to exalt us to the position to which he has called us. (The Watchtower May 1, 1921 p. 133).
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