In 1931, Watchtower president Joseph Rutherford admitted that “God’s faithful people on earth emphasized the importance of the dates 1914 and 1918 and 1925. They had much to say about these dates and what would come to pass, but all they predicted did not come to pass.” (Vindication, Vol. 1, p. 146).

He further asserted that they had learned to quit fixing dates or making specific predictions.

There was a measure of disappointment on the part of Jehovah’s faithful ones on earth concerning the years 1914, 1918 and 1925, which disappointment lasted for a time. Later the faithful learned that these dates were definitely fixed in the Scriptures; and they also learned to quit fixing dates for the future and predicting what would come to pass on a certain date, but to rely (and they do rely) upon the Word of God as to the events that must come to pass. (Vindication, p. 338-339)

In fact, after 1925, the Watchtower had a dilemma.

They wanted to continue growing by fanning the flames of the nearness of Armageddon, but they didn’t want to prophesy about another specific date and risk a repeat of the failures of its prophecies regarding 1914, 1918, and 1925.

So Watchtower president Joseph Rutherford focused on Jesus’ phrase “this generation.” Continue reading