1874 - Return of Jesus, harvest & the of the time of trouble
1879 |-->
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I also believe that Christ came in the caracter of a Bridegroom in 1874.
That John introduced Christ in that character at the beginning of the Jewish harvest, to complete the pattern (John iii. 29), is to us an additionnal evidence of the position that the parallel was due in 1874 at the beginning of the Gospel harvest. |
Source : Watchtower, October 1879, page 4
1880 |-->| "At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince [Archangel] which standeth for the children of thy people and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation." Dan. xii. 1. Nor will we here, again present the conclusive Bible proof that our Lord came for his Bride in 1874, [...] |
Source : Watchtower, November 1880, page 1
1890 |-->|
It is astonishing with what rapidity matters are shaping themselves for the great time of trouble predicted in the Scriptures. When, some fourteen years ago, we presented the Scriptural declaration that the Millennium of peace and blessing would be introduced by forty years of trouble, beginning slightly in 1874 and increasing until social chaos should prevail in 1914 - few believed, some scoffed; for the whole cry then was Peace ! Arbitration ! Harmony ! - hoped for throught increasing intelligence.
Gradually the storm-clouds have been gathering since 1914. |
Source : Watch Tower, October 1890, [1243]
1891 |-->| At the first movement disappointment was predicted, and waiting for the 1335 days was necessary; but the second was not a disappointment, and a waiting was no longer necessary, for it came exactly at the close of the 1335 prophetic days - in October 1874. It was just following the close of the 1335 years, the period of "waiting," that the fact of our Lord's presence, as taught by the foregoing prophecies, began to be recongnized. It was very early in the morning of the new age, but it was the "midnight" hour, so far as the deep slumbering of the virgins was concerned, when the cry went forth, which is still ringing, "Behold the Bridegroom !" - not Behold the Bridegroom cometh, but Behold he has come, and we are now living "in the [parousia] presence of the Son of man." And this has been the character of the present movement, from then until now, -a proclamation of the Lord's presence and of the kingdom work now in progress. The writer, and co-laborers, proclaimed the fact of the Lord's presence, demonstrating it from prophecy, and on charts or tables, such as are used in this book, until the fall 1878, when arrangements were made for starting our present monthly publication, ZION'S WATCH TOWER, and the Herald of Christ's Presence." By the Lord's blessing, millions of copies of this publication have carried the tidings that the Time is fulfilled, [...] |
Source : MILLENNIAL DAWN, Thy Kingdom Come (Vol III), 1st-ed, (1891), page 92 & page 93
| "The harvest is the end of the age;" and the harvest, as already shown, is the period of 40 years from the fall of 1874, the termination of the "1335 days," to the fall of 1914. And Daniel is to receive his reward or portion in the kingdom of Michael, together with all the holy prophets, as well as the saints of the Gospel age, in this "End" or "harvest" period,- |
Source : MILLENNIAL DAWN, Thy Kingdom Come (Vol III), 1st-ed, (1891), page 94
| The Careful student will have observed that the period designated "The Time of the End," is very appropriately named, since it not only closes the Gospel age, but in it all the time-prophecies terminate, reaching their fulfilments. The same class of readers will have noticed, too, the special importance of the last 40 of those 115 years (1874-1914), called "The End" or "Harvest." |
Source : MILLENNIAL DAWN, Thy Kingdom Come (Vol III), 1st-ed, (1891), page 121
| A faithful few were thus instructed in the World of truth and filled with its spirit, purified and more fully separated from the world, purged of pride, and brought to more humble reliance upon God, through the discipline of the disappointment of 1844; and the foretold tarrying of thirty years, developped patience, humility, and loving submission in the holy ones, until the watchers at the end of "1335 days" (1874, harvest time), receive, and were sent forth to announce to all the sanctuary class, the glad message, "Behold the Bridegroom !" And all of this class who hear, when they recongnize it, lift up their voices also, saying, "Behold the Bridegroom !" And this harvest message to the saints continues to go forth, and will, until it has reached all the consecrated and faithful. This intelligence is not for the world now, but for the prospective bride specially. Our Lord is not the Bridegroom to any other class. The knowledge of his presence will come to the world in another way, and at a later time. None are prepared to receive this truth, except the consecrated, the sanctuary class. To the "host" of nominal Christian, as well as to the world, it is foolishness; nor will they be disposed to test the proofs herein set forth. |
Source : MILLENNIAL DAWN, Thy Kingdom Come (Vol III), 1st-ed, (1891), page 123 & page 124
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The typical Jubilee cycles pointed out 1874 A.D. as the date of our Lord's return; and yet the date was herein son ingeniously hidden, as to make its discovery impossible until the "Time of the End." And this testimony was made doubly strong by proofs from two standpoints - the Law and the Prophets - the two being entirely independent of each other, and yet equally clear and convincing.
The wonderful parallelism of the Jewish and Gospel dispensations, taught us the same truth with additional features. The second advent of our Lord in the end or harvest of the Gospel age, occuring in the fall of 1874, proves to be at a point of time exactly parallel to the time of his first advent, in the end of the Jewish age. (See Table of Correspondencies, Vol. II, pages 246 and 247.) As every prominent feature of the Gospel dispensation is marked by a corresponding parallel in that typical dispensation, so we find that this most noteworthy event taught by the jubilee, has it corresponding parallel. Our Lord's presence is shown in both dispensations as Bridegroom, Reaper and King. [...] Again, we have found the second advent of our Lord indicated by the prophet Daniel (12:1) [...] And having traced the 1335 days of Dan. xii, down to their ending at this same date, we can understand now, why the angel who thus pointed out the date, referred to it in such exultant terms - "O, the blessedness of him that waiteth [who is in a waiting or watching attitude] and cometh to the thousand three hundred, five and thirty days!" - A.D. 1874. |
Source : MILLENNIAL DAWN, Thy Kingdom Come (Vol III), 1st-ed, (1891), page 125 & page 126
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Thus we found the time of our Lord's second advent clearly proven to be 1874-in October of that year, as shown in Vol.II, chap.vi.
But this is not all. Certain reasonable obstacles to faith in Christ's presence might yet appear to the minds of even careful students, and we wish to see these all removed. For instance, it might reasonably be inquired, How is that the exact Bible Chronology points to October 1872 as the beginning of the seventh thousand years, or Millennium, while the Jubilee Cycles show October 1874 to be the date of our Lord's return and the beginning of the restitution times ? This apparent inharmony of the date of the second advent with the beginning of the seventh years seemed at first sight to indicate "a srew loose" somewhere in the chronological reckoning, and led to careful re-examenination of the suject, but always with the same result. Closer thought, however, proves that God is an exact time keeper, and that this point is no exception to his mathematical precision. |
Source : MILLENNIAL DAWN, Thy Kingdom Come (Vol III), 1st-ed, (1891), page 127
| The six thousand years in which God has permitted evil to dominate the world, prior to the beginning of the great seventh or sabatic thousand, or Times of Restitution, dates from the entrance of sin into the world. And since the Times of restitution began with October 1874, that must be the end of the six thousand years reign of Sin [...] Again, what might at first thought have appeared a discrepancy - that the Lord would be present in the close of 1874, and yet that Gentile Times would not end until 1914 - |
Source : MILLENNIAL DAWN, Thy Kingdom Come (Vol III), 1st-ed, (1891), page 128
| While the time prophecies thus point to and harmonize with 1874 as the date of our Lord's second presence,assuring us of the fact with mathematical precision, we find ourselves overwhelmed with evidence of another character; for certain peculiar signs, foretold by the Lord and the apostles and prophets, which were to precede his coming, are now clearly recognized as actually fulfilled [...] The cleansing of the sanctuary was also accomplished as predicted, and at a time sufficiently in advance of 1874 to make ready "a people prepared for the Lord" - a people in devout expectancy of his comming - just as a similar work prior to the first advent made ready a people to receive him then. We find that the date 1874 is also in harmony with the prophecy of Daniel (12:1), which fixes the advent of "Michael" in the "Time of the End" - that is, somewhere between 1799 and 1914. |
Source : MILLENNIAL DAWN, Thy Kingdom Come (Vol III), 1st-ed, (1891), page 129
| "HARVEST" is a term which gives a general idea as to what work should be expected to transpire between the dates 1874 and 1914. |
Source : MILLENNIAL DAWN, Thy Kingdom Come (Vol III), 1st-ed, (1891), page 135
| Not only has the Lord shown us what to expect in this "harvest," and our share in it, both in being separated ourselves, and as "reapers" using the sickle of truth to assist others to liberty in Christ and separation from false human systems and bondages, but to render us doubly sure that we are right, and that the separating time to the harvest has arrived, he provided us proofs of the very year the harvest work began, its lenght, and where it will close. These, already examined, show that the close of 1874 marked the beginning, as the close of 1914 will mark the end of this 40 years of harvest; |
Source : MILLENNIAL DAWN, Thy Kingdom Come (Vol III), 1st-ed, (1891), page 149
| The parallel to this, as we have seen, points to 1874 as the time of our Lord's second presence as Bridegroom and Reaper, and to April 1878 as the time when he began to exercice his office of King of kings and Lord of Lords in very deed,-this time a spiritual King, present with all power, though invisible to men. |
Source : MILLENNIAL DAWN, Thy Kingdom Come (Vol III), 1st-ed, (1891), page 150
| That "seventieth week", and all the particulars of the testing of Fleshly Israel, not only accomplished the purpose of testing that system, but it also and specially furnished a typical representation of a similar testing of the nominal Gospel Church or Spiritual Israel, called "Christendom" and "babylon," during seven corresponding years, which began the harvest of the Gospel, - the period from October 1874 to October 1881. |
Source : MILLENNIAL DAWN, Thy Kingdom Come (Vol III), 1st-ed, (1891), page 171
| When the knock of prophecy was heard announcing the Lord's presence in the autumn of 1874, almost immediately it began to recognized; and quickly the cry was raised, "Behold the Bridegroom ! go ye out to meet him." And this cry still goes forth, and shall continue until all of the consecrated virgin class have heard, and have their faith and loyalty tested by it. The wise, with lamps (the Word of God) trimmed and burning, and with oil (the holy spirit) in their vessels (their hearts) will all recognize the Lord's presence [...] |
Source : Thy kingdom come (Millennial Dawn), 1st-ed, (1891), page 190 & page 191
| the parallele to which, here, is the recognition of the presence of the Lord, in A. D. 1874, at the beginning of this harvest. |
Source : MILLENNIAL DAWN, Thy Kingdom Come (Vol III), 1st-ed, (1891), page 216
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Looking back to the type, we see that in the spring of A.D., three and a half years after the beginning of the Jewish harvest (A.D. 29) our Lord typically took unto himself his power and exercised kingly autority. (See, Matt. 21:5-15.) And the only object of that action evidently was to mark a parallel point of time in this harvest, when he would in reality assume the kingly office, power, etc., viz., in the spring of 1878, three and a half years after his second advent at the beginning of the harvest period, in the fall of 1874. [...] Such as remember that only Saul of Tarsus saw Christ's spiritual body, and that by a miracle, while others around saw it not, and then at the expense of his sight, will readily see that their not having seen the risen saints with their natural eyes is no more objection to the fact their resurrection than that they have not seen the Lord during this harvest, and have never seen angles, who have been "ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for those who shall be heir of salvation" all through the Gospel age.-
See, Vol. II., Chap. V. Our belief that the Kingdom began to be set up, or brought into power, in April 1878, be it observed, rests on exactly the same foundation as our belief that the Lord became present in October 1874, and the harvest began there. |
Source : MILLENNIAL DAWN, Thy Kingdom Come (Vol III), 1st-ed, (1891), page 233 & page 234 & page 235
| "The Times of the Gentiles," will expire with the year 1914; and that the advent of him whose right it is to take the dominion was due in 1874. [...] not only our Lord and Head invisibly present in the world, but all these holy messengers are also with him [...] Our Lord's resurrection occurred three and a half years after his advent as the Messiah, in A.D. 30; and the resurrection of his body, the Church, we have seen, was due in the year 1878, three and a half years after his second advent, in October 1874. Prophecy has also indicated the manner of our Lord's return, so that, though he is present, we should not expect to see either him or the risen saints, who are now in his likeness, except by the eye of faith - |
Source : MILLENNIAL DAWN, Thy Kingdom Come (Vol III), 1st-ed, (1891), page 299
| We have marked with special delight the 1335 days, pointing, as they do, to 1874 as the exact date of our Lord's return, and have since that time experienced the very blessedness promised - through the clearer unfoldings of the wonderful mysteries of the divin plan. Then the great harvest work in its appointed time and order, beginning in the autumn of the years 1874, we have seen gradually and silently progressing. |
Source : MILLENNIAL DAWN, Thy Kingdom Come (Vol III), 1st-ed, (1891), page 300
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The Scriptural time-proofs which we have considered show that this trouble was due to date from the time of Christ's second advent (October, 1874), when the juding of the nations would commence, under the enlightening influences of the Day of the Lord. This is shown in the Pyramid thus: -
The "Descending Passage," from the entrance of the Great Pyramid, leading to the "Pit" or "Subterranean Chamber," represents the course of the world in general (under the prince of this world), into the great time of trouble (the "Pit"), in which evil shall be brought to an end. [...] This calculation shows A. D. 1874 as marking the beginning of the period of trouble; for 1542 years B. c. plus 1874 years A. D. equals 3416 years. Thus the Pyramid witnesses that the close of 1874 was the chronological beginning of the time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation-no, nor ever shall be afterward. And thus it will IE noted that this "Witness" fully corroborates the Bible testimony on this subject, as shown by the "Parallel Dispensatidns" in MILLENNIAL DAWNV, OL.I I., Chap. vii. |
Source : MILLENNIAL DAWN, Thy Kingdom Come (Vol III), 1st-ed, (1891), page 335
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This calculation shows A.D. 1874 as marking the beginning of the period of trouble; for 1542 B.C. plus 1874 A.D. equals 3416 years. Thus the Pyramid witnesses that the close of 1874 was the chronological beginning of the time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation - no, nor ever shall be afterward. And thus it will be noted that this "Witness" fully corroborates the Bible testimony on this subject, as shown by the "Parallel Dispensations" in MILLENNIAL DAWN, Vol. II., Chap. VII.
Nor should any doubt the fact the forty years of judgment and trouble began in the fall of 1874 because the trouble has not yet reached an unendurable stage; and because, in some respects, the period since that date has been one of great advancement in knowledge. |
Source : MILLENNIAL DAWN, Thy Kingdom Come (Vol III), 1st-ed, (1891), page 336
| Remember, too, that the Scripture proved to us in various ways - by the Jubilee Cycles, the 1335 days of Daniel, the Parallel Dispensations, etc - that the "harvest" or end of this age was due to begin in October, 1874, and that the Great Reaper was then due to be present [...] |
Source : MILLENNIAL DAWN, Thy Kingdom Come (Vol III), 1st-ed, (1891), page 357
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[...] and give the dates (a) October, 1874, (b) October, 1881 and (c) October, 1910, A.D.
This threefold endind is in full accord with what we have found taught in the Scriptures: that the "harvest, the end of the age," was reached in October, 1874, and that the "call" proper ended in Octobre, 1881 [...] Is not this a most remarkable agreement between this stone "Witness" and the Bible? The Dates, October, 1874, and October, 1881, are exact, [...] Nor is this all of the wonderful symbolism of the Great Pyramid. Its marvelous harmony with the divine plan is still further shown in another remarkable feature. We should expect that the date of the two great events connected with the close of this age, viz., (I) our Lord's second advent, and (2) the beginning of the harvest, would in some manner be marked at the upper end of the "Grand gallery," even as his death and resurrection are marked [...] |
Source : MILLENNIAL DAWN, Thy Kingdom Come (Vol III), 1st-ed, (1891), page 359 & page 360
| That which occured in 1881, like that which occured in 1874, can be discerned only by the eye of faith in the light of God's Word. It was the date of the close of the highcalling, and hence the date for the beginning of the restitution call to mankind in general. |
Source : MILLENNIAL DAWN, Thy Kingdom Come (Vol III), 1st-ed, (1891), page 363
1892 |-->| The date of the close of that "battle" is definitely marked in Scripture as October, 1914. It is already in progress, its beginning dating from October 1874. |
Source : Watch Tower, January 15 1892, [1355]
1894 |-->| For instance, as we look back and note that the Scriptures marked 1873 as the end of six thousand years from Adam to the beginning of the seventh thousand, and the fall of 1874 as the beginning of the forty year harvest of the Gospel age and day of wrath for the overthrow of all institution of "this present evil world [or order affairs].""we can see that facte borne out those predictions of scripture. |
Source : Watch Tower, July 1, 1894, [1675]
1897 |-->| In Vol. 11. we have shown that the harvest time of the Gospel age is already come; that it began in 1874, when the presence of the Lord of the harvest was due; |
Source : The Day of Vengeance (millennial dawn) page 51
| But instead of knowing and setting his house in order, he was taken unawares by the 'Lord' s parousia in 1874, and the ''harvest" work then begun [...] Nor was the fact of the Lord's presence recognized until nearly a year after 0ctober 1874, when his knock, through the word of the prophets and apostles, was recognized. Since that time there are abundant outward signs, evidences, of the presence of the Son of Man; |
Source : The Day of Vengeance (millennial dawn) page 612
1906 |-->| A.D. 1874 when Christ the Bridegroom and Reaper actually came |
Source : The Time Is At Hand (Studies in the Scriptures Vol. 2) (1906) page 240
1908 |-->| We have seen that the beginning of that week was the Fleshly Israel the date of the beginning of their testing, in 1.D. 29. It was marked by our Lord's baptism and recognition as Messiah at Jordan, when the reaping work began - the parallel to which, here, is the recognition of the presence of the Lord, in A.D. 1874, at the beginning of this harvest. |
Source : Thy Kingdom Come (Studies in the Scriptures Vol III) (1908) page 216
1911 |-->| "The Times of the Gentiles," will expire with the year 1914; and that the advent of him whose right it is to take the dominion was due in 1874 [...] our Lord and Head invisibly present in the world [...] Our Lord's resurrection occurred three and a half years after his advent as the Messiah, in A.D. 29; and the resurrection of his body, the Church, we have seen, was due in the year 1878, three and a half years after his second advent, in October 1874. Prophecy has also indicated the manner of our Lord's return, so that, though he is present, we should not expect to see either him or the risen saints, who are now in his likeness, except by the eye of faith - |
Source : Thy Kingdom Come (1911), page 305
| Just so it has been in the harvest: Our Lord's presence as Brigegroom and Reaper was recognized during the first three and a half years, from A.D. 1874 to A.D. 1878. |
Source : Studies in the Scriptures, Serie 2, 1889 The Time is at Hand (edition 1911), page 239
| [...] he would in reality assume the kingly office, power, etc., viz., in the spring of 1878, three and a half years after his second advent at the beginning of the harvest period, in the fall of 1874. |
Source : 1911 Thy Kingdom Come, page 234
1912 |-->| In our previous studies of the subject [...] We have seen that the period of our Lord's presence from 1874 to 1914 is a "harvest" time, the earlier part of it for gathering his elct bride [...] |
Source : The Day Of Vengeance, page 616
| But now we are in the end of this Gospel age, and the Kingdom is being established or set up. Our Lord, the appointing King, is now present, since October 1874, A.D., according to the testimony of the prophets, to those who have ears to hear it : and the formal inauguration of his kingly office dates from April 1878, A.D. |
Source : The Day Of Vengeance, page 621
1917 |-->| "The Millennium (Rev. 20:3, 4, 7) began in 1874, with the return of Christ." [...] For seven years after Christ's Return in 1874. |
Source : 1917 The Finished Mystery, p.386>
1921 |-->| Applying the same rule, then; of a day for a year, 1335 days after 539 A.D. brings us to A.D. 1874, at which time, according to Biblical chronologiy, the Lord's second presence is due. |
Source : The Harp Of God (1921), page 230
| The latter part of "the time of the end" Jesus designates as a time of harvest, because he says: "The harvest is the end of the world [age]". He stated that he would be present at that time. From 1874 forward is the latter part of the period of "the time of the end". From 1874 is the time of the Lord's second presence, as above stated. |
Source : The Harp Of God (1921), page 234
| From that time forward there has been a marvelous increase of light and the inventions and discoveries have been too numerous for us to mention all of them here, but mention is made of some that have come to light since 1874, as further evidence of Lord's presence since that date, as follows: Adding machines, aeroplanes, aluminum, antiseptic surgery, artificial dyes, automatic couplers, automobiles, barbed wire, bicycles, carborundum, cash registers, celluloid, correspondence schools, cream separators, Darkest Africa, disk ploughs, Divine Plan of the Ages, dynamite, electric railways, electric welding, escalators, fireless cookers, gas engines, harvesting machines, illuminating gas, induction motors, linotypes, match machines, monotypes, motion pictures, North Pole, Panama Canal, Pasteurization, railway signals, Roentgen rays, shoe sewing machine, smokeless powder, South Pole, submarines, radium, sky scrapers, subways, talking machines, telephones, typewriters, vacuum cleaners, and wireless telegraphy. |
Source : The Harp Of God (1921), page 235
| It would be reasonable to expect the Lord to have some special messengers in announcing his presence and the time of the harvest. And such is the case. Jesus said that an office had been provided for such a special messenger and that at the time of his second appearing he would appoint some one to that office and give him the responsability of dispensing meat to the household of faith in due season. The Christian's meat in due season is a proper explanation of the Scriptures as they become due to be understood. We mark a wonderful fulfillment of this statement of the Lord as further corroborative proof of the Lord's second presence from 1874 forward. |
Source : The Harp Of God (1921), page 237
("scoffers") --> p.241 et p.242
1922 |-->| “No one can properly understand the work of God at this present time who does not realize that since 1874, the time of the Lord’s return in power, there has been a complete change in God’s operations” |
Source : The WATCH TOWER, September 15, 1922, page 278
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Bible prophecy shows that the Lord was due to appear for the second time in the year 1874. Fulfilled prophecy shows beyond a doubt that he did appear in 1874. Fulfilled prophecy is otherwise designated the physical facts; and these facts are indisputable. All true watchers are familiar with these facts as set forth in the Scriptures and explained in the interpretation by the Lord's special servant.
[…] Since he has been present from 1874, it follows, from the facts as we now see them, that the period from 1874 to 1914 is the day of preparation. This in no wise militates against the thought that "the time of the end" is from 1799 until 1914. The period from 1799 to 1874 could not be said to be a day of preparation, but a day of increasing light. […] Do you believe it? Do you believe that the King of glory is present, and has been since 1874? […] Therefore advertise, advertise, advertise, the King and his kingdom. |
Source : The Watchtower, November 1, 1922, pp.332-337 (page 333 + page 337) DISCOURSE BY BROTHER J. F. RUTHERFORD
[This is the "Advertise, advertise, advertise" discourse delivered by Rutherford, Cedar Point, Ohio, Friday September 8, 1922]
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The fact of our Lord's second coming is definitely settled by the Scriptures. (John 14:2, 3; Acts 1:11; 2 Timothy 4:8) The Scriptures show that the second presence was due in 1874. (See C83-127.) Also it is definitely settled by his own words, that at the time of his second presence he would gird himself, cause his servants to sit down to meat, and would come forth and serve them. (Luke 12:37) He also firmly etablishes the fact that during his presence he would conduct a harvest work [...] These points are incontrovertible; therefore must be considered by all reasonable and fair-minded Christians as conclusively settled.
By proof is meant the physical facts in fulfillment of prophetic utterances by the Lord or some of his inspired witness. This proof shows that the Lord has been present since 1874, and that he has been conducting and is still conducting a harvest work; |
Source : The WATCH TOWER, March 1, 1923, page 67
1924 |-->Then in 1924, ten years after the supposed actual 1914 return of Christ occurred, this was written in the Watchtower magazine :
| Surely there is not the slightest room for doubt in the mind of a truly consecrated child of God that the Lord Jesus is present and has been since 1874 |
Source : The WATCH TOWER, January 1, 1924, page 5
1927 |-->| It is equally certain that the clergy would not understand these times and seasons, because they form a part of Satan's organization [...] To understand the events concerning the Lord's second presence from 1874 to 1914 requires one to be spiritually minded; and the clergy are not spiritually minded; and the clergy are not spiritually minded. - 1 Corinthiens 2:10-14. |
Source : Creation, 1927, page 312
| Jehovah manifestly intends that no one shall have excuse to say that he had no opportunity to know of the presence of the Lord Jesus-Christ [...] The Scriptures, and the circumstantial evidence in fulfilment thereof, which is called the physical facts, prove that the second coming of the Lord dates from 1874; that from that date forward was God's 'day of preparation' [...] |
Source : Creation, 1927, page 317 & page 318
1929 |-->| In the Scriptures there are three different Greek words used in connection with the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Those words are, to wit: parousia (Matt. 24:3), which means presence; apiphaneia (2 Tim. 4:1), which means presence and shining forth with increased light; and apokalupsis (Rev. 1:1), which means the presence of the Lord shining forth with increased light and to a complete uncovering or revelation. Thus is shown the progressive unfolding of the prophecies during the presence of the Lord. That is the period of refreshing mentionned by Peter, and that refreshing is given to, and is for, the benefit of the faithful students of God's Word, because God has turned his face to them and the Lord Jesus Christ is manifesting his presence and is ministering to them. |
Source : Prophecy, 1929, page 65 & page 66
1973 |-->| It is true that the editor and publisher of Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Second Presence calculated that the "presence" or parousia of the heavenly bridegroom began in the year 1874 C.E. |
Source : God's Kingdom Of A Thousand Years Has Approached (1973), page 206
| In the year 1943 the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society published the book "The Truth Shall Make You Free." In its chapter 11, entitled "The Count of Time" it did away with the insertion of 100 years into the period of the Judges and went according to the oldest and most authentic reading of Acts 13:20, and accepted the spelled-out numbers of the Hebrew Scriptures. This moved forward the end of six thousand years of man's existence into the decade of the 1970's. Naturally this did away with the year 1874 C.E. as the date of return of the Lord Jesus Christ and the beginning of his invisible presence or parousia. |
Source : God's Kingdom Of A Thousand Years Has Approached (1973), page 209 & page 210
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