In the early 19th century, Adventists began speculating about when Christ would return.

Baptist preacher William Miller believed the return would occur between 1843 and 1844. A “great disappointment” came on October 22, 1844 when Jesus failed to appear. Miller’s followers split into several groups and the Adventist movement began.

Millerite Nelson H. Barbour did his own study and concluded that Christ would return in 1873, which he later changed to 1874.

When Jesus failed to appear, he concluded that the date was correct but that they had been expecting the wrong thing. Jesus did return in 1874—invisibly—and would soon become visible to judge the world. He started a magazine, Herald of the Morning, to publicize his views.

This is where Charles Taze Russell entered the picture.

Excited by the concept of an 1874 invisible return of Christ, he became assistant editor of the magazine. Because of key differences in doctrine, Russell terminated his association with Barbour and in July 1879, began publishing Zion’s Watch Tower, the principal magazine of the Bible Student movement. Several years after Russell’s death, the magazine became associated with Jehovah’s Witnesses and was renamed The Watchtower.

A prolific writer, Russell also published six books which he called Studies in the Scriptures. He included many charts and diagrams, all using Bible numbers and antitypes to show what he considered to be conclusive proof of his prophetic date system.

Russell believed and taught that Christ returned invisibly in 1874 and that the rapture would occur in 1878. Moreover, the year 1874 began a 40-year gospel harvest period began which would end in 1914. At that time, all earthly governments would be overthrown and Christ’s millennial kingdom on earth would begin.

Russell’s book, The Time Is At Hand, the second volume of his Studies in the Scriptures, contains the following prophetic claims: “In this chapter we present the Bible evidence proving that the full end of the times of the Gentiles, i.e., the full end of their lease of dominion, will be reached in A.D. 1914; and that the date will be the farthest limit of the rule of imperfect men. And be it observed, that if this is shown to be a fact firmly established by the Scriptures, it will prove; Firstly, that at that date the Kingdom of God, for which our Lord taught us to pray, saying, Thy Kingdom come, will obtain full, universal control, and that it will then be set up, or firmly established, in the earth, on the ruins of present institutions.” (1888 edition, pp. 76-77)

The 1902 and 1908 editions added: “In view of this strong Bible evidence concerning the Times of the Gentiles, we consider it an established truth that the final end of the kingdoms of this world, and the full establishment of the kingdom of God, will be accomplished by the end of A.D. 1914.” (p. 99)

Because that didn’t happen as predicted, the 1915 edition made an adjustment: “In view of this strong Bible evidence concerning the Times of the Gentiles, we consider it an established truth that the final end of the kingdoms of this world, and the full establishment of the kingdom of God, will be accomplished near the end of A.D. 1915. (p. 99)

In 1915, Russell proclaimed: “The present great war in Europe is the beginning of the Armageddon of the Scriptures (Rev 19:16-20). It will eventuate in the complete overthrow of all the systems of error which have so long oppressed the people of God and deluded the world. We believe the present war cannot last much longer until revolutions shall break out.” (C.T. Russell, Pastor Russell’s Sermons, p. 676)

In the 1915 edition of The Time Is At Hand, he made the same announcement: “Be not surprised, then, when in subsequent chapters we present proofs that the setting up of the Kingdom of God is already begun, that it is pointed out in prophecy as due to begin the exercise of power in A.D. 1878, and that the ‘battle of the great day of God Almighty’ (Rev. 16:14), which will end in A.D. 1915, with the complete overthrow of the earth’s present rulership, is already commenced.” (p. 101)

Believing that 6000 years since the creation of Adam occurred in 1873, Russell taught that this chronology also supported his conclusion that Christ’s millennial reign would occur at the end of the 40-year gospel harvest period: “Here we furnish the evidence that from the creation of Adam to A.D. 1873 was six thousand years. And though the Bible contains no direct statement that the seventh thousand will be the epoch of Christ’s reign, the great Sabbath Day of restitution to the world, yet the venerable tradition is not without reasonable foundation. (The Time Is At Hand; 1889; 1915 ed.; p. 39)

He died in 1916 while the Great War was still in progress, not living the see the errors of his prophetic expectations.

Most of Russell’s dates and predictions have been abandoned by the Watchtower and therefore by Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Specifically:

1. They see no significance to the dates of 1874 and 1878 and no longer mention them.
2. They no longer teach or mention a 40-year harvest period.
3. They believe Jesus’ “invisible presence” began in 1914, not 1874.
4. They still believe that the Gentile Times ended in 1914 but the overthrow of earthly governments is still future. It will take place at Armageddon, which will occur any day now.
5. They teach that 6000 years since the creation of Adam occurred in 1975, not 1873.

Sometimes Jehovah’s Witnesses will ask you why you bring up such old teachings which have been long abandoned.

It’s because of the Watchtower’s claim to be Jehovah’s “faithful and discreet slave” organization which alone dispenses spiritual food at the proper time.

And remember this claim of the Watchtower, which I cited in a previous post: “People… have at hand the Bible, but it is little read or understood. So, does Jehovah have a prophet to help them, to warn them of dangers and to declare things to come?… These questions can be answered in the affirmative. Who is this prophet?… This “prophet” was not one man, but was a body of men and women. It was the small group of footstep followers of Jesus Christ, known at that time as International Bible Students. Today they are known as Jehovah’s Witnesses.… Of course, it is easy to say that this group acts as a “prophet” of God. It is another thing to prove it. The only way that this can be done is to review the record. (The Watchtower, April 4, 1972, “They Shall Know That a Prophet Was Among Them,” p. 197)

You can also cite recent claims made by the Watchtower such as this: “Ever since ‘The Watchtower’ began to be published in July of 1879 it has looked ahead into the future.… No, ‘The Watchtower’ is no inspired prophet, but it follows and explains a Book of prophecy the predictions in which have proved to be unerring and unfailing till now. ‘The Watchtower’ is therefore under safe guidance. It may be read with confidence, for its statements may be checked against the prophetic Book.” (The Watchtower, January 1, 1969, p. 2)

You can contrast it with this indictment by the Watchtower from 1968: “True, there have been those in times past who predicted an ‘end’ to the world, even announcing a specific date. Yet nothing happened. The ‘end’ did not come. They were guilty of false prophesying. Why? What was missing? Missing from such people were God’s truths and the evidence that He was using and guiding them.” (Awake, Oct. 8, 1968)

You might ask Jehovah’s Witnesses whom that article was talking about and then add something like this: “In view of what we’ve just seen of Watchtower history, please explain why this indictment applies only to others and not to themselves.”