*2^nd Quote  from the year  1973 : 

*** w73 7/1 p. 402 Praise Jehovah with His People *** ⁴ Consider, too, the fact that Jehovah?s organization alone, in all the earth, is directed by God?s holy spirit or active force. (Zech. 4:6) Only this organization functions for Jehovah?s purpose and to his praise. To it alone God?s Sacred Word, the Bible, is not a sealed book.?. How very much true Christians appreciate associating with the only organization on earth that understands the ?deep things of God?!

  *3rd Quote  from  the year  1984 :  

*** g84 8/22 p. 28 From Our Readers *** You all loved it, didn?t you? You couldn?t resist taking a shot at the Catholic Church, could you? I will never forgive the way you mercilessly tore down the Pope. If Jehovah?s Witnesses must refer to cheap shots in attempting to bring down other religions, they?re in more trouble than the Catholics.

M. C., Florida

We surely were not trying to take cheap shots at the pope or the Catholic Church, norwere we criticizing Catholics. The Catholic Church occupies a very significant positionin the world and claims to be the way of salvation for hundreds of millions of people.Any organization that assumes that position should be willing to submit toscrutiny and criticism. All who criticize have the obligation to be truthfulin presenting the facts and fair and objective in assessing such. In bothrespects we try to live up to that obligation.?ED.

*4th Quote from the year  1989 :   

From the book ,  ? You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth?   published by the WTBS Inc. in 1989    : *** pe chap. 22 p. 190 Identifying the True Religion ***ONE TRUE RELIGION¹⁹ It is only logical that there would be one true religion. This is in harmony with the fact that the true God is a God, ?not of disorder, but of peace.? (1 Corinthians 14:33) The Bible says that actually there is only ?one faith.? (Ephesians 4:5) Who, then, are the ones who form the body of true worshipers today?²⁰ We do not hesitate to say that they are Jehovah?s Witnesses. For you to be convinced of this we invite you to become better acquainted with them. The best way to do this is to attend their meetings at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah?s Witnesses.

  *5th Quote from the year  1990 :  

*** w90 12/15 p. 26 ?Seeking Delightful Words, Correct Words? *** In our day the Greater Congregator, Jesus Christ, has provided spiritual resources far beyond those enjoyed by God?s people under ancient Israelite kings. (Matthew 12:42) For over a century, delightful, correct words of truth covering every aspect of life have been presented in the Watch Tower Society?s publications and widely distributed in many languages.

 *6th Quote   from the year  1991 :  

*** w91 12/1 p. 7 Is Any Religion Good Enough? ***How to Choose the Right Religion What will guide us in choosing the right religion? The Encyclopædia Universalis is correct when it highlights the importance of truth. A religion that teaches lies cannot be true. The greatest prophet that ever walked on earth stated: ?God is a Spirit, and those worshiping him must worship with spirit and truth.??John 4:24.

After this review of 6  examples, with a  powerful implications  for  the  WTBS Inc. ,   let’s procede into the  subject by ?trying to live up to : « ?  the obligation to be truthful inpresenting the facts and fair and objective in assessing such.?     For the sake of clarity I?ve divided the subject   – for logical reasons  -into  three  parts :  Part  ONE  :      The WTBS Inc.  worlwide teaching about the                          1874’s   date since C.T. Russell; Part TWO   :      The WTBS Inc.  worldwide teaching about                          the change of date, from 1874 to 1914; Part  THREE   :  The  WTBS Inc. wordwide ‘masquerade’ and pathetic                            revised /  rewritten history concerning the two dates ;

Here we go:

Part  ONE  :      The WTBS Inc.  worlwide teaching about the                          1874’s   date since C.T. Russell;  To be able to ascertain the time  when the  date of 1874, begun to belinked to  Jesus Christ?s  ?invisible second coming/return , one has to search in the WTBS Inc. scatterd quotes about the end of the 19^thCentury.   The book  ?Jehovah?s Witnesses?Proclaimers of God?s Kingdom?published in 1993, gives a clue.

*** jv chap. 5 pp. 46-47 Proclaiming the Lord?s Return (1870-1914) ***Time Prophecies and the Presence of the Lord One morning in January 1876, 23-year-old Russell received a copy of a religious periodical called Herald of theMorning. From the picture on the cover, he could see that it was identified with Adventism. The editor, Nelson H. Barbour, of Rochester, New York, believed that the object of Christ?s return was not to destroy the families of the earth but to bless them and that his coming would be not in the flesh but as a spirit. Why, this was in agreement with what Russell and his associates in Allegheny had believed for some time! Curiously, though, Barbour believed from Biblical time-prophecies that Christ was already present (invisibly) and that the harvest work of gathering ?the wheat? (true Christians making up the Kingdom class) was already due.?Matt., chap. 13.?.This meeting confirmed their agreement on a number of Bible teachings and provided an opportunity for them to exchange views. ?When we first met,? Russell later stated, ?he had much to learn from me on the fulness ofrestitution based upon the sufficiency of the ransom given for all, as I had much to learn from him concerning time.?Barbour succeeded in convincing Russell that Christ?s invisible presence had begun in 1874

A few pages later, in the same book :

*** jv chap. 10 pp. 132-134 Growing in Accurate Knowledge of the Truth ***Manner of the Lord?s ReturnIt was in the mid-1870?s that Brother Russell and those who were diligently examining the Scriptures along with him discerned that when the Lord returned he would be invisible to human eyes.?John 14:3, 19.Brother Russell later said: ?We felt greatly grieved at the error of Second Adventists, who were expecting Christ in the flesh, and teaching that the world and all in it except Second Adventists would be burned up in 1873 or 1874, whose time-settings and disappointments and crude ideas generally as to the object and manner of his coming brought more or less reproach upon us and upon all who longed for and proclaimed his coming Kingdom.These wrong views so generally held of both the object and manner of the Lord?s return led me to write a pamphlet??The Object and Manner of Our Lord?s Return.?? This pamphlet was published in 1877.Brother Russell had some 50,000 copies of it printed and distributed.?.. In 1876, when Russell had first read a copy of Herald of the Morning, he had learned that there was another group who then believed that Christ?s return would be invisible and who associated that return with blessings for all families of the earth.  From Mr. Barbour, editor of that publication, Russell also came to be persuaded that Christ?s invisible presence had begun in 1874.  Attention was later drawn to this by the subtitle ?Herald of Christ?s Presence,? which appeared on the cover of Zion?s Watch Tower.?

It is clear that in the late 1870?s  the date of 1874, was established/fixed/chosen/used as the beginning year of  Jesus Christ?s invisible presence/return/coming  .

To add  specific testimony let?s take quotes from the WTBS Inc. publications, and starting

from   an issue of  the ?    Zion?s Watch Tower and  Herald of Christ?s Presence ?  when  Charles Taze Russell  was  still  “.. .the sole editor  as long as he remained on earth? ” ( from  The Finished Mystery , published by the IBSA in 1917 – publisher’s Preface )

–         Texts of the ‘Z. Watch Tower’  can be found and downloaded   from  various

free sites, including :                  *agsconsulting.com   (http://agsconsulting.com/htdbnon/zwt0424.htm)           and  

  *Quotes-Jehovah?s witnesses .com (http://quotes.jehovahswitnesses.com )

°°°1881

*Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence May 1 1881 ***

We would like to correct this misapprehension once for all, by stating that we do not expect Jesus to come this year, nor any other year, for we believe that all time prophecies (bearing upon Jesus’ coming) ended at and before the fall of 1874, and that He came there, and the second advent is now in progress and will continue during the entire Millennial age. We believe that his presence will be revealed to the eyes of men’s understandings gradually during this ‘Day of the Lord,’ (forty years – from 1874 to 1914,) as it now is to ours; except that we, discern it through the word of prophecy revealed by the Spirit, and they will recognize his presence by His judgment upon Nominal Zion, and the World.

°°°1889 

From the Book : ‘ The Time is at Hand’  page 239

“Just so it has been in this harvest: Our Lord’s presence as Bridegroom and Reaper was recognized during the first three and a half years, from A.D. 1874 to A.D. 1878.”

°°°1890

* The Watchtower Reprints, October 1890, p. 1243

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?

°°°1894

* The Watchtower Reprints, July 15, 1894, p. 1675

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 from the overthrow of all the institutions of ?this present evil world (or order of affairs),? we can see that facts have well borne out those predictions of Scripture.

°°°1898  From the  Zion’s Watch Tower  – September 1st , 1898(Link  graciously offered by

 http://agsconsulting.com/htdbnon/zwt0424.htm

  [page 257]VOL. XIX. SEPTEMBER 1 & 15, 1898. No. 17 & 18.———-CONTENTS.———-Council Bluffs Convention Notice, etc………….258

The Parousia of our Lord Jesus and

His Subsequent Apokalupsis and

Epiphania at His Second Advent…………..259

For What are We Watching?…………………260

Proofs of His Presence……………………265

“Behold the Bridegroom!”………………….269

Presence Gradually Revealed……………….271

“Cometh not with Observation”……………..273

“Knew not the Time of Their

Visitation”……………………………275

R2359 : page 259]THE PAROUSIA OF OUR LORD JESUSAND HISSUBSEQUENT APOKALUPSIS AND EPIPHANIA–AT HIS SECOND ADVENT.–“Watch, therefore; for ye know not the day* your Lord doth come.” “What I say unto you, I say unto all [believers], Watch!”–Matt. 24:42; Mark 13:37.

  °°°1904

* Thy Kingdom Come (copyright 1891) (1904 edition — Millennial Dawn, vol 3) p.342

So, then, if we measure backward down the “First Ascending Passage” to its junction with the “Entrance Passage,” we shall have a fixed date to mark upon the downward passage. This measure is 1542 inches, and indicates the year B.C. 1542, as the date at that point. Then measuring down the “Entrance Passage” from that point, to find the distance to the entrance of the “Pit,” representing the great trouble and destruction with which this age is to close, when evil will be overthrown from power, we find it to be 3416 inches, symbolizing 3416 years from the above date, B.C. 1542. This calculation shows AD. 1874 as marking the beginning of the period of trouble; for 1542 years B.C. plus 1874 years AD. 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?

°°°1906

* Studies in the Scriptures Vol. 2, 1906 p.240

A.D. 1874 when Christ the Bridegroom and Reaper actually came.

 °°°1907 Here below a detailed discussion  – concerning chronology  , which was  published in the Zion’s Watch Tower   October 1st, 1907 .-(Link  graciously offered by

               http://www.agsconsulting.com/htdbnon/zwt0317.htm  )

***************************

[page 289]SEMI-MONTHLY

VOL. XXVIII OCTOBER 1 No. 19

A.D. 1907–A.M. 6036———-CONTENTSViews from the Watch Tower……………………291

A Denunciation of University of Chicago…….291

R. J. Campbell’s Admirers…………………292

Roman Catholicism in Italy………………..292

A Great Convention of Truth People…………….293

Knowledge and Faith Regarding Chronology……….294  [R4067 : page 294]KNOWLEDGE AND FAITH REGARDING CHRONOLOGYA DEAR Brother inquires, Can we feel absolutely sure that the Chronology set forth in the DAWN-STUDIES is correct?–that the harvest began in A.D. 1874 and will end in A.D. 1914 in a world-wide trouble which will overthrow all present institutions and be followed by the reign of righteousness of the King of Glory and his Bride, the Church?We answer, as we have frequently done before in the DAWNS and TOWERS and orally and by letter, that we have never claimed our calculations to be infallibly correct; we have never claimed that they were knowledge, nor based upon indisputable evidence, facts, knowledge; our claim has always been that they are based on faith. We have set forth the evidences as plainly as possible and stated the conclusions of faith we draw from them, and have invited others to accept as much or as little of them as their hearts and heads could endorse. Many have examined these evidences and have accepted them; others equally bright do not endorse them. Those who have been able to accept them by faith seem to have received special blessings, not merely along the line of prophetic harmonies, but along all other lines of grace and truth. We have not condemned those who could not see, but have rejoiced with those whose exercise of faith has brought them special blessings–“Blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear.”Possibly some who have read the DAWNS have presented our conclusions more strongly than we; but if so that is their own responsibility. We have urged and still urge that the dear children of God read studiously what we have presented;–the Scriptures, the applications and interpretations–and then form their own judgments. We neither urge nor insist upon our views as infallible, nor do we smite or abuse those who disagree; but regard as “Brethren” all sanctified believers in the precious blood. On the contrary, it is those who differ who smite us and speak evil of us, because we do not welcome them as, with hammer and tongs, they seek to remove a mote which they think they see in our eye of understanding. They are our critics who always claim the infallibility. We go humbly onward, following the Apostle’s example and words, “We believe and therefore speak”;–whether others hear or forbear to hear. Is not this in accord with the Spirit of Christ? Is it not in accord with our Lord’s instructions also,–“Forbid him not” (Mark 9:39); and again, “What is that to thee? Follow thou me.” (John 21:22.) But some of those who come to a trifling point on which they disagree seem to imagine that the entire harvest work must be overthrown or at least stopped until they get their little jot or tittle satisfactorily adjusted. Such evidently make mountains out of mole hills, and forget that, if the present movement among [R4067 : page 295] the Lord’s people is the harvest work or under the Lord’s supervision at all, the Lord is responsible, and not they, and can be trusted to accomplish his own ends in his own best way without the violation of either the letter or spirit of his commands.Recurring again to the query on Chronology we quote from DAWN-STUDIES, Vol. II., page 38, last paragraph, as follows:–“In starting with the question, How long is it since man’s creation? we should and do feel confident that he who gave the prophecies, and said that in the time of the end they should be understood, has provided in his Word the data necessary to enable us accurately to locate those prophecies. However, any who expect to find these matters so plainly stated as to be convincing to the mere surface reader, or the insincere skeptic, will be disappointed. God’s times and seasons are given in such a way as to be convincing only to those who, by acquaintance with God, are able to recognize his characteristic methods. The evidence is given “that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished.” (2 Tim. 3:17.) These well know that in all the paths by which the Father leads they must walk by faith and not by sight. To all who are prepared to walk thus, we expect to be able to point out at every step solid statements of God’s Word–a sure foundation for reasonable faith.”In the same chapter we proceed to point out that many of the links of chronology in sacred and profane history are “broken, lapped and tangled so much that we could arrive at no definite conclusion from them, and should be obliged to conclude, as others have done, that nothing positive could be known on the subject, were it not that the New Testament supplies the deficiency.” (Page 49, first paragraph.) Thus we sought to prove that chronology cannot be built on facts, but can be received only on faith. But again we urge a fresh reading of Vol. II. entire. If with these suggestions some shall lose their faith in our chronology, others and many more we believe will have their faith in it strengthened greatly.We remind you again that the weak points of chronology are supplemented by the various prophecies which interlace with it in so remarkable a manner that faith in the chronology almost becomes knowledge that it is correct. The changing of a single year would throw the beautiful parallels out of accord; because some of the prophecies measure from B.C., some from A.D., and some depend upon both. We believe that God meant those prophecies to be understood “in due time”; we believe that we do understand them now– and they speak to us through this chronology. Do they not thereby seal the chronology? They do to faith, but not otherwise. Our Lord declared, “The wise shall understand”; and he told us to “Watch” that we might know; and it is this chronology which convinces us (who can and do receive it by faith) that the Parable of the Ten Virgins is now in process of fulfilment –that its first cry was heard in 1844 and its second cry, “Behold the Bridegroom”–present–was in 1874. It is this chronology and none other which awakened us to trim our lamps, in harmony with the Lord’s promise through the Apostle, “Ye brethren are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.”  If our chronology is not reliable we have no idea where we are nor when the morning will come.Bishop Ussher’s chronology, as we have pointed out (DAWN II., p. 51) puts the end of six thousand years nearly a century future and would destroy every prophetic application as we have seen and profited by it. And when we say “our” chronology we merely mean the one we use, the Bible chronology, which belongs to all of God’s people who approve it. As a matter of fact it was used in practically the form we present it long before our day, just as various prophecies we use were used to a different purpose by Adventists, and just as various doctrines we hold and which seem so new and fresh and different were held in some form long ago: for instance –Election, Free Grace, Restitution, Justification, Sanctification, Glorification, Resurrection.The work in which the Lord has been pleased to use our humble talents has been less a work of origination than of reconstruction, adjustment, harmonization. God’s Word, the great harp from which now comes such wondrous music, was unstrung. One denomination had one string, another denomination had a different one–Election, Free Grace, Baptism, Second Coming of Christ, Time Prophecies, etc. They had twanged away, each on his own string, until all were disgusted at the discord and about ready to quit for relief–as they since have done, practically. Then came the Lord’s time for putting the old harp in order again, for the use of his most faithful followers. To whatever extent the great Master has used any of us either in restringing and tuning the harp, or in calling to the attention of his “brethren” the harmony and the beauty of the melodious paeans therefrom in honor of the Almighty, let us praise him for the great privilege enjoyed, and use it.The fact that we have reached this harmony just at the right time according to our chronology–just at the time promised by our Lord when he declared that, to those who would be ready and open to his knock promptly, he would “come in and sup with them,” that he would “gird himself [become their servant] and come forth and serve them” (Luke 12:37)–is an evidence to us that the time features of the prophecies as we understand them are correct. To this great Chief Servant of his Church then we render thanks for the harmonious light of Present Truth–and are we not to consider that the chronology which has had so much to do with this light is also of him?But let us suppose a case far from our expectations: suppose that A.D. 1915 should pass with the world’s affairs all serene and with evidence that the “very elect” had not all been “changed” and without the restoration of natural Israel to favor under the New Covenant. (Rom. 11:12,15.) What then?Would not that prove our chronology wrong?Yes, surely! And [R4067 : page 296] would not that prove a keen disappointment? Indeed it would! It would work irreparable wreck to the Parallel Dispensations and Israel’s Double,and to the Jubilee calculations, and to the prophecy of the 2300 days of Daniel,and to the epoch called “Gentile Times,”and to the 1260, 1290, and 1335 days,the latter of which marking the beginning of the “harvest” so well fulfilled its prediction,”Oh, the blessedness of him that waiteth and cometh unto the 1335 days!”None of these would be available longer.What a blow that would be!One of the strings of our “harp” would be quite broken!However, dear friends, our harp would still have all the other strings in tune and that is what no other aggregation of God’s people on earth could boast. We could still worship a God so great and grand that none other could compare with him. We should still see the grandeur of his salvation in Christ Jesus–“a ransom for all.” We should still see the wonders of “the hidden mystery,” our fellowship with our Redeemer in “his [R4068 : page 296] death” and also “in his resurrection” to “glory, honor and immortality”–“the divine nature.”If, therefore, dearly beloved, it should turn out that our chronology is all wrong, we may conclude that with it we have had much advantage everyway. If the attainment of our glorious hopes and present joys in the Lord should cost us such disappointment as our friends fear, we should rejoice and count it cheap! If the Lord sees it necessary for the arousing of the “Virgins” to permit a false note upon the time bugle, let us take it joyfully as one of the “all things” working together for good to those who love him,–to the called ones according to his purpose. But let us not forget that the parable shows that thesecond awakening of the Virgins was no mistake! The Bridegroom came! The “wise virgins” had the necessary faith to follow; the others, too worldly-wise, lacked the faith and missed the high honors accorded to the Bride class, though privileged later to be her companions at the “marriage supper of the Lamb.”The best medicine, the best antidote for a poisoned faith in Present Truth, is a careful review of the presentations of the DAWN-STUDIES. If that fails we know nothing to recommend. But let us not forget that there were conditions precedent to our admission into this light, and that those conditions must be maintained if we would stay in the light. If, therefore, all or any portion of the light becomes darkened, our first query should be, “Am I living up to my covenant conditions –self-denial, self-sacrifice?” If we discover a coolness there we may know that we have found the real secret of our trouble and should at once “take it to the Lord in prayer.”

 (Btw the above quotes – concerning the chronology and the year 1874  – are longer due to their importanc and the implications.  As a matter of fact,  the quotes prove that brother Charles Taze . Russell , already, in the year 1907, considered the possiblity of a change,and its devastating results on all the ‘ prophetic applications ‘.-   “… Bishop Ussher’s chronology, as we have pointed out (DAWN II., p. 51) puts the end of six thousand years nearly a century future and would destroy every prophetic application as we have seen and profited by it. “ So, imho, it is a precious reference to all those stil  unaware of its existence.)  °°°1910

 Thy Kingdom Come (copyright 1891) (1910 edition — Studies In The Scriptures,      vol. 3) p.342

So, then, if we measure backward down the “First Ascending Passage” to its junction with the “Entrance Passage,” we shall have a fixed date to mark upon the downward passage. This measure is 1542 inches, and indicates the year B.C. 1542, as the date at that point. Then measuring down the “Entrance Passage” from that point, to find the distance to the entrance of the “Pit,” representing the great trouble and destruction with which this age is to close, when evil will be overthrown from power, we find it to be 3457 inches, symbolizing 3457 years from the above date, B.C. 1542. This calculation shows AD. 1915 as marking the beginning of the period of trouble; for 1542 years B.C. plus 1915 years AD. equals 3457 years. Thus the Pyramid witnesses that the close of 1914 will be the 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??

From the book : ‘ Thy Kingdom Come’ , page 234

“….three and a half years after his second advent at the beginning of the harvest period, in the fall of1874.”

°°°1912

* The Battle of Armageddon, (SS-4), 1912 ed., p. 621

Our Lord, the appointed King, is now present, since October 1874, A. D. according to the testimony of the prophets, to those who have ears to hear it??

°°°1917

From the book:  ‘ The Finished Mystery’ page386″The Millennium (Rev. 20:3,4,7) began in 1874, with the return of Christ.”

°°°1922

* The Watchtower, September 15, 1922, p. 278

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.

°°°1922

* The Watchtower, November 1, 1922, pp.332-337 DISCOURSE BY BROTHER J. F. RUTHERFORD delivered at   Cedar Point, Ohio, Friday September 8, 1922.-

  Quotes :[?]

… The power exercised by Jehovah upon his people is the holy spirit. The tie that binds Satan to his followers is the evil spirit. Because of yielding to his machinations Israel was overreached by him. God pronounced a decree against the nation, and enforced that decree in 606 B.C.; and there Satan became the god of this world. He is also called the prince of the power of the air, thus indicating his organization visible and invisible.[?]Bible prophecy shows that the Lord was due to appear for the second time in the year 1874. Fulfilled prophecyshows 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.Jesus himself declared that in the time of his presence he would conduct a harvest of his people, during which he would gather unto himself the true and loyal ones. For some years this work has been in operation and is nearing completion. He stated that during his presence he would have one who would fill the office of a faithful and wise servant, through whom the Lord would bring to his people meat in due season. All the facts show that those prophecies have been fulfilled.

DAY OF PREPARATION

Why has the King come? To set up his kingdom and reign as King. But he had a work to do before his reign began, and that is a preparatory work. Since there are to be associated with him in his reign his body members, these must be gathered together and prepared for the beginning of the reign. The gentile times under the supervision of the god of this world ended August 1, 1914. Before that date it would not have been consistent for the Lord, the King of glory, to take unto himself his great power and reign. (Ezekiel 21:27) 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 11914. The period from 1799 to 1874 could not be said to be a day of preparation, but a day of increasing light. It is not reasonable to think that the King began to make preparations until he was present.[?]For six thousand years God has been preparing for this kingdom. For nineteen hundred years he has been gathering out the kingdom class from amongst men. Since 1874 the King of glory has been present; and during that time he has conducted a harvest and has gathered unto himself the temple class. Since 1914 the King of glory has taken his power and reigns. He has cleansed the lips of the temple class and sends them forth with the message of all messages. It is the message of the hour. It is incumbent upon those who are the Lord’s to declare it. The kingdom of heaven is at hand; the King reigns; Satan’s empire is falling; millions now living will never die.Do you believe it? Do you believe that the King of glory is present, and has been since 1874? Do you believe that during that time he has conducted his harvest work? Do you believe that he has had during that time a faithful and wise servant through whom he directed his work and the feeding of the household of faith? Do you believe that the Lord is not in his temple, judging the nations of earth? Do you believe that the King of glory has begun his reign?Then back to the field, O ye sonse of the most high God! Gird on your armor! Be sober, be vigilant, be active, be brave. Be faithful and true witnesses for the Lord. God forward in the fight until every vestige of Babylon lies desolate. Herald the message far and wide. The world must know that Jehovah is God and that Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords. This is the day of all days. Behold, the King reigns! You are his publicity agents. Therefore advertise, advertise, advertise, the King and his kingdom.? 

°°°1923 

* The Watchtower, March 1, 1923, p. 67

The Scriptures show that his second presence was due in 1874?This proof shows that the Lord has been present since1874??

°°°1924

* The Watchtower, January 1, 1924, p. 5

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? ?

°°°1926

From the book :  ” Creation ”  published in the year 1926,  page 312″To understand the events concerning the Lord’s second presence from 1874 to 1914 requires one to be spiritually minded…”

°°°1928

From the book ” The Harp of God”, by  J.F. Rutherford ,      published by the I.B.S.A., the “Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, N.Y.  U.S.A.” and the Peoples Pulpit Association, Brooklyn ,N.Y.  ” ( 1928  edition). page 251 and  paragraph 430  :  ” It would be reasonable to expect him to be present some time before he would take unto himself his great power to reign. His presence beginning in 1874, he has carried on his harvest work from 1878 forward, but has not interrupted the Gentile dominion until that dominion should end. The end of the Gentile rule, therefore, would mark necessarily  The end of the world.  We should  expect, then, to find 1914 as the beginning of the end of the old world or Satan’s organization. And that this would take place during the presence of the Lord he definitely stated.”

°°°1929

 * From the book  ?  Prophecy ?  published in the year 1929, pages  65, 66

The Scriptural proof is that the second presence of the Lord Jesus Christ began in 1874 AD. This proof is specifically set out in the booklet entitled Our Lord’s Return.

The above quotes, is the last one concerning  the worldwide teaching that « ?the  second presence of the Lord Jesus Christ began in 1874 AD.  «  As you can see the quotes are very clear and  my comments are few. For the moment,  all the material above  ends  –  Part ONE ? of the  topic.  Greetings,  J.C. MacHislopp « The truth can never be hurt by a lie, but a lie can  be exposed by the truth « 

“In Matthew 24 Jesus gives his disciples some proofs that he would be present…These tangible evidences will be the beginning of the work of destroying the present evil conditions and systems. This work of destruction began in 1914… If it is true that Jesus has been present since the year 1914 , then it must be admitted that nobody has seen Him with his natural eyes.” –

* Quote from the year  1949:

In ?The Watchtower?  July 15th, 1949 (page 215, paragraph 22), the statement is made:  ? . . . Messiah, the Son of man, came into Kingdom power A.D. 1914 and . . . this constitutes his second coming and the beginning of his second parousía or presence.?

The above quote is also given as a reminder  in the year 1973, in the book : ” God’s Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached’  ,  page 209  paragraph 55  .-   Strangely enough, this claim is a rather surprising one.  Because in another  WTBS Inc.?s publication , a different claim is made    – that  the change  took place in 1943  –  rather than 1930.As usual we have to proceed by leaps and bonds, back and forward and in this case , the statement , published in 1973 concerns  events relating to the year ?1943 ! * * Quote from the year  1973: From the book : ” God’s Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached’  , published  by the  WTBS Inc.  in the year   1973 , pages 206-211, §§  48- 57     

 *** ka 206-11  11 “Here Is the Bridegroom!” ***

THE CORRECTING OF A MISUNDERSTANDING 48 It is true that the editor and publisher of Zion?s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ?s Presence calculated that the ?presence? or parousia of the heavenly Bridegroom began in the year 1874 C.E.  Also, that the date of the first man?s creation by Jehovah God was in the year 4128 B.C.E., which meant that six thousand years of man?s existence on the earth ended in the year 1872 C.E., ascalculated by Russell and his associates. This reckoning began to be announced on the front page of Zion?s Watch Tower and Herald ofChrist?s Presence beginning with the issue of July 1, 1906, and this practice continued down through the issue of September 15, 1928. For instance, on the first of such mentioned issues appeared the date of issue: ?July 1, A.D. 1906?A.M., 6034?; whereas the dating of the last mentioned issue was: ?Anno Mundi 6056?September 15, 1928.? The Anno Mundi or ?Year of the World? date was calculated to be the year 4128 before our Common Era.49 Two years, however, were allowed for the innocence of the perfect man and woman in the Garden of Eden before sin entered, and hence the year of sin?s entrance was calculated as 4126 B.C.E. This resulted in their calculating six thousand years of sin as ending in 1874 C.E., in which year also, in the autumn, the seventh millennium began, for the instigator of sin, Satan the Devil, to be bound and cast into the bottomless pit and for Christ to start reigning for the foretold thousand years. This meant that the year of the start of Christ?s reign was also the year of his return and the beginning of his invisible presence or parousia.50 The above chronology followed the suggestion that was made in Wilson?s The EmphaticDiaglott, in its footnote on Acts 13:20, which verse read: ?And after these things, he gave Judges about four hundred and fifty years, till Samuel the prophet.? The footnote on this reading of the verse said:A difficulty occurs here which has very much puzzled Biblical chronologists. The date given here is at variance with the statement found in 1 Kings 6:1. There have been many solutions offered, but only one which seems entirely satisfactory, i.e., that the text in 1 Kings 6:1 has been corrupted, by substituting the Hebrew character daleth (4) for hay (5) which is very similar in form. This would make 580 years (instead of 480) from the exode to the building of the temple, and exactly agree with Paul?s chronology.51 Accordingly, on page 53 of the book entitled ?The Time Is at Hand,? author C. T. Russell wrote, referring to 1 Kings 6:1:It evidently should read the five-hundred-and-eightieth year, and was possibly an error in transcribing; for if to Solomon?s four years we add David?s forty, and Saul?s space of forty, and the forty-six years from leaving Egypt to the division of the land, we have one hundred and thirty years, which deducted from four hundred and eighty would leave only three hundred and fifty years for the period of the Judges, instead of the four hundred and fifty years mentioned in the Book of Judges, and by Paul, as heretofore shown. The Hebrew character ?daleth? (4) very much resembles the character ?hay? (5), and it is supposed that in this way the error has occurred, possibly the mistake of a transcriber. I Kings 6:1, then, should read five hundred and eighty, and thus be in perfect harmony with the other statements.Thus, by inserting 100 years into the Bible chronology during the period of the Judges, man?s creation was pushed back 100 years to 4128 B.C.E., and the six thousand years of man?s existence on earth ended in 1872 C.E. (The Time Is at Hand, page 42) Then the allowance of two years before the entry of sin led to the year 1874 as the year in which six thousand years of human sin terminated and the seventh thousand years for the elimination of sin by Christ?s reign began. So the Grand Jubilee was then due to begin.52 According to the oldest manuscripts of the Christian Greek Scriptures, however, the reading of Acts 13:20 is different from that given in The Emphatic Diaglott and the King James Authorized Version of the Bible. So, according to the most ancient manuscripts, the four hundred and fifty years are not applied to the period of the Judges. In verification of this, The New English Bible (of the year 1970) renders Acts 13:20 as follows: ?for some four hundred and fifty years, and afterwards appointed judges for them until the time of the prophet Samuel.? The Jerusalem Bible (English translation of 1966) reads: ?for about four hundred and fifty years. After this he gave them judges, down to the prophet Samuel.? The Revised Standard Version Bible of 1952 reads similarly, and so does the American Standard Version Bible of 1901 C.E. 53 Furthermore, the oldest Hebrew manuscripts extant, like those of the Dead Sea Scrolls, spell out the numbers of the Bible and do not use alphabetic characters for numerals, thus not allowing for a transcriber?s visual error at 1 Kings 6:1. 54 The insertion of 100 years into Bible chronology during the period of the Judges is thus seen not to rest upon Scriptural grounds. The insertion should therefore be dropped and the Bible should be accepted just as it reads concerning its chronology.   Unavoidably, then, this would affect the date for the parousia of the Bridegroom Jesus Christ to begin. With the Watch Tower magazine?s issue of January 1, 1939, the title was changed to TheWatchtower and Herald of Christ?s Kingdom, and with the issue of March 1, 1939, to TheWatchtower Announcing Jehovah?s Kingdom. This did not mean that the publishers of the magazine no longer believed in the presence or parousia of Christ as being then in progress. It meant, rather, that more importance was given to the Kingdom, to the kingdom of Jehovah God by Jesus Christ, for it is Jehovah?s kingdom by Christ that will vindicate Jehovah?s universal sovereignty.  55 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 ofreturn of the Lord Jesus Christ and the beginning of his invisiblepresence or parousia.  The millennium that was to be marked by the detaining of Satan the Devil enchained in the abyss and by the reign of the 144,000 joint heirs with Christ in heavenly glory was therefore yet in the future. What, then, about the parousia (presence) of Christ? Page 324 of the above book positively says : ?The King?s presence or parousia began in 1914 .? Also, in the Watchtower issue of July 15, 1949 (page 215, paragraph 22), the statement is made:  ? . . . Messiah, the Son of man, came into Kingdom power A.D. 1914 and . . . this constitutes his second coming and the beginning of his second parousía or presence.? 56 In the year 1950, there was published the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures, with the most authentic reading of Acts 13:20,and translating pa·rou·si’a every time as ?presence.? Immediately afterward appeared the book ?This Means Everlasting Life.? Its chapter 21 was entitled ?Second Presence of Life?s Chief Agent.?  Here was a whole chapter on the subject according to the straight Bible timetable. On pages 220-222, we read:The evidence already considered proves that A.D. 1914 God?s kingdom was born and his Son was enthroned with authority to rule with an iron rod amid his foes. Eventually he will dash them to pieces and rid the universe of all fighters against God?s rightful sovereignty.?Psalm 2:8, 9. So A.D. 1914 marks the time of Christ?s invisible return in spirit. . . . His coming into the Kingdom in 1914 marks the beginning of his second presence or pa·rou·si’a.This Greek word means presence. . . . Although invisible in spirit, his second presence is of such importance to people over all the earth that it must not be kept secret, and it will not be. . . . ?For just as the lightning comes out of eastern parts and shines over to western parts, so the presence [pa·rou·si’a] of the Son of man will be.??Matthew 24:26, 27, NW.Since 1914 the present Christ has been making the evidences of his second presence or pa·rou·si’a manifest and understandable to men everywhere. 57 How harmonious with the inspired Scriptures it is, then, that Christ did not begin reigning forty years before the end of the Gentile Times in 1914! Rather, he waited till then at his heavenly Father?s right hand to begin ruling in the midst of his earthly enemies, whom Jehovah places as a stool for his feet! (Psalm 110:1, 2; Hebrews 10:12, 13)  Rightly, then, his royal presence or parousia began in that year. In the year 1919, as history proves, he caused the midnight cry to sound on earth and roused the sleeping ?virgins? to the urgency of the situation. ?Here is the bridegroom! Be on your way out to meet him.? That cry assured them of the heavenly Bridegroom?s presence. The ?discreet? virgin class has since been on its way out to meet him. They are seen shining as luminaries in this benighted world. This in itself is an evidence that the promised presence of Christ is upon us. It is also an evidence that God?s kingdom by Christ of a thousand years has approached! ***  48. (a) The editor and publisher of Zion?s Watch Tower calculated that Christ?s presence began in what year? (b) Also, what was the date of man?s creation, as published on the cover page of TheWatch Tower for some years? 49. (a) When was sin?s entrance calculated to have occurred? (b) When, therefore, was the millennium to begin for Satan?s casting into the bottomless pit and for Christ?s reign? 50. That chronology followed what footnote on Acts 13:20 as found in Wilson?s Emphatic Diaglott? 51. (a) Accordingly, what did author C. T. Russell say on page 53 of ?The Time Is at Hand?regarding 1 Kings 6:1? (b) According to that, when was man created, when did 6,000 years of sin end, and when did the Grand Jubilee begin? 52. According to the oldest Greek manuscripts, the 450 years of Acts 13:20 apply before or during the period of the Judges, as shown by modern Bible translations? 53. Did the ancient Hebrew Bible manuscripts use alphabetic characters to stand for numbers?  Footnote :

When, after Bible times, the Hebrews used alphabetic letters for numbers, they had no symbol for zero, as their system had no zero. Hence 400 was not represented by the letter daleth followed by two zeros, and 500 by the letter he followed by two zeros. The number 400 was represented by one Hebrew letter (taw), and the number 500 was represented by two Hebrew letters (taw qoph). The number eighty was represented by the Hebrew letter pe, whereas ten was represented by the one letter yod. So there was no likelihood of mistaking taw pe (480) as distinguished from taw qoph pe(580).  54. (a) The accepting of Bible chronology just as written would affect the beginning of what period here under discussion? (b) Did dropping of ?Presence? from the Watchtower title mean that Christ?s presence was no longer believed in? 55. (a) When and how was the insertion of 100 years into the period of the Judges done away with, so that 6,000 years of man?s existence ended when? (b) How did this affect the date 1874 C.E., and what question arose? 56. (a) In 1950, what new Bible translation was published, and with what rendering of Acts 13:20? (b) Also, what statement was made about Christ?s presence according to straight Bible chronology? 57. (a) Did Christ begin reigning amidst his enemies before the end of the Gentile Times in 1914? (b) When did the Bridegroom cause the midnight cry to be heard, and what has taken place since is evidence of what important facts?   

   (When reading the above  material, please, do compare its content with the ‘Zion Watch Tower and  Herald of Christ’s Presence ‘  published  on October 1st 1907 ,  Reprints 4067 (p.294 ), subtitle ‘KNOWLEDGE AND FAITH REGARDING CHRONOLOGY’ .- Do notice also some quite strange expressions i.e.  *…THE CORRECTING OF A MISUNDERSTANDING  ‘ **? .. It is true that the editor and publisher …. calculated that the      ?presence? or parousia    ….began in the year 1874 C.E.’ *? ….as calculated by Russell and his associates.  ‘   etc. etc.  Clearly, all the  above mentioned quotes, from  the WTBS Inc.?s publications,  prove that  the new date   – for the return of Jesus Christ ,  i.e.   1914,  as replacement of the date  1874 , wasofficially  made  in the year 1943 !   All this by  a simple stroke of a pen   i.e.    the publication of  the WTBS Inc.?s  new book :    “The Truth Shall Make You Free”   published  in the year 1943 .- * Quote from the year  1943 ? given as reminder in a 1973 publication ? thanks to ? Dirtclod .com .  – 

Page  150 “THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE“”   were come out of the land of Egypt,in thefourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel,inthe month iv,which is the second month,thathe began to build the house of Jehovah .”There-after Solomon reigned thirty-six years.1 Kings6 1,,2,A.R.V.11 42 In the original Hebrewtext of these verses the numbers of years arewritten spelled out in full .It was first hundredsof years after Christ that alphabetic letters be-gan to be used as symbols of numbers,and thenthese were used merely to number the chaptersand verses,but NOT to change the original He-brew text .Without any other definite Scripturetime statement we accept 1 Kings 6 1,,2,andproceed with measuring the time . From God’s covenant withAbraham to the exodus was 430 yearsFrom the exodus to the begin-ning of the temple 480 yearsTo Solomon’s death and Rehoboam’s reign 36 yearsTo Abijah’s reign 17 yearsTo Asa’s reign 3 yearsTo Jehoshaphat’s reign 41 yearsTo Jehoram’s reign 25 yearsTo Ahaziah’s reign 8 yearsTo Athaliah’s reign 1 ye a rTo Joash’s reign 6 yearsTo Amaziah’s reign 40 yearsTo Uzziah’s reign 29 yearsTo Jotham’s reign 52 years    Page  151  THE COUNT OF TIME To Ahaz’s reignTo Hezekiah’s reignTo Manasseh’s reignTo Amon’s reignTo Josiah’s reignTo Jehoahaz’s reignTo Jehoiakim’s reignTo Jehoiachin’s reignTo edekiah’s reign16 years16 years29 years55 years2 years31 years3 months11 years3 monthsTo Jerusalem’s desolation 11 yearsTo the end of seventy years’desolation in the first yearof King Cyrus of Persia 70 yearsTo the end ancient timeof the year B .C.1 536 yearsFrom the Abrahamic covenantthrough B .C.1 1,945 yearsThe above figures are based upon the record of Israel’s kings as given in 2 Chronicles,chap-ters 12 to 36 .Both 2 Chronicles 36 19–23 andEzra 1 1–6,and Daniel 5 28–31,agree that itwas in the first year of Cyrus’reign that he per-mitted the Jews to depart from Babylon andreturn to Jerusalem to build the temple,thusending the seventy years’desolation of the landof Judea.It is well established that two yearsafter the overthrow of Babylon in 538 B .C.byDarius the Mede and his nephew,Cyrus thePersian,the first year of Cyrus’exclusive rulebegan,which year was 536 B .C.So,putting  page  152  “THE TRUTH SHA MAKE YOU FREE? together the three great periods of time fromAdam’s creation onward,we get the followingtableFrom Adam’s creation to the Flood was 1,656 yearsFrom the Flood to theAbrahamic covenant was 427 yearsFrom the Abrahamic cove-nant to end of B .C.1 was 1,945 years From Adam’s creation tothe end of B .C.1 was 4,028 years Thereafter the so-called Anno Domini or A.D.period began. From the beginning of A.D.1,or Year of theord 1,to the beginning of A .D.1944 is 1,943full years,which,being added to the abovetable,give the time measurement from Adam’screation to dateFrom Adam’s creation tothe end of B .C.1 was 4,028 yearsFrom beginning of A .D.1to the end of 1943 is 1,943 yearsFrom Adam’s creation tothe end of 1943 A.D.is 5,971 years We are therefore near the end of sixthousand years of human history ,with conditions upon us and tremendous events at hand foreshadowed by those of Noah’s day .-Luke17 26–30 .

In conclusion to this second part, I do believe that  the  many quotes from  the WTBS Inc’s own publications ,  are beyond any doubt  ?convincing evidence?  that the 1874 date was consistently maintained for  about 54 years , i.e.   –  from 1876 to 1930 ? . When examining the publications of the WTBS Inc. we  do well to keep in mind , among other things, the following statement:   

*** g84 8/22 p. 28 From Our Readers *** ?. The Catholic Church occupies a very significant position in the world and claims tobe the way of salvation for hundreds of millions of people. Any organization thatassumes that position should be willing to submit to scrutiny and criticism. Allwho criticize have the obligation to be truthful in presenting the factsand fair and objective in assessing such. In both respects we try to live up tothat obligation.?ED.

  With all the above material, ends part TWO.  Greetings,  J.C. MacHislopp « The truth can never be hurt by a lie, but a lie can  be exposed by the truth « 

(The above quote is also given as a reminder  in the year 1973, in the book : ” God’s Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached’  ,  page 209  paragraph 55  .)- Quote from the year  1952: 

*** w52 11/1 p. 658 A Better Basis for Belief *** ¹⁶ As for the time of Christ?s second presence, Daniel?s prophecy is again  the one that gives the chronology for it. (Dan. 4:16)  It was figured out as pointing to A.D. 1914, and The Watchtower called  notice to the significance of 1914 in the year 1879.?. Predicted were world war, famine, pestilence, earthquakes, sectarian divisions, persecution of his followers, world-wide preaching of the good news of the established Kingdom, widespread delinquency and general breakdown of morals, and many other developments that we have seen since 1914. The generation experiencing the beginning of these things will survive to see their end at Armageddon. (Matt. 24:1-34; 2 Tim. 3:1-5, 13) Thereafter eternal life in endless blessings will begin for obedient persons in a new world.?2 Pet. 3:13?.

* Quote from the year  1954:

*** w54 6/15 p. 370 The Revelation of Jesus Christ *** ⁴ “Why, then, do the nations not realize and accept the approach of this climax of judgment? It is because they have not heeded the world-wide advertising of Christ’s return and his second presence. Since long before World War I Jehovah’s witnesses pointed to 1914 as the time for this great event to occur . And since 1914 physical evidences establishing this trut h have been pointed to repeatedly in the columns of The Watchtower. ?

*Please notice also the subtle association : ?? long before World War I     Jehovah’s witnesses?  ***The name change , from Bible Students , to  ” Jehovah’s     Witnesses ”   took place in the year 1931…  i.e. 13  years     after the end of Wold War I ! – 

• Quote from the year  1959:

 From the book  :

? JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES IN THE DIVINE PURPOSE?COPYRIGHT,1959 By  WATCH TOWER BIBLE &TRACT SOCIETYOF PENNSYLVANIA   First Edition  500,000 COPIES PUBLISHERS  WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETYOF NEW YORK,INC. INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATIONBrooklyn,New York,U .S .A.

Made in the United States of America

,  (chapter 15^th   JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES IN THE DIVINE PURPOSE page 101 )     For the second time at Cedar Point,Ohio,aninternational convention was held, September 5-13,1922. On this second occasionalso,Jehovah’s active force upon his or-ganized people authorized and fortifiedthem in fulfilling their responsible mission .bExcitement ran high from the first day,with keen anticipation particularly for thesession scheduled to be held on Friday,which had been designated in advance as”The Day.”It proved to be well named .

To add to the interest,large banners

around the grounds had carried the letters”A D V,”and everyone was trying toguess what they meant .Truly a feast of stimulating new truthsLOIS :CHAPTER 15was spread before Jehovah’s people on thisoccasion .Emphasizing the theme of theKingdom,Brother Rutherford delivered ahistoric lecture on the subject :”The King-dom. “He said : Why has the King come?To set up [God’s ]kingdom and reign as King .But he had a work to do before his reign began,and that is a preparatory work.Since there are to be asso- ciated with him in his reign his body members, these must be gathered together and prepared for the beginning of the reign ….The Lord foreknew,of course,that Satan would not peaceably yield the kingdoms of earth .He knew that there would be a great conflict,and hence he must prepare for that conflict….The gentile times ended …1914,and immediately followed the World War ;and since that day there has been upon earth dis- tress of nations,with perplexity .It has been a day of increasing darkness and blackness and suffering . The physical facts,then,clearly show that the day of preparation was from 1874 forward ;…that the day of preparation ended in1914 ;and that in 1918,or thereabouts,the Lord came to his temple .This coming to the temple was for judgment,because judgment must first begin at the house of God .(1 Peter 4 :17)The judgment would be upon the true church and also the nominal system…. Prior to 1878 the nominal church had grown mighty in the earth .In 1878 God’s favor waswithdrawn from the nominal systems .From that time on Brother Russell and the brethren who supported him went throughout the land .endeavoring to turn the hearts of Christen- dom back to a childlike faith in God .The nominal church heeded not .In 1914 these systemswere boasting of their power and influence and said :”We are rich and have need of nothing.” When the World War began in 1914,nominal Christendom raised its voice in favor of thewar…. (footontes)a Light,Book One (1930),pp .102-107 :Light,Book Two (1930),pp .19-67 .b W 1922,pp .323-352 .101

102 JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES IN THE DIVINE PURPOSE

…. In January,1919,before the League of Nations was completely born,the Federal Council of Churches boldly issued the following blasphemous statement :.. .c Judge Rutherford then quoted from thestatement we read earlier,wherein theseclergymen had hailed the League as the”political expression of the Kingdom ofGod on earth .”d He continued : Thus they denied the coming of the Lord and his kingdom to bless mankind,and openly allied themselves with the Devil’s scheme,and then blasphemously attempted to offer this before the Lord…. Who will go for the Lord Jesus and the Lord Jehovah?Who now,having their lips purged, will voluntarily carry the message?… The Prophet of the Lord answers :”Bring forth the blind people that have eyes,and the deaf that have ears .Let all the nations be gathered together,and let the peoples be assembled :Who among them can declare this, and show us former things?Let them bring forth their witnesses,that they may be justi- fied ;or let them hear,and say,It is truth . Ye are my witnesses,saith the Lord [Jehovah ], and my servant whom I have chosen ;that ye may know and believe me,and understand that I am he :before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me .I,even I,am the Lord;and beside me there is no savior.I have declared,and have saved,and I have showed,when there was no strange god among you ;therefore ye are my witnesses,saith the Lord [Jehovah ],that I am God .”-Isaiah 43 :8-12 .  Thus we see that those of the temple class are clearly designated as the Lord’s witnesses at this time,to bring a message of consolation to the people,that the Kingdom of heaven is here, and that millions now living will never die . Thus it is seen that God purposes that his nameshall be magnified,that the people shall know that he is Lord .Thus we see that God purposes to have a people in the earth in this time ofstress,clearly marked as separate and distinct e W 1922,pp .333-335 . d Chapter 14,pp .93,94.e W 1922,pp .335-337. from all others,standing as his witnesses,fear- lessly crying out the message :”The kingdom of heaven is at hand!”… Do you believe it? Do you believe that the King of glory is present,andhas been since 1874? Do you believe that during that time he has conducted his harvest work? Do you believe that he has had during that time a faithful and wise servant through whom he directed his work and the feeding of the household of faith?  Do you believe that the Lord is now in his temple,judging the nations of earth? Do you believe that the King of glory has begun his reign? Then back to the field,0 ye sons of the most high God!Gird on your armor!Be sober,be vigilant,be active,be brave .Be faithful and true witnesses for the Lord .Go forward in the fight until every vestige of Babylon lies deso- late .Herald the message far and wide.The world must know that Jehovah is God and that Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords .This is the day of all days .Behold,the King reigns!You are his publicity agents .Therefore advertise,advertise,advertise,the King and his kingdom.e TOM : I guess the letters “A D V”on thebanners you spoke of were an abbreviationof “advertise .” JOHN : That’s right.Something else thataroused interest and helped fix the mindsof the brothers on the importance of themessage was a large banner,thirty-six feetlong,in three colors,that had been madeby the Society’s artist .It had been strungabove the speaker’s stand and folded insuch a way that it could not be read untilthe psychological moment .When BrotherRutherford concluded his stirring addresswith the dramatic call to advertise theKingdom,the strings holding the bannerwere cut,and it unfolded before the audi-ence to reveal its message :”Advertise theKing and Kingdom.”In the middle of thebanner was a large picture of Jesus .LOIs : That certainly must have been athrilling occasion,and I notice that JudgeRutherford placed repeated emphasis onthe matter of being witnesses of the Lord . °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°end of page 102  °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

 Please note  that the material was published in 1959, but the  events,  related  on pages 101, 102   did take place in the year 1922 !  As the years passed by, 10,20,30,40 years   from the publication of the above mentioned book, whenever  a  reference was made  concerning  the ‘.. international convention that was held  on September 5-13,1922 at Cedar Point, Ohio..’ the WTBS Inc. has always  failed  to mention/refer/quote  the central partof J. Rutherford talk…which  as the book  shows so clearly, referred to: ‘…the King of glory is present,and has been since 1874?’ Furthermore it has to be said that  few  among the R&F do have a  printed copy of the book, and of course, it is not avalaible   in any of the WTBS Inc. CDs! * Quote from the year   1965:  

– –The Watchtower ‘ , July 15th, 1965  page 428″Jehovah’s Advancing Organization”As we look back over the years, we can clearly see how God’s organization in modern times has progressed in understanding. For example, it learned that Christ’s second presence was to be in the spirit, and not in the flesh as many professed Christians believe. His rule would be from the heavens. This was a new revelation of great importance to God’s people who had been anxiously awaiting his second presence toward the end of the nineteenth century.

 Please do note that , by using the WTBS Inc. literaure,  it can be said without any doubt that brother Charles Taze Russel and all the other Bible Students  were not “anxiously awaiting his second presence toward the end of the nineteenth century”; for the simple fact that they believed and preached that it had already occurred years past in 1874. 

• Quote from the year  1966:

 *** w66 2/15 p. 103 Christ?s Return?Do You Know What to Look For? *** Compare this with what has taken place since the year 1914.  For over thirty years before that date and for half a century since, Jehovah?s witnesses have pointed to the year 1914 as the time for the end of ?the appointed times of the nations? and the time in which Christ would begin his Kingdom rule. (Luke 21:24) 

Oh yes, very well indeed , but what about the public statement ,one of the many  : ‘…the King of glory is present,and has been since 1874?’ (September 8^th 1922, Cedar Point, Ohio . See also w. 11/1/1922 pages 332-337 )  * Quote from the year  1988: 

*** w88 5/1 p. 21 Jehovah Does Not Forsake His ServantsMy Early Life I was born in 1909 in Kure City, Japan, just 16 miles [25 km] from Hiroshima. My parents ran a rice shop and a kimono store. When I was nine, the Spanish flu hit our area, and soon coffins with dead bodies were piled around the crematorium. My elder sister and I caught the disease, and a week later she died. At her sudden death, I began to wonder: ?Why do people die? What happens to them at death???.page  22Learning Bible TruthIn an effort to make me abandon my faith, Father arranged for me to marry a total stranger, Jizo Ishii, a zealous Buddhist. His elder brother was a chief priest of a Buddhist temple. I was told that although Jizo was not a Christian, he would be understanding about my faith. So I moved to Osaka and at the age of 19 married Jizo, who was a tailor. But contrary to what my father had said, Jizo wouldn?t permit me to attend church.At the back of our house in Tojo-cho, Osaka, there was a house with a sign: ?Osaka Branch of the International Bible Students Association.? Assuming it to be a Christian group, I visited the house.?Do you believe in the second advent of the Lord?? I asked the young man who came to the door.?Christ?s second advent was realized in 1914,? he answered.In astonishment, I told him that was impossible. ?You should readthis book,? he said, handing me The Harp of God. ?page 22  Eventually, my husband found out that I was reading a Christian book. However, when I took a firm stand for my faith, he began wondering whether something very important was involved and so read The Harp of God himself. I was baptized the following year, March 23, 1929, and my husband was baptized shortly afterward.

**** This  ? memory  recollection ? is really misleading.  As a matter of fact the quoted book:  ‘The Harp of God ‘ edition 1921, mention a few times the 1874  date referring to the “presence” of Jesus,  and more precisely on pages: 230, 231, 234, ; page 235 :

« This date, therefore, when understood, would certainly fix the time when the Lord is due at this second appearing. Applying the same rule, then, of a day for a year, 1335 days after 539 A.D. brings us to 1874 A.D., at which time according to Biblical chronology, the Lord’s second presence is due. . . » .

and also pages  236, 237, 241, 244, 271 .-  Even later edition of the same book:  in 1928, 1937, 1940  retained the same date : the year 1874 ,  as the date of Jesus’ Christ – presence *** Two year later another «  Watchtower «   article with a similar misleading memory-recollection : * Quote  from the year  1990

*** w90 9/1 p. 10 Trusting in Jehovah Brings Happiness ***  AS TOLD BY JACK HALLIDAY NATHAN ? page 11                         Finding a Purpose in Life in India After the war ended in 1918, there was no work available in England, so I rejoined the army and went off to India as part of the peacetime garrison. In May 1920 the malaria flared up again, and I was sent up into the hills to recuperate. There I read all the books I could get my hands on, including the Bible. Reading the Scriptures intensified my interest in the Lord?s return.Months later, down in Kanpur, I started a Bible study group, hoping to learn more about the Lord?s return. It was there that I met Fredrick James, a former British soldier who was now a zealous Bible Student. He explained to me that Jesus had been present since 1914, invisible to man.This was the most thrilling news I had ever heard. My first urge was to get out of the army. The bloodshed and death of the European war had disgusted me. I wanted to be a peaceful missionary and preach this good news about Christ?s presence.The army did not agree to release me, however. Instead, they sent me to western India, now Pakistan. While there, I read Studies in the Scriptures, by Charles Taze Russell, and became more convinced than ever that I should respond to the call to preach. I began to have nightmares that left me depressed. In desperation I wrote to Brother James, who invited me to his home in Kanpur. The day I arrived was the Memorial of the Lord?s death. That day had a great impact on my life?I resolved both to remain single and to make the full-time ministry my goal in life.Back in England In late 1921, I was transferred back to England, and in the spring of 1922, I was discharged from the army. That summer J. F. Rutherford, the second president of the Watch Tower Society, came to England, and I went with my parents to hear his talk at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Afterward, I was moved to offer my services at Bethel, as the branch offices of the Watch Tower Society are called, but I was kindly encouraged to do some colporteur work (full-time preaching) first.?

If we read carefully Jack Hallyday Nathan? s account,  he  places  his experience  around  the year 1920 –  more than a decade before  – the WTBS Inc. started to   their  doctrine  concerning Jesus Christ’s  invisible second coming /return from 1874 to 1914. Notice also that the WTBS Inc. own publication i.e. ? The Harp of God ?edition 1921, mention  a few times the 1874  date on pages: 230, 231, 234, and also  on pages  236, 237, 241, 244, 271.- Furthemore,  Charles Taze Russel in all  his published volumes of ? The Studies   of the Scriptures? never used  the date ‘ 1914  ‘ when referringto:               ****Jesus Christ’s  invisible second coming /return  – but he always  used the date of 1874 .(See Part ONE ) T he WTBS Inc.’s constant  desire to rewrite history, is never satisfied, because? 50 years after 1943    the ? change? ,  they published , and taught  worldwide the following :   * Quote from the year  1993: 

*** w93 1/15 p. 5 ?Caught Away to Meet the Lord??How? ***Christ?s ?Presence?While confirming that faithful Christians then dead would be resurrected, Paul also said: ?The living who survive to the presence of the Lord shall in no way precede those who have fallen asleep in death.? (Verse 15) Noteworthy, indeed, is the apostle?s reference to the Lord?s ?presence.? Here the original-language text uses the Greek word pa·rou·si´an, which literally means ?being alongside.? When a foreign head of State visits a country, the dates of his presence there are generally announced. This has been true of the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Watchtower has consistently presented evidence to  honesthearted students of Bible prophecy that Jesus?  presence in heavenly Kingdom power began in 1914.  Events since that year testify to Jesus? invisible presence. (Matthew 24:3-14)

I have only one comment: ‘… The Watchtower has consistently presented evidence…”!  * Quote from the year  1993: From the book  : «   Jehovah?s Witnesses?Proclaimers of God?s Kingdom ? published by the WTBS in the year 1993:  

*** jv chap. 5 pp. 46-47 Proclaiming the Lord?s Return (1870-1914) *** . ?When we first met,? Russell later stated, ?he had much to learn from me on the fulness of restitution based upon the sufficiency of the ransom given for all, as I had much to learn from him concerning time.? Barbour succeeded in convincing Russell that Christ?s invisible presence had begun in 1874?To counteract wrong views regarding the Lord?s return, Russell wrote the pamphlet The Object and Manner of Our Lord?s Return. It was published in 1877.That same year Barbour and Russell jointly published Three Worlds, and the Harvest of This World. This 196-page book discussed the subjects of restitution and Biblical time prophecies.Though each subject had been treated by others before, in Russell?s view this book was ?the first to combine the idea of restitution with time-prophecy.? It presented the view that Jesus Christ?s invisible presence dated from the autumn of 1874.?

I?m rather amused, that in the year 1993, the WTBS Inc. uses the words : «  It presented the view?? because, 6 years after C.T.Russell?s death, a Watchtower article, dated November 1st, 1922 pages 332-337  ,  gave details of  a  public talk delivered by J.F. Rutherford at Cedar Point, Ohio, Friday  September 8th, 1922 Quote :

?;;;;Bible prophecy shows that the Lord was due to appear for the second time in the year 1874. Fulfilled prophecyshows beyond a doubt that he did appear in 1874. Fulfilled prophecy is otherwise designated the physical facts; and these facts are indisputable.?

The same  book : «   Jehovah?s Witnesses?Proclaimers of God?s Kingdom ?  states:

*** jv chap. 10 pp. 133-134 Growing in Accurate Knowledge of the Truth *** In 1876, when Russell had first read a copy of Herald of the Morning, he had learned that there was another group who then believed that Christ?s return would be invisible and who associated that return with blessings for all families of the earth. From Mr. Barbour, editor of that publication, Russell also came to be persuaded that Christ?s invisible presence had begun in 1874.( °)Attention was later drawn to this by the subtitle ?Herald of Christ?s Presence,? which appeared on the cover of Zion?s Watch Tower.

(°) Footnote :

*** jv chap. 10 Growing in Accurate Knowledge of the Truth *** This was influenced by the belief that the seventh millennium of human history had begun in 1873 and that a period of divine disfavor (of equal length to a former period considered to be one of favor) upon natural Israel would end in 1878. The chronology was flawed because of relying on an inaccurate rendering of Acts 13:20 in the King James Version, belief that there was a transcription error at 1 Kings 6:1, and failure to take into account Biblical synchronisms in the dating of reigns of the kings of Judah and of Israel.   A clearer understanding of Biblical chronology was published in 1943, in the book ?The Truth Shall Make You Free,? and it was then refined the following year in the book ?The Kingdom Is at Hand,? as well as in later publications.

Notice the ?blame, the excuses etc.etc. Still, the same book : «   Jehovah?s Witnesses?Proclaimers of God?s Kingdom ? , 500 pages later states:

*** jv chap. 28 pp. 631-632 Testing and Sifting From Within *** It was only natural that they should wonder when and how these things would occur. Did the inspired Scriptures provide any clues?Using Bible chronology that had first been laid out by Christopher Bowen of England, they thought that 6,000 years of human history had ended in 1873, that thereafter they were in the seventh thousand-year period of human history, and that they had surely approached the dawn of the foretold Millennium.The series of books known as Millennial Dawn (and later called Studies in theScriptures), which were penned by C. T. Russell, drew attention to the implications of this according to what the Bible Students understood from the Scriptures.Something else that was seen as a possible time indicator involved the arrangement that God instituted in ancient Israel for a Jubilee, a year of release, every 50th year. This came after a series of seven 7-year periods, each of which ended with a sabbath year. During the Jubilee year, Hebrew slaves were freed and hereditary land possessions that had been sold were restored. (Lev. 25:8-10)Calculations based on this cycle of years led to the conclusion that perhaps a greater Jubilee for all the earth had begun in the autumn of 1874, that evidently the Lord had returned in that year and was invisibly present, and that ?the times of restitution of all things? had arrived.?Acts 3:19-21, KJ. Based on the premise that events of the first century might find parallels in related events later, they also concluded that if Jesus? baptism and anointing in the autumn of 29 C.E. paralleled the beginning of an invisible presence in 1874, then his riding into Jerusalem as King in the spring of 33 C.E. would point to the spring of 1878 as the time when he would assume his power as heavenly King.(°) Footnote:

That 1878 was a year of significance seemed to be fortified by reference to Jeremiah 16:18 (?Jacob?s double,? KJ) along with calculations indicating that 1,845 years had apparently elapsed from Jacob?s death down till 33 C.E., when natural Israel was cast off, and that the double, or duplicate, of this would extend from 33 C.E. down to 1878.Extending the parallels further, it was stated that the desolation of Jerusalem in 70 C.E. (37 years after Jesus was hailed as king by his disciples when he rode into Jerusalem) might point to 1915 (37 years after 1878) for a culmination of anarchistic upheaval that they thought God would permit as a means for bringing existing institutions of the world to their end.This date appeared in reprints of Studies in the Scriptures. (See Volume II, pages 99-101, 171, 221, 232, 246-7; compare reprint of 1914 with earlier printings, such as the 1902 printing of Millennial Dawn.) It seemed to them that this fitted well with what had been published regarding the year 1914 as marking the end of the Gentile Times.

Compare the rendering in The Emphasised Bible, translated by J. B. Rotherham; see also the footnote on Acts 13:20 in the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures?With References.

  A few pages further: 

 *** jv chap. 28 pp. 632-633 Testing and Sifting From Within *** Later on, during the years from 1935 through 1944, a review of the overall framework of Bible chronology revealed that a poor translation of Acts 13:19, 20 in the King James Version, along with certain other factors, had thrown off the chronology by over a century.(°)  This later led to the idea?sometimes stated as a possibility, sometimes more firmly?that since the seventh millennium of human history would begin in 1975, events associated with the beginning of Christ?s Millennial Reign might start to take place then. (°) Footnote :*** jv chap. 28 Testing and Sifting From Within *** See ?The Truth Shall Make You Free,? chapter XI;?The Kingdom Is at Hand,? pages 171-5;also The Golden Age, March 27, 1935, pages 391, 412 . In the light of these corrected tables of Bible chronology, it could be seen that previous use of the dates 1873 and 1878, as well as related dates derived from these on the basis of parallels with first-century events, were based on misunderstandings.

I do believe that there is no need for a comment !  Only 5 years later, in the year 1998 , i.e. 55 years after  1943 , the mighty WTBS Inc. came out with the following: * Quote from the year  1998:

*** w98 9/15 p. 15 Waiting in ?Eager Expectation?

?The eager expectation of the creation is waiting for the revealing of the sons of God.??ROMANS 8:19.

THE situation of true Christians today resembles that of the first-century Christians. A prophecy helped Jehovah?s servants of those days to identify when the Messiah was due to appear. (Daniel 9:24-26) The same prophecy foretold Jerusalem?s destruction but contained no elements enabling Christians to know in advance when that city would be destroyed. (Daniel 9:26b, 27)   Similarly, a prophecy providentially caused sincere 19th-century Bible students to be in expectation. By linking the ?seven times? of Daniel 4:25 with ?the times of the Gentiles,? they anticipated that Christ would receive Kingdom power in 1914. (Luke 21:24, King James Version; Ezekiel 21:25-27).-

and pages 16-17 :

?Why Does Jesus Christ Come? ⁶ Although present as King since 1914, Jesus Christ must yet judge systems and individuals before executing judgment on those he finds to be wicked. (Compare 2 Corinthians 5:10.)

Very  recently?  60  years after ? , not yet satisfied to imitate the Pharahos of Egypt, well known for their habit ofrewriting history,  the  mighty WTBS Inc. published, and taught worldwide  this material ? on the book : «  Isaiah?s Prophecy ? Light for all Mankind  –    Volume II      « published in the year 2001 )

*** ip-2 chap. 28 pp. 408-410 A Light for the Nations *** ¹³ Some of those ?brothers out of all the nations? were present on the day of Pentecost when holy spirit was poured out on Jesus? disciples. The account reads: ?There were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, reverent men, from every nation of those under heaven.? (Acts 2:5) They came to Jerusalem to worship according to Jewish custom, but when they heard the good news about Jesus Christ, many exercised faith in him and were baptized. ¹⁴ Does this prophecy have a modern-day fulfillment? Yes, indeed.   Following World War I, Jehovah?s anointed servants   discerned from the Scriptures that God?s Kingdom had been  set up  in heaven in 1914. Through careful Bible study, they learned that additional Kingdom heirs, or ?brothers,? were to be gathered. Intrepid ministers traveled to ?the most distant part of the earth,? using all manner of conveyance, in search of prospective members of the anointed remnant, most of whom came out of Christendom?s churches. When these were located, they were brought in as a gift to Jehovah.?Acts 1:8.

The above quote was part of the material , for the ? worldwide  – congregation?s book  study , beginning on Monday, October 13th , 2003 .- Conclusions: Which Scriptural text/texts  can the WTBS  Inc. use to justify theirwritten statement/claim that  they were: **** ‘…appointed in 1919 ‘ by Jehovah God and Jesus Christ, to teach  …” spiritual truths ” to the entire world and  such ‘ spiritual truths ‘ would  include   that : – Jesus Christ ‘parousia ‘  took place in the year 1874 . (Date officially  accepted and taught  since the year 1877 #) 

(#)       *** yb75 37  United States of America (Part One) ***

In 1877, Barbour and Russell jointly published Three Worlds, and the Harvest of This World. This 196-page book combined information about Restitution with Biblical time prophecies. It presented the view that Jesus Christ?s invisible presence and a forty-year period opening with a three-and-a-half-year harvest dated from the autumn of 1874. 

  The great problem, in all this,  was that   a huge change in God’s plan , was in store…and that such change … remained   unknown   to the WTBS Inc., organization .The same organization which claimed/  taught and still does , worldwide , that  they were and still are: *** ‘God’s  channel on earth’; ***‘God’s visible organization on earth’; ***among them there is ? a remnant  of  spirit anointed       men and women,   part   of Jesus Christ?s bride. The change was : – Jesus Christ ‘parousia ‘  took place in the year 1914                      and not in the year  1874 –  Yet  they … although being  ” Jesus ?s  Christ earthly ambassadors ” and members of ‘ a royal priesthood ‘?  not even ONE  of  all those  ? anointed ? who partook of the emblems at the memorial of Jesus’ death    in the year 1902 :

*** w55 2/15 105  Part 4: Going on the Offensive *** 

‘… the 1902 Memorial report showing that in only 175 congregations the total attendance exceeded 4,700, representing an individual-congregation average of more than twice that for the preceding year.’

Or in the year  1915:

*** w55 3/1 142  Part 5: The Warning Work (1909-1914) ***

‘For 1915 the partial number reported as attenders of the annual Memorial celebration of Christ?s death was 15,430, and by this time there were 55,000 Watch Tower subscribers, thus indicating the approximate number associated in the warning and witness work.’

Or in the year 1917 :

*** w55 4/1 206  Part 7: New Administration Amid World War I *** 

‘However, in 1917 the partial report of the Memorial (April 5) showed 21,274 in attendance as associates of the Society. ‘

Or in the year 1918 :

*** w55 4/1 206  Part 7: New Administration Amid World War I *** 

‘By Memorial time, March 26, 1918, the separation had become irreconcilable, as the opposers chose to celebrate the death of Christ apart from the Society?s faithful congregations.It had been the Society?s usual practice to publish a partial report of the Memorial attendance as sent to the Society by congregations in this land and abroad, but due to the 1918 disturbances, both internally and externally, the attendance figures were not gathered.’

Or in the year 1919:

*** yb75 94  United States of America (Part One) *** 

‘At the Memorial celebration on April 13, 1919, a partial report gave an attendance of 17,961. Though incomplete, these figures make it clear that far less than 4,000 had ceased walking with their former associates in God?s service.’

Strangely  then,  none of the ‘anointed remnant class’ knew  absolutely nothing  of  the great  event at ‘the ..time of its supposed occurence’   i.e. the year 1914  and  even worst …the event remained  , hard to believe ,  officially   unknown for many, many more years , …. more precisely  24 years , from 1919 to 1943   !  Then, all of the sudden …  as by  a magician  touch, the same event  is  transformed  into doctrine/revelations/viewpoint/public worldwide teaching .. . about  –  29 years after the…supposed time of the event !!!  As if this was not enough , the same magician’  touch ,  had the effect of  altering/ modifying  and even nullifying what was a  public worldwide teaching teaching/doctrine /viewpoint/revelation . This because the WTBS Inc.  publications were considered and still are, even equal to God’s Word, because such ‘ teaching ‘ are  coming from God’s visible channel/ God’s own visible organization .For this very reason the WTBS Inc;?s teaching on the second coming/returnof Jesus Christ    was considered as Biblical    “truth ” by millions , for a period lasting from the year 1877  to the year 1943  i.e.  over 60 years ! As you have seen from quotes of the WTBS Inc., as the  years  went  by, from 1943 onward,  gently, gradually, subtly the historical development of the issue  were changed…so much that  it is now ‘ a fact  ‘ that the WTBS Inc. not only KNEW the event but they preached it…many years  in advance! The saddest part, or rather pathetic truth is …that most of the  ‘R&F’  don?t really have an ‘.…accurate  knowledge  ‘ of all the above  things. For the vast majority of them,  it is really difficult even  to imagine for a moment the possibility  to challenge or to have a difference in view/opinion from the WTBS Inc. offficially presented views/opinions/rules/doctrines. Furthermore, I woulkd like to add that the mighty WTBS Inc. should remember and apply to themselves first, what they published for  all congregations worldwide, as part of  the …’ Watchtower ‘ studyscheduled for Sunday, September 14th, 2003 .- ‘ The Watchtower ‘ August 1st, 2003  pages 15-16 § 8-10  ;

Jehovah’s Servants Are Truthful Like Jehovah, his faithful Witnesses are truthful. Jesus Christ, the preeminent Witness of Jehovah, affirmed the truth by the things he taught and by the way he lived and died. True Christians follow the pattern that Jesus set in being truthful with others. Paul counseled fellow believers: “Speak truth each one of you with his neighbor; because we are members belonging to one another.” (Ephesians 4:25) To many, lying may seem a convenient tool to obtain certain advantages. People lie to escape punishment, to profit in some way, or to gain the praise of others.Yet, a practice of lying is a vice. What is more, a liar cannot gain God’s approval.  When we are known to be truthful, others believe what we say; they trust us. However, if we are caught telling even a single lie, others may doubt the truthfulness of anything we say in the future. An African proverb states: “One falsehood spoils a thousand truths.” Another proverb says: “A liar will not be believed, even when he speaks the truth.”  Truthfulness means more than merely telling the truth. It is a way of life. It defines who we are. We make the truth known to others not only by what we say but also by what we do. If we are to impart truth to others, we must be truthful in all our ways. Our reputation for truthfulness and honesty will have a powerful impact on how people respond to what we teach. Jehovah’s Servants Reveal the Truth Of course, others besides Jehovah’s Witnesses may tell the truth and try to be honest. However, as servants of God, we have a particularly great responsibility to uphold what is true. We have been entrusted with Bible truths – truths that can lead one to everlasting life.

Finally, due to the  ‘evidence of contraddictory statements ‘ appearing invarious publications, even  shortly spaced in time  and  to answer the frequently asked question concerning the revising/control exercised  by the WTBS Inc. on  all the publications, I can reassure you that  two answers were already given on this specific subject:   one in the year 1987 and the other one in the year 1995. Here below the quotes:

*** w87 3/1 14-15  ‘Upon the Watchtower I Am Standing’ ***

16 How would The Watchtower maintain the purity of its printed message? The magazine?s first editor, C. T. Russell, instituted safeguards to make certain that what was printed in The Watchtower was the truth as then understood. One of those safeguards is identified in his will made on June 27, 1907. (Russell died on October 31, 1916.) His will states: ?I direct that the entire editorial charge of ZION?S WATCH TOWER shall be in the hands of a committee of five brethren, whom I exhort to great carefulness and fidelity to the truth. All articles appearing in the columns of ZION?S WATCH TOWER shall have the unqualified approval of at least three of the committee of five, and I urge that if any matter approved by the three be known or supposed to be contrary to the views of one or both of the other members of the committee, such articles shall be held over for thought, prayer and discussion for three months before being published?that so far as possible the unity of the faith and the bonds of peace may be maintained in the editorial management of the journal.? 17 Each member of the Editorial Committee, according to Russell?s will, had to be ?thoroughly loyal to the doctrines of the Scriptures? and had to exhibit, as prominent characteristics, ?purity of life, clearness in the truth, zeal for God, love for the brethren and faithfulness to the Redeemer.? Also, Russell stipulated that ?it shall not in any manner be indicated by whom the various articles appearing in the journal are written . . . that the truth may be recognized and appreciated for its own worth, and that the Lord may more particularly be recognized as the Head of the church and the Fountain of truth.? 18 To this day the Governing Body follows similar guidelines.  Each article in both The Watchtower and Awake! and every page, including the artwork, is scrutinized by selected members of the Governing Body before it is printed.Furthermore, those who assist in writing articles for The Watchtower are Christian elders who appreciate the seriousness of their assignment. (Compare 2 Chronicles 19:7.) They spend many hours in researching the Bible and other reference material to make sure that what is written is the truth and that it faithfully follows the Scriptures. (Ecclesiastes 12:9, 10; 2 Timothy 1:13)  It is not unusual for one magazine article?that you may read in 15 minutes?to take from two weeks to over a month to prepare. 19 Therefore, you can read The Watchtower and Awake! with confidence.

and

*** w95 5/15 22-3  Flashes of Light-Great and Small (Part 2) ***

For many years the Governing Body of Jehovah?s Witnesses was synonymous with the board of directors of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, and matters were largely in the hands of its president. As shown in the 1977 Yearbook of Jehovah?s Witnesses (pages 258-9), in 1976 the Governing Body began to function with six committees, each assigned to care for certain aspects of the worldwide work. The Personnel Committee deals with personnel matters, including the interests of all who serve in the worldwide Bethel family.The Publishing Committee handles all secular and legal matters, such as property and printing.The Service Committee concerns itself with the witness work and supervises traveling overseers, pioneers, and the activities of congregation publishers. The Teaching Committee is responsible for congregation meetings, special assembly days, circuit assemblies, and district and international conventions as well as the various schools for the spiritual education of God?s people.  The Writing Committee supervises the preparation and translation of publications in all forms, making sure that everything is in line with the Scriptures.

These words, do not need comments. With my conclusions  ends Part THREE, the last one on this subject. I do hope that those who?ll take the time to read it?will appreciate  it. Btw, many thanks to ‘Dirtclod.com’.-   Greetings,  J.C. MacHislopp « The truth can never be hurt by a lie, but a lie can  be exposed by the truth «