the quiver
Watchtower Prophecy
1873-1881
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Zion’s Watch Tower 1881, R188 Page 3:
If we were following a man undoubtedly it would be different with us; undoubtedly one human idea would contradict another and that which was light one or two or six years ago would be regarded as darkness now: But with God there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning, and so it is with truth; any knowledge or light coming from God must be like its author. A new view of truth never can contradict a former truth. "New light" never extinguishes older "light," but adds to it. If you were lighting up a building containing seven gas jets you would not extinguish one every time you lighted another, but would add one light to another and they would be in harmony and thus give increase of light: So is it with the light of truth; the true increase is by adding to, not by substituting one for another.
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Let us take A GLANCE BACKWARD at the steps of progress, and let all notice that the progress is not only forward but upward; i.e., the tendency is from the natural to the spiritual. We will look, not at any one person's experience, but at what serves to show the advance of the knowledge of truth for ten years past. Looking back to 1871, we see that many of our company were what are known as Second Adventists, and the light they held briefly stated, was that there would be a second advent of Jesus- that he would come to bless and immortalize the saints, to judge the world and to burn up the world and all the wicked. This, they claimed would occur in 1873, because the 6,000 years from the creation of Adam were complete then.
Well 1873 came, the end of 6,000 years, and yet no burning of the world, but prophecies were found which pointed positively to 1874 as the time when Jesus was due to be present, and the resurrection of Daniel was also due as proved by the ending of jubilee cycles and the 1335 days of Dan. 12. The autumn of 1874 anxiously expected, finally came, but the earth rolled on as ever; "all things continued as they were from the beginning of creation." All their hearts were sad; they said, surely we have been in error —but where? Surely it is clearly taught that Jesus will come again; perhaps our calculation of time is at fault. Carefully they examined the chronology but it seemed faultless and positively declared that the 6,000 years ended in 1873. Then the prophetic arguments were carefully reexamined: Was an error found? No, they stood the test of all investigation and the jubilee argument and "1335 days" of Daniel could not possibly be prolonged beyond the fall of 74 or spring of 1875 and these periods were both past.
Dark indeed seemed the outlook; all were discouraged. It had seemed as though the Lord had been leading in the past, and yet now all these things which had been thought light seemed to be proved darkness.
…His surprise was, at finding that the Greek word parousia which signifies presence, had in our common version been improperly rendered coming, but the new rendering showed, that it was not the act of coming that resembled the days of Noah, but that as in Noah's days the masses of the people "knew not" so it would be in the time of Jesus' presence at the second advent. Humanity will go on eating, drinking, marrying, etc., as usual and "know not" that he is present. The next step was, to see whether the account of the same discourse as recorded by Luke, would harmonize with this new idea of a presence unseen, except by the eye of faith, until the "little flock" typified by Noah had gone from among men into the condition of safety (from the coming storm) represented by the Ark- "one taken and another left."
Luke's account was in perfect accord with Matthew's, though in different words--" As it was in the days of Noah so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man." (Luke 17:26.)
This was communicated to others of the disappointed ones, and with the remembrance that the time arguments above referred to had been found faultless and unalterable and proved that Jesus was due here in the fall of 1874, came the thought- can it be possible that Jesus does not come in a fleshly body at His second advent? Can it be possible that His presence began at the time indicated in those prophecies and yet we went on eating and drinking, etc., and "knew not" of His presence?
…We know not the day or hour, but expect it during 1881, possibly near the autumn where the parallels show the favor to Zion complete and due to end, the door to the marriage to shut, and the high calling to be the bride of Christ, to cease and light on that subject is becoming clearer; we see that as the voices and trumpets of 1 Thes. 4:16, are symbolic, so also, the clouds are symbolic of the trouble gathering, in or during which, we shall be caught away to meet the Lord in the air, which we find is another symbol and used to represent the spiritual-supernatural- control of earth's affairs now possessed by Satan the prince of the powers of the air who is soon to be bound and give place to Jesus and His bride— the new powers of the air-(spiritual powers).
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1881-1914
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Zion’s Watch Tower 1881, R304 Page 4:
We look backward at the context, to ascertain if possible when this blessing is due. The seven preceding verses give, we think, very clear testimony on the subject. They mention three specific messages which must be proclaimed in the church (symbol, heaven) which, we believe, have been in process, during the first seven years of harvest just ended, from 1874 to 1881. The first message embodies not only the agelasting good news (Gospel) but also the time element. "The HOUR of his judgment is come." This is precisely what was preached by quite a goodly number of us, viz: that the glad tidings of great joy should yet be unto all people, and that the "harvest" or time of trial (judgment) commenced with 1874, and would last for forty years, the first seven years being specially devoted to the church for the harvesting of the first-fruits.
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The Time Is At Hand by Charles Taze Russell, 1889, Vol 2, Page 76-78:
In this chapter we present the Bible evidence proving that the full end of the times of the Gentiles, the full end of their lease of dominion, will be reached in A. D. 1914 ; and that that date will be the farthest limit of the rule of imperfect men. And be it observed, that if this is shown to be a fact firmly established by the Scriptures, it will prove : —
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Firstly, That at that date the Kingdom of God, for which our Lord taught us to pray, saying, ' ' Thy Kingdom come, ' ' will have obtained full, universal control, and that it will then be "set up,” or firmly established, in the earth.
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Secondly, It will prove that he whose right it is thus to take the dominion will then be present as earth's new Ruler ; and not only so, but it will also prove that he will be present for a considerable period before that date ; because the overthrow of these Gentile governments is directly caused by his dashing them to pieces as a potter's vessel (Psa. 2:9; Rev. 2 : 27), and establishing in their stead his own righteous government.
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Thirdly, It will prove that some time before the end of A. D. 1914 the last member of the divinely recognized Church of Christ, the "royal priesthood,' ' "the body of Christ," will be glorified with the Head; because every member is to reign with Christ, being a joint-heir with him of the Kingdom, and it cannot be fully "set up" without every member
…The condition of things spoken of in symbolic language as raging waves of the sea, melting earth, falling mountains and burning heavens will then have passed away, and the " new heavens and new earth " with their peaceful blessings will begin to be recognized by trouble-tossed humanity ; and the Lord's Anointed and his rightful and righteous authority will begin to be recognized, first by a company of God's children who will have come through great tribulation
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The Time Is At Hand by Charles Taze Russell, 1889, Vol 2, Page 81:
And the heirs of the heavenly kingdom must so continue, until the time appointed for them to reign together with Christ. During the time of trouble, closing this age, they will be exalted to power, but their " reign " of righteousness over the world can date only from A. D. 1914 — when the Times of the Gentiles have expired. Therefore it is the duty of the Church to await patiently the appointed time for its triumph and glorious reign ;
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The Time Is At Hand by Charles Taze Russell, 1889, Vol 2, Page 98-99:
True, it is expecting great things to claim, as we do, that within the coming twenty-six years all present governments will be overthrown and dissolved ; but we are living in a special and peculiar time, the " Day of Jehovah," in which matters culminate quickly ; and it is written, " A short work will the Lord make upon the earth. ' '
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1914-1915​
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The Time Is At Hand by Charles Taze Russell, 1889, Vol 2, Page 99:
In view of this strong Bible evidence concerning the Times of the Gentiles, we consider it an established truth that the final end of the kingdoms of this world, and the full establishment of the Kingdom of God, will be accomplished by the end of A. D. 1914. Then the prayer of the Church, ever since her Lord took his departure — "Thy Kingdom come' ' — will be answered ; and under that wise and just administration, the whole earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord — with knowledge, and righteousness, and peace (Psa. 72 : 19 ; Isa. 6:3; Hab. 2:14); and the will of God shall be done "on earth, as it is done in heaven"
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Zion’s Watch Tower 1894, R1677 Page 226:
Now, in view of recent labor troubles and threatened anarchy, our readers are writing to know if there may not be a mistake in the 1914 date. They say that they do not see how present conditions can hold out so long under the strain.
We see no reason for changing the figures— nor could we change them if we would. They are, we believe, God's dates, not ours. But bear in mind that the end of 1914 is not the date for the beginning, but for the end of the time of trouble. We see no reason for changing from our opinion expressed in the View presented in the WATCH TOWER of Jan. 15, '92. We advise that it be read again.
Zion’s Watch Tower 1914, R5450 Page 134:
There is absolutely no ground for Bible students to question that the consummation of this Gospel Age is now even at the door, and that it will end as the Scriptures foretell in a great Time of Trouble such as never was since there was a nation. We see the participants in this great crisis banding themselves together under the leadership of Capital and Trusts, Labor and Trade Unions. The great crisis, the great clash, symbolically represented as a fire, that will consume the ecclesiastical heavens and the social earth, is very near.
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Zion’s Watch Tower 1914, R5526 Page 260:
While it is possible that Armageddon may begin next Spring, yet it is purely speculation to attempt to say just when. We see, however, that there are parallels between the close of the Jewish Age and this Gospel Age. These parallels seem to point to the year just before us— particularly the early months.
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Zion’s Watch Tower 1914, R5563 Page 323:
IT MAY be that many of the Lord's people were expecting more than they should have looked for to occur with the opening of the Jewish year 1915, which began with September 21. The human mind seems to have a natural tendency, and one with which we should have sympathy, to expect matters to culminate more rapidly, fulfilments to come more suddenly, than they ever do come.
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Zion’s Watch Tower 1914, R5565 Page 324:
Studying God's Word, we have measured the 2520 years, the Seven symbolic Times, from that year 606 B.C. and have found that it reached down to October, 1914, as nearly as we were able to reckon. We did not say positively that this would be the year. We merely left every one to look at the facts of history and reckon for himself.
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1915-1925
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Zion’s Watch Tower 1914, R5565 Page 325:
Previous to that time the Church held that the Bible went hand in hand with the voice of the Church; that the voice of the Church was the voice of the bishops and the popes; and that the Bible was only to corroborate the voice of the Church. But after the expiration of the 1260 prophetic days, the Bible began to take a new position.
We remind you that it was between the years 1803 and 1813 that many of our great Bible Societies were organized. Only then the printing of the Bible in every language and in cheap form was commenced, and the Bible began to go out to all nations. The Bible was lifted up before the people— was exalted to heaven, in the sense in which our Lord meant when He said, "Thou, Capernaum, art exalted unto heaven." The Bible was greatly exalted in contrast to the degraded position which it had occupied during the Dark Ages. But several years were consumed in bringing it up to this high position.
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Pastor Russell's Sermons, International Bible Students Association, 1917, pg 676,
"The present great war in Europe is the beginning of the Armageddon of the Scriptures. (Rev. 16:16-20.) It will eventuate in the complete overthrow of all the systems of error which have so long oppressed the people of God and deluded the world. All iniquity of every kind will go down. The glorious Kingdom of Messiah is about to be set up in the earth, for the deliverance of the world and the establishment of permanent righteousness. We believe the present war cannot last much longer until revolution shall break out. The nations are rapidly impoverishing themselves."
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Millions Now Living Will Never Die, J.F. Rutherford, 1920, Page 89
As we have heretofore stated, the great jubilee cycle is due to begin in 1925. At that time the earthly phase of the kingdom shall be recognized. The Apostle Paul in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews names a long list of faithful men who died before the crucifixion of the Lord and before the beginning of the selection of the church. These can never be a part of the heavenly class ; they had no heavenly hopes ; but God has in store something good for them. They are to be resurrected as perfect men and constitute the princes or rulers in the earth, according to his promise. (Psalm 45 : 16 ; Isaiah 32 : 1 ; Matthew 8:11) Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old, particularly those named by the Apostle in Hebrews chapter eleven, to the condition of human perfection
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The Watch Tower 1925, May 1st – “Gathering the elect”:
We are well along in 1925. Let everyone now who really loves the Lord put aside selfishness and, moved by the spirit of a loving devotion to the cause of righteousness, make the few remaining months the greatest witness yet given for the King and his kingdom.
The Watchtower-1925 - JWS Online Library (jws-library.one)
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The Watch Tower 1925, Jan 1st – “WORK FOR THE ANOINTED”:
The year 1925 is here. With great expectation Christians have looked forward to this year. Many have confidently expected that all members of the body of Christ will be changed to heavenly glory during the year. This may be accomplished. It may not be. In his own due time God will accomplish his purposes concerning his own people.
The Watchtower-1925 - JWS Online Library (jws-library.one)
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Watch Tower Society suspends the issuing of prophecies centred on a specific date
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1925-1975
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Herbert H. Stroup, The Jehovah's Witnesses, Columbia University Press, 1945, pg 55.
“the work of Witnesses is coming to a conclusion" "Armageddon is only a short time away” "the end is much less than the length of a generation” - Rutherford
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In the late 1930s Rutherford affirmed his intention that Beth Sarim should accommodate at least some of the returning "princes", and that it should stand as a monument to the organization's firm expectation, although no new date was ever assigned to the expected event.
The building was sold in 1948 and the doctrine of the return of the prophets dropped in 1950.
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Life Everlasting—In Freedom of the Sons of God, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1966, Page 28-29:
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The Approaching Peace of a Thousand Years, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1969, Page 25-26:
In order for the Lord Jesus Christ to be 'Lord of the sabbath day,' his thousand-year reign would have to be the seventh in a series of thousand-year periods or millenniums. Thus it would be a sabbatical reign.
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How Are You Using Your Life? Kingdom Ministry – 1974, Page 3:
Yes, since the summer of 1973 there have been new peaks in pioneers every month. Now there are 20,394 regular and special pioneers in the United States, an all-time peak. That is 5,190 more than there were in February 1973! A 34-percent increase! Does that not warm our hearts? Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world’s end.​
How Are You Using Your Life? — Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY (jw.org)
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Tape-recording of "Divine Purpose" district convention, Utrecht, the Netherlands, August 1974
Many of us have suffered misery, sickness and death. You don't have to experience that any more. The new order is near [...] Sell your house, sell everything you own and say, oh boy, how long can I carry on with my private means. That long? Get rid of things! Pioneer! Plan to shower people with magazines during these last few months of this dying system of things!
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1975-1980
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Growing in Appreciation for the “Divine Purpose” – The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom – 1974, Page 635-636:
All we know is that the end will come within the generation that sees fulfilled on it the sign that Jesus Christ said would then be in evidence. (See Matthew chapters 24, 25.) All indications are that the fulfilment of this sign began in 1914. So we can be confident that the end is near; we do not have the slightest doubt that God will bring it about, the speaker stressed. But we have to wait and see exactly when, in the meantime keeping busy in God’s service.
Growing in Appreciation for the “Divine Purpose” — Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY (jw.org)
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Why Are You Looking Forward to 1975? - The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom—1968, Page 494-501:
One thing is absolutely certain, Bible chronology reinforced with fulfilled Bible prophecy shows that six thousand years of man’s existence will soon be up, yes, within this generation! (Matt. 24:34) This is, therefore, no time to be indifferent and complacent. This is not the time to be toying with the words of Jesus that “concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matt. 24:36) To the contrary, it is a time when one should be keenly aware that the end of this system of things is rapidly coming to its violent end. Make no mistake, it is sufficient that the Father himself knows both the “day and hour”!
Why Are You Looking Forward to 1975? — Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY (jw.org)
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The End of 6,000 Years of Man-Rule Approaches—What Has Been Accomplished? - The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom—1975, Page 579-581:
No, it does not mean that. Why not? Well, the Bible record shows that God’s creations on the “day” just preceding that 7,000-year “rest day” did not end with Adam’s creation. It shows a time lapse between the creation of Adam and that of his wife, Eve. During that time, God had Adam name the animals. Whether that period amounted to weeks or months or years, we do not know. So we do not know exactly when Jehovah’s great “rest day” began, nor do we know exactly when it will end.
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A Solid Basis for Confidence - The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom—1976, Page 438-443:
But it is not advisable for us to set our sights on a certain date, neglecting everyday things we would ordinarily care for as Christians, such as things that we and our families really need. We may be forgetting that, when the “day” comes, it will not change the principle that Christians must at all times take care of all their responsibilities. If anyone has been disappointed through not following this line of thought, he should now concentrate on adjusting his viewpoint, seeing that it was not the word of God that failed or deceived him and brought disappointment, but that his own understanding was based on wrong premises.
A Solid Basis for Confidence — Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY (jw.org)
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Choosing the Best Way of Life - The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom—1980, 3/15 Page 17
In modern times such eagerness, commendable in itself, has led to attempts at setting dates for the desired liberation from the suffering and troubles that are the lot of persons throughout the earth. With the appearance of the book Life Everlasting​—in Freedom of the Sons of God, and its comments as to how appropriate it would be for the millennial reign of Christ to parallel the seventh millennium of man’s existence, considerable expectation was aroused regarding the year 1975. There were statements made then, and thereafter, stressing that this was only a possibility. Unfortunately, however, along with such cautionary information, there were other statements published that implied that such realization of hopes by that year was more of a probability than a mere possibility. It is to be regretted that these latter statements apparently overshadowed the cautionary ones and contributed to a buildup of the expectation already initiated.
Choosing the Best Way of Life — Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY (jw.org)
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1980-2000
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Questions From Readers - The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom—1980, 10/15 Page 31:
What, then, is the “generation” that “will by no means pass away until all these things occur”? It does not refer to a period of time, which some have tried to interpret as 30, 40, 70 or even 120 years, but, rather, it refers to people, the people living at the “beginning of pangs of distress” for this condemned world system. It is the generation of people who saw the catastrophic events that broke forth in connection with World War I from 1914 onward.
As indicated by an article on page 56 of U.S. News & World Report of January 14, 1980, “If you assume that 10 is the age at which an event creates a lasting impression on a person’s memory,” then there are today more than 13 million Americans who have a “recollection of World War I.” And if the wicked system of this world survived until the turn of the century, which is highly improbable in view of world trends and the fulfillment of Bible prophecy, there would still be survivors of the World War I generation. However, the fact that their number is dwindling is one more indication that “the conclusion of the system of things” is moving fast toward its end.
Questions From Readers — Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY (jw.org)
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Kingdom Unity a Reality Today - The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom—1984, 3/1 Page 16-21:
Why do we say, Kingdom unity? Well, is not God’s Kingdom the theme of the entire Bible? So, then, should not the Kingdom be a unifying theme in our lives? It has been thrilling to see the fulfillment of Jesus’ sign showing that the Kingdom was established in the heavens in that momentous year 1914. And Jesus has told us to rejoice at seeing the dark storm clouds of Armageddon gathering since that time. He has told us that the “generation” of 1914​—the year that the sign began to be fulfilled—“will by no means pass away until all these things occur.” (Matthew 24:34) Some of that “generation” could survive until the end of the century. But there are many indications that “the end” is much closer than that!
Kingdom Unity a Reality Today — Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY (jw.org)
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Introduction to AWAKE! For a period of time, evidenced from “Our Kingdom Ministry, 1993, Using our magazines from house to house”. October 1993, Page 8:
The purpose of Awake! is stated clearly on page 4 of each issue: “This magazine builds confidence in the Creator’s promise of a peaceful and secure new world before the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away.” Certainly such a magazine deserves as wide a distribution as possible in our house-​to-​house ministry!
Using Our Magazines From House to House — Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY (jw.org)
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Change from 20th century return to “Our Day” return, Watchtower 1989, Jan 1st, Page 12:
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“He was also laying a foundation for a work that would be completed in our 20th century.”
1989-01-01 The Watchtower (2 versions single and bound volume).pdf (watchtowerwayback.org)
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“He was also laying a foundation for a work that would be completed in our day.”
1989 The Watchtower.pdf (watchtowerwayback.org)
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The JW.ORG website has removed all evidence of the originally published version.
By the end of the year the have completely changed their doctrine:
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Questions From Readers - The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom—1989, October 1st, Page 30-31:
We have ample reasons to expect that this preaching will be completed in our time. Does that mean before the turn of a new month, a new year, a new decade, a new century? No human knows, for Jesus said that ‘even the angels of the heavens’ did not know that.
