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History

Pre-1870

According to Jehovah's Witnesses, after the death of the last apostle, the Church gradually diverged, in a "Great Apostasy", from the original teachings of Jesus on several major points. Influenced by Restorationism, they see their faith as a continually improving, imperfect restoration of First Century Christianity. The Watchtower teaches that the 1900-year-old remnant of true Christian believers received this new assignment in 1919 in fulfillment of scripture.^[1] Jehovah's Witnesses feel that true understanding of the scriptures began to be reassembled by Charles Taze Russell and his associates when they formed a Bible study group in the 1870s in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, and had until then been imperfectly represented since the Great Apostasy by a number of historical Christian groups.^[2]

1870-1916

File:Ctrussell2.jpg

Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916)

Born into a Presbyterian family, Russell had nearly lost his faith until he came in contact with a group of Second Adventists (one of the spiritual heirs of the Millerites). Adventist ministers Jonas Wendell, George Storrs and George Stetson were early influences. In 1876 Russell met Nelson H. Barbour and subsequently adopted Barbour's understanding of biblical chronology. Barbour had predicted a visible return of Christ for 1873^[3], and when that failed revised the prediction to 1874.^[4]Soon after that disappointment Barbour's group decided Christ had returned to the earth in 1874, but invisibly.^[5] Russell provided financial backing for Barbour and became co-editor of Barbour's magazine Herald of the Morning. Jointly they issued the book The Three Worlds^[6]which announced Christ's return in 1874 and the resurrection of the saints in 1875^[7], and predicted events for 1878^[8] and 1914^[9]. Breaking with Barbour in 1879 over the concept of substitutionary atonement, Russell soon began publishing his own magazine Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence, now known as The_Watchtower. Russell retained Barbour's teaching that the "end times" had begun in 1799,^[10]and Christ's invisible return in 1874.^[11]. 1878 became the date for Christ's being enthroned as king, the resurrection of the saints^[12] and for the judgment of Christendom.^[13]1914 was held as the ending date of a harvest period which would culminate in Armageddon.^[14]^[15]

	Last Days Begin	Christ's Return	Christ as King	Resurrection of Anointed	Judgment of Religion	Great Tribulation
Timeline of Eschatological Doctrine
1879-1920	1799	1874	1878			1914, 1915, 1918, 1920
1920-1925	1799	1874	1878			1925
1925-1933	1799	1874	1914	1878 changed to 1918 in 1927	1878 changed to 1919 in 1930	within generation of 1914
1933-1966	1914			1918	1919	within generation of 1914
1966-1975	1914			1918	1919	1975?
1975-1995	1914			1918	1919	within generation of 1914
1995-2024	1914			1918	1919	imminent

Known as "Pastor Russell", he formed a legal entity which developed into the non-profit organization: The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania in 1881 (currently headquatered in New York City); in 1884 it was incorporated with Russell as president. Over several years, many millions of copies of Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence were distributed in several languages to proclaim Christ's presence and the dawn of his Millennium. In addition, his six-volume work, originally entitled Millennial Dawn but later changed to Studies in the Scriptures, established the fundamental doctrines derived from their Bible study. (As a consequence, the Bible Students were sometimes called "Millennial Dawnists".) In 1914 Russell founded the International Bible Students Association in Great Britain.

Beginning in January 1914, the Bible Students began public showings of the The Photo-Drama of Creation^[16], a multi-hour presentation covering the history of the Bible combining film, color slides and audio. Russell died on October 31, 1916 during a cross-country preaching trip.

1916-1942

An editorial committee was set up to supervise the writing of Watch Tower publications after Russell's death.^[17] On January 6, 1917, Joseph Franklin Rutherford (also known as "Judge Rutherford") was elected president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society but opposition soon developed from some associates. This opposition came to a head later in 1917 when four of the seven directors of the Watchtower Society attempted to pass a resolution consolidating power in the board of directors instead of the president. They were evicted by police^[18], and Rutherford succeeded in legally securing power. On July 17, 1917 Rutherford distributed copies of the book The Finished Mystery^[19] (considered to be the final volume of Studies in the Scriptures) to the headquarters staff. The book, which had been published without the board's consultation, was received by many at headquarters as a "bombshell."^[20]On the same day, Rutherford dismissed the four directors from the board on the grounds that their election to it had not followed the corporation by-laws.^[21]Rutherford called for a democratic vote among the Bible Student community which gave its support to his administration.^[22]Dissension and schisms ensued in local congregations, however. New predictions were made for the years 1918^[23], 1920^[24] and 1925.^[25]

The Watchtower Society's opposition to clergy support of World War I garnered prosecution by the United States federal government. The Finished Mystery was banned in Canada and pages of the book which criticized patriotism were removed before distribution. Rutherford and the new board of directors were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for violating the "Espionage Act." They were released on bail in March, 1919 and the judgment against them was reversed and charges dropped.^[26]

Once released from prison Rutherford energized the Bible Students to preach. An emphasis on preaching house-to-house began in 1922.^[27]Early preaching campaigns included distribution of Rutherford's book Millions Now Living Will Never Die^[28] which predicted "end times" events for 1925.^[29]No more dates were suggested after the 1925 disappointment^[30]but Armageddon was still held to be imminent.^[31]

Some who left the movement became known as the Associated Bible Students, or simply "Bible Students". In 1918 the Pastoral Bible Institute was founded and began publishing The Herald of Christ's Kingdom. By 1928, memorial attendance dropped nearly 75% from 1922, due to the previous power struggle and the failed predictions for the year 1925.^[32]In 1929, Rutherford built a luxury villa which he named "Beth-Sarim" to house the expected biblical "princes" who were to be resurrected.^[33] In 1931, Rutherford adopted the name "Jehovah's Witnesses" to distinguish themselves from those "Bible Students". The editorial committee was disbanded in 1931^[34] but had been superseded by Rutherford beginning in 1925.^[35]

From 1925 to 1933, Rutherford reinterpreted the Witnesses' eschatological understandings.^[36]By 1933, 1914 was seen as the beginning of Christ's presence and the start of the last days instead of being considered the terminal date for chronology.^[37] The 1878 resurrection date was changed to 1918^[38]and the teaching of the judgment of religious groups was moved to 1919.^[39]These are the current teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses regarding 1914, 1918 and 1919. Witnesses no longer consider the dates 1799, 1874 and 1878 to have any eschatological significance.

Under Rutherford, Jehovah's Witnesses grew from about 44,000 in 1928 to about 115,000 at the time of his death in 1942. Rutherford was known for bold rhetoric and assertive preaching tactics. He coined the phrase "Religion is a snare and a racket," heavily denouncing the Catholic Church as well as Christendom itself, modern Judaism and national governments. Placards, information marches and sound cars became part of the preaching methods employed. Under his leadership, a legal staff was developed that battled successfully in both US and Canadian courts. At issue was their right to preach. These legal battles resulted in significant improvements in freedom of speech and religion in both countries.^[40]

1942-Present

Nathan Homer Knorr succeeded Rutherford as president of the Watch Tower Society. Known as an efficient administrator, Knorr founded the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead to train missionaries as well as the Theocratic Ministry School to train preaching and teaching on the congregational level. Knorr's Vice-President Frederick William Franz became the leading theologian and was credited as being the principal translator of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. Witness membership rose from 115,000 to over 2 million under Knorr's leadership.

During the 1960s and early 1970s, many references appeared in the Witnesses' literature and at their assemblies suggesting Christ's thousand-year millennial reign would begin by 1975.^[41]^[42] While Witnesses have always been encouraged to increase the preaching work, and avoid secular life goals or careers, this emphasis was especially strong prior to 1975.^[43] Approximately 20% left (or became inactive) from 1975 to 1980.^[44]

File:WT Logo.gif

The leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses was reorganized in 1975 and the power of the presidency passed on to the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses. Subsequent presidents of the Watch Tower Society after Knorr's death in 1977 have been Frederick William Franz, Milton George Henschel and Don A. Adams. However, doctrinal and organizational decisions after 1975 have been made by the Governing Body.^[45]

In 1995 changes regarding their understanding of Jesus' comments regarding "this generation" (from Matthew 24:34) were published.^[46] During the previous four decades, Jehovah's Witnesses had taught that the generation which saw the events of 1914, which would not die before Armageddon came.^[47] The Witnesses' current teaching regarding the meaning of the term "this generation" is that it simply refers to those who saw the signs of Christ's presence. Jehovah's Witnesses continue to teach that Armageddon is imminent.^[48]

References

^ "It was the 1900-year-old 'faithful and discreet slave,' the old Christian congregation, that was entrusted with this precious Kingdom service ... obedient in its centuries-old commission to be witnesses in the earth ... the matured 'slave' as represented by a remnant now stood ready for new assignments of service." - "The Awake "Faithful and Discreet Slave", The Watchtower, July 15, 1960, p.436.
^ ‘The Faithful Slave’ Passes the Test!, The Watchtower March 1, 2004, p. 13-18.
^ Evidences for the Coming of the Lord in 1873: or the Midnight Cry, N.H. Barbour (1871). Available online at: http://www.heraldmag.org/olb/contents/history/barbour%20midnight%20cry.htm accessed February 20, 2006
^ The Midnight Cry and Herald of the Morning, March 1874
^ Russell explains how he accepted the idea of an invisible return of Christ in 1874 from N.H. Barbour in the July 15, 1906 Watch Tower, p. 3822.
^ The Three Worlds or The Harvest of This World by N.H. Barbour and C.T. Russell (1877). Scan available online at: http://www.davidgladden.com/jw/books/worlds.pdf accessed February 20, 2006
^ The Three Worlds, pp. 104-108
^ The end of the "harvest" was expected in 1878. See pages 68, 89-93, 124, 125-126, 143 of The Three Worlds.
^ The year 1914 was seen as the final end of the "day of wrath": "...the 'times of the Gentiles,' reach from B.C. 606 to A.D. 1914, or forty years beyond 1874. And the time of trouble, conquest of the nations, and events connected with the day of wrath, have only ample time, during the balance of this forty years, for their fulfillment." The Three Worlds, p. 189
^ "The 'Time of the End,' a period of one hundred and fifteen (115) years, from A.D. 1799 to A.D. 1914, is particularly marked in the Scriptures." Thy Kingdom Come, p. 23.
^ Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, pp. 631-632
^ Thy Kingdom Come (1890), Volume 3 of Studies in the Scriptures, pp. 305-308.
^ "This spuing out, or casting off, of the nominal church as an organization in 1878, we then understood, and still proclaim, to be the date of the commencement of Babylon's fall..."--Zion's Watch Tower, April 1883. Reprints pp. 474-5.
^ The Watch Tower, January 15, 1892, p. 1355
^ A compendium of quotes on 1914 taken from Watchtower publications can be read at: http://www.reexamine.org/quotes/1914.htm accessed February 20, 2006
^ Video clip from the Photo-Drama is available online at: http://www.exjws.net/museum/Russell%20Video%203.movThe book is available online at: http://www.davidgladden.com/jw/books/photo_drama_of_creation.pdf
^ Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, pp. 64-65. Russell's "Will and Testament" was published in the December 1, 1916 Watch Tower. Available online at http://www.agsconsulting.com/htdbv5/r5999.htm accessed February 12, 2006
^ Faith on the March by A.H. Macmillan, p. 79. The directors claim, however, that the police officer did not force them out. (Apocalypse Delayed, M.J. Penton, pp. 319-320)
^ The Finished Mystery, published 1917, volume 7 of Studies in the Scriptures. Scan available online at http://www.davidgladden.com/jw/books/studies_in_the_scriptures/series7_the_finished_mystery.pdf accessed February 15, 2006
^ Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, p. 66-68
^ See Faith on the March, p. 80. The ousted directors disagreed: "...if the directors were not legally elected, neither were the Society's three officers: Rutherford, Pierson, and Van Amburgh. In order to have been chosen officers in January 1917, they would have had to have been legally elected directors. Yet, they had not been, and hence, by Rutherford's own logic, did not hold office legally."--Apocalypse Delayed, M. James Penton, p. 52
^ Apocalypse Delayed, M.J. Penton, p. 54
^ "Also, in the year 1918, when God destroys the churches wholesale and the church members by millions, it shall be that any that escape shall come to the works of Pastor Russell to learn the meaning of the downfall of 'Christianity.'"--The Finished Mystery 1917, p. 485 (later editions read differently)
^ "And the mountains were not found. Even the republics will disappear in the fall of 1920. And the mountains were not found. Every kingdom of earth will pass away, be swallowed up in anarchy." The Finished Mystery, 1917 edition, p. 258. (This date is changed in later editions.)
^ "The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures than 1914." — September 1, 1922 Watch Tower, p. 262. The year 1925 was significantly highlighted later in Rutherford's Millions Now Living Will Never Die.
^ Apocalypse Delayed, M.J. Penton, pp. 55-56
^ Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, pp. 259-260
^ Millions Now Living Will Never Die, J.F. Rutherford (1920). Scanned copy available online at: http://www.strictlygenteel.co.uk/millions/millions.html accessed February 18, 2006
^ Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, pp. 632-633
^ "There was a measure of disappointment on the part of Jehovah’s faithful ones on earth concerning the years 1914, 1918, and 1925, which disappointment lasted for a time. Later the faithful learned that these dates were definitely fixed in the Scriptures; and they also learned to quit fixing dates for the future and predicting what would come to pass on a certain date, but to rely (and they do rely) upon the Word of God as to the events that must come to pass."--Vindication, by J.F. Rutherford, Vol.1 (1931), p.338-339
^ The Watchtower, September 15, 1941 p. 288 spoke of "the remaining months before Armageddon."
^ Apocalypse Delayed - The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses James M. Penton 1985.
^ See March 31, 1930 Time magazine, p. 60. Scan available at http://members.cox.net/tzdaniels/pictures/Time_March_31_1930.jpg Accessed February 1, 2006. This belief was discarded in 1950. Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, p. 263
^ Up until 1931, each issue of the Watch Tower published this notice: "This journal is published under the supervision of an editorial committee, at least three of whom have read and approved as truth each and every article appearing in these columns." See "Rutherford vs. the Editorial Committee" in A People For His Name by Timothy White, pp. 186-188
^ See The Watchtower, June 15, 1938, p. 185: "In the beginning of the first Hebrew month The Watchtower of March 1, 1925 published the article "The Birth of The Nation," meaning the kingdom had begun to function. An editorial committee, humanly provided for, then was supposed to control the publication of The Watchtower, and the majority of that committee strenuously objected to the publication of that article "The Birth of The Nation," but, by the Lord's grace it was published and that really marked the beginning of the end of the editorial committee, indicating that the Lord himself is running the organization."
^ Documentations of these changes can be found on pages 3-37 of Historical Idealism and Jehovah's Witnesses, by Thomas Daniels, available online at: http://www.catholic-forum.com/members/popestleo/Historical%20Idealism%20and%20Jehovahs%20Witnesses.pdf accessed February 1, 2006.
^ The Harp of God (both the 1921 and 1927 editions) affirmed on page 231 that “the Lord’s second presence dates from 1874.” The March 1, 1922 Watch Tower and pages 65-66 of the book Prophecy (published in 1928) reiterated this position. However, by 1930 some vagueness can be seen. For example, the October 15, 1930 Watch Tower, page 308 says the “second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ dates from about A.D. 1875.” The November 1, 1932 Watch Tower, page 325 is even less precise, stating that from “approximately 1875 forward” Christ was preparing the way. The first clear statement occurs in 1933: "The year 1914, therefore, marks the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of glory."--December 1, 1933 Watch Tower, p. 362
^ "In June, 1927, The Watch Tower published the proof from the Scriptures that those who thus died faithful were asleep in death until the coming of the Lord to his temple in 1918." Light, Book One, (1930), p. 78
^ Light, Book One, p. 318-319.
^ See, e.g., Cantwell v. State of Connecticut, Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire, West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette.
^ A comprehensive list of quotes from Watch Tower 1975 articles, unaltered with date references, publication, and page numbers etc. http://www.reexamine.org/quotes/1975.htm
^ See "Witnessing the End" in the July 18, 1969 Time magazine. Scan available online at: http://www.dannyhaszard.com/time1975.jpg accessed February 14, 2006
^ Scanned text discouraging higher education from the Watch Tower 22 May 1969, p.15 http://www.jwfiles.com/scans/AW5-22-69p15.htm
^ See ”1975—The Appropriate Time for God to Act,” pp. 237-253 in Crisis of Conscience, by Raymond Franz. Available online at: http://users.volja.net/izobcenec4/coc/9.pdf accessed February 12, 2006
^ 1977 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, p. 258
^ See ”1914 and ‘This Generation’”, pp. 254-272 in Crisis of Conscience by Raymond Franz. Available online at: http://users.volja.net/izobcenec4/coc/10.pdf accessed February 12, 2006
^ "He shows the beginning of this time and how the troubles increase, and mentions some of the sorrows to fall on the world, during the time of trouble. The length of time is indicated by him when he said, 'Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.' (Matt. 24:34, NW) The actual meaning of these words is, beyond question, that which takes a 'generation' in the ordinary sense, as at Mark 8:12 and Acts 13:36, or for those who are living at the given period. So it was on 'this generation' that the accumulated judgments were to fall. (Matt. 23:36) This therefore means that from 1914 a generation shall not pass till all is fulfilled, and amidst a great time of trouble. Vision of the 'Time of the End', The Watchtower, July 1951, p. 404
^ "A Time To Keep Awake", The Watchtower (November 1). p. 19 par. 12, and p. 20 par. 15.

[1] "It was the 1900-year-old 'faithful and discreet slave,' the old Christian congregation, that was entrusted with this precious Kingdom service ... obedient in its centuries-old commission to be witnesses in the earth ... the matured 'slave' as represented by a remnant now stood ready for new assignments of service." - "The Awake "Faithful and Discreet Slave", The Watchtower, July 15, 1960, p.436.

[2] ‘The Faithful Slave’ Passes the Test!, The Watchtower March 1, 2004, p. 13-18.

[3] Evidences for the Coming of the Lord in 1873: or the Midnight Cry, N.H. Barbour (1871). Available online at: http://www.heraldmag.org/olb/contents/history/barbour%20midnight%20cry.htm accessed February 20, 2006

[4] The Midnight Cry and Herald of the Morning, March 1874

[5] Russell explains how he accepted the idea of an invisible return of Christ in 1874 from N.H. Barbour in the July 15, 1906 Watch Tower, p. 3822.

[6] The Three Worlds or The Harvest of This World by N.H. Barbour and C.T. Russell (1877). Scan available online at: http://www.davidgladden.com/jw/books/worlds.pdf accessed February 20, 2006

[7] The Three Worlds, pp. 104-108

[8] The end of the "harvest" was expected in 1878. See pages 68, 89-93, 124, 125-126, 143 of The Three Worlds.

[9] The year 1914 was seen as the final end of the "day of wrath": "...the 'times of the Gentiles,' reach from B.C. 606 to A.D. 1914, or forty years beyond 1874. And the time of trouble, conquest of the nations, and events connected with the day of wrath, have only ample time, during the balance of this forty years, for their fulfillment." The Three Worlds, p. 189

[10] "The 'Time of the End,' a period of one hundred and fifteen (115) years, from A.D. 1799 to A.D. 1914, is particularly marked in the Scriptures." Thy Kingdom Come, p. 23.

[11] Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, pp. 631-632

[12] Thy Kingdom Come (1890), Volume 3 of Studies in the Scriptures, pp. 305-308.

[13] "This spuing out, or casting off, of the nominal church as an organization in 1878, we then understood, and still proclaim, to be the date of the commencement of Babylon's fall..."--Zion's Watch Tower, April 1883. Reprints pp. 474-5.

[14] The Watch Tower, January 15, 1892, p. 1355

[15] A compendium of quotes on 1914 taken from Watchtower publications can be read at: http://www.reexamine.org/quotes/1914.htm accessed February 20, 2006

[16] Video clip from the Photo-Drama is available online at: http://www.exjws.net/museum/Russell%20Video%203.movThe book is available online at: http://www.davidgladden.com/jw/books/photo_drama_of_creation.pdf

[17] Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, pp. 64-65. Russell's "Will and Testament" was published in the December 1, 1916 Watch Tower. Available online at http://www.agsconsulting.com/htdbv5/r5999.htm accessed February 12, 2006

[18] Faith on the March by A.H. Macmillan, p. 79. The directors claim, however, that the police officer did not force them out. (Apocalypse Delayed, M.J. Penton, pp. 319-320)

[19] The Finished Mystery, published 1917, volume 7 of Studies in the Scriptures. Scan available online at http://www.davidgladden.com/jw/books/studies_in_the_scriptures/series7_the_finished_mystery.pdf accessed February 15, 2006

[20] Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, p. 66-68

[21] See Faith on the March, p. 80. The ousted directors disagreed: "...if the directors were not legally elected, neither were the Society's three officers: Rutherford, Pierson, and Van Amburgh. In order to have been chosen officers in January 1917, they would have had to have been legally elected directors. Yet, they had not been, and hence, by Rutherford's own logic, did not hold office legally."--Apocalypse Delayed, M. James Penton, p. 52

[22] Apocalypse Delayed, M.J. Penton, p. 54

[23] "Also, in the year 1918, when God destroys the churches wholesale and the church members by millions, it shall be that any that escape shall come to the works of Pastor Russell to learn the meaning of the downfall of 'Christianity.'"--The Finished Mystery 1917, p. 485 (later editions read differently)

[24] "And the mountains were not found. Even the republics will disappear in the fall of 1920. And the mountains were not found. Every kingdom of earth will pass away, be swallowed up in anarchy." The Finished Mystery, 1917 edition, p. 258. (This date is changed in later editions.)

[25] "The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures than 1914." — September 1, 1922 Watch Tower, p. 262. The year 1925 was significantly highlighted later in Rutherford's Millions Now Living Will Never Die.

[26] Apocalypse Delayed, M.J. Penton, pp. 55-56

[27] Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, pp. 259-260

[28] Millions Now Living Will Never Die, J.F. Rutherford (1920). Scanned copy available online at: http://www.strictlygenteel.co.uk/millions/millions.html accessed February 18, 2006

[29] Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, pp. 632-633

[30] "There was a measure of disappointment on the part of Jehovah’s faithful ones on earth concerning the years 1914, 1918, and 1925, which disappointment lasted for a time. Later the faithful learned that these dates were definitely fixed in the Scriptures; and they also learned to quit fixing dates for the future and predicting what would come to pass on a certain date, but to rely (and they do rely) upon the Word of God as to the events that must come to pass."--Vindication, by J.F. Rutherford, Vol.1 (1931), p.338-339

[31] The Watchtower, September 15, 1941 p. 288 spoke of "the remaining months before Armageddon."

[32] Apocalypse Delayed - The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses James M. Penton 1985.

[33] See March 31, 1930 Time magazine, p. 60. Scan available at http://members.cox.net/tzdaniels/pictures/Time_March_31_1930.jpg Accessed February 1, 2006. This belief was discarded in 1950. Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, p. 263

[34] Up until 1931, each issue of the Watch Tower published this notice: "This journal is published under the supervision of an editorial committee, at least three of whom have read and approved as truth each and every article appearing in these columns." See "Rutherford vs. the Editorial Committee" in A People For His Name by Timothy White, pp. 186-188

[35] See The Watchtower, June 15, 1938, p. 185: "In the beginning of the first Hebrew month The Watchtower of March 1, 1925 published the article "The Birth of The Nation," meaning the kingdom had begun to function. An editorial committee, humanly provided for, then was supposed to control the publication of The Watchtower, and the majority of that committee strenuously objected to the publication of that article "The Birth of The Nation," but, by the Lord's grace it was published and that really marked the beginning of the end of the editorial committee, indicating that the Lord himself is running the organization."

[36] Documentations of these changes can be found on pages 3-37 of Historical Idealism and Jehovah's Witnesses, by Thomas Daniels, available online at: http://www.catholic-forum.com/members/popestleo/Historical%20Idealism%20and%20Jehovahs%20Witnesses.pdf accessed February 1, 2006.

[37] The Harp of God (both the 1921 and 1927 editions) affirmed on page 231 that “the Lord’s second presence dates from 1874.” The March 1, 1922 Watch Tower and pages 65-66 of the book Prophecy (published in 1928) reiterated this position. However, by 1930 some vagueness can be seen. For example, the October 15, 1930 Watch Tower, page 308 says the “second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ dates from about A.D. 1875.” The November 1, 1932 Watch Tower, page 325 is even less precise, stating that from “approximately 1875 forward” Christ was preparing the way. The first clear statement occurs in 1933: "The year 1914, therefore, marks the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of glory."--December 1, 1933 Watch Tower, p. 362

[38] "In June, 1927, The Watch Tower published the proof from the Scriptures that those who thus died faithful were asleep in death until the coming of the Lord to his temple in 1918." Light, Book One, (1930), p. 78

[39] Light, Book One, p. 318-319.

[40] See, e.g., Cantwell v. State of Connecticut, Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire, West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette.

[41] A comprehensive list of quotes from Watch Tower 1975 articles, unaltered with date references, publication, and page numbers etc. http://www.reexamine.org/quotes/1975.htm

[42] See "Witnessing the End" in the July 18, 1969 Time magazine. Scan available online at: http://www.dannyhaszard.com/time1975.jpg accessed February 14, 2006

[43] Scanned text discouraging higher education from the Watch Tower 22 May 1969, p.15 http://www.jwfiles.com/scans/AW5-22-69p15.htm

[44] See ”1975—The Appropriate Time for God to Act,” pp. 237-253 in Crisis of Conscience, by Raymond Franz. Available online at: http://users.volja.net/izobcenec4/coc/9.pdf accessed February 12, 2006

[45] 1977 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, p. 258

[46] See ”1914 and ‘This Generation’”, pp. 254-272 in Crisis of Conscience by Raymond Franz. Available online at: http://users.volja.net/izobcenec4/coc/10.pdf accessed February 12, 2006

[47] "He shows the beginning of this time and how the troubles increase, and mentions some of the sorrows to fall on the world, during the time of trouble. The length of time is indicated by him when he said, 'Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.' (Matt. 24:34, NW) The actual meaning of these words is, beyond question, that which takes a 'generation' in the ordinary sense, as at Mark 8:12 and Acts 13:36, or for those who are living at the given period. So it was on 'this generation' that the accumulated judgments were to fall. (Matt. 23:36) This therefore means that from 1914 a generation shall not pass till all is fulfilled, and amidst a great time of trouble. Vision of the 'Time of the End', The Watchtower, July 1951, p. 404

[48] "A Time To Keep Awake", The Watchtower (November 1). p. 19 par. 12, and p. 20 par. 15.

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+==History==
-'''''Unification''''' generally refers to any process to achieve [[unity]]. The term also relates to:
+{{main|History of Jehovah's Witnesses}}
+===Pre-1870===
-* mathematical '''[[unification]]''', wherein two terms are joined with respect to a specialisation order
-* physics '''[[Grand unification theory]]''' or [[Theory of everything]]
-* the '''[[Unification Church]]''', a controversial [[religion]] founded in [[1954]] by [[Sun Myung Moon]], with its [[Unification Thought]] theology
-* [[Unicode]]'s '''[[Han unification]]''', the process of identifying and combining characters that appear in several Asian languages.
-*[[Political union]]s:
-** the '''[[German reunification|Unification of Germany]]''', which occurred in 1871 and in [[1990]].
-** the '''[[Italian unification|Unification of Italy]]'''
-** the '''[[Unification of Bulgaria]]''' in [[1885]].
-** [[Korean reunification|Possible future reunification of Korea]]
-** '''[[championship unification]]''', a [[professional wrestling slang|professional wrestling term]] used to describe the consolidation of two championships.
-** [[Cao Cao's unification of northern China]]
-*'''[[Unification (TNG episode)|Unification]]''', a two-part episode of [[Star Trek: The Next Generation]].
+According to Jehovah's Witnesses, after the death of the last [[apostle]], the [[Church]] gradually diverged, in a "[[Great Apostasy]]", from the original teachings of Jesus on several major points. Influenced by [[Restorationism#Jehovah.27s Witnesses|Restorationism]], they see their faith as a continually improving, imperfect restoration of First Century Christianity. ''[[The Watchtower]]'' teaches that the 1900-year-old remnant of true Christian believers received this new assignment in 1919 in fulfillment of scripture.<ref>"It was the 1900-year-old 'faithful and discreet slave,' the old Christian congregation, that was entrusted with this precious Kingdom service ... obedient in its centuries-old commission to be witnesses in the earth ... the matured 'slave' as represented by a remnant now stood ready for new assignments of service." - "The Awake "Faithful and Discreet Slave", ''The Watchtower'', July 15, 1960, p.436.</ref> Jehovah's Witnesses feel that true understanding of the scriptures began to be reassembled by [[Charles Taze Russell]] and his associates when they formed a [[Bible]] study group in the 1870s in [[Allegheny, Pennsylvania|Allegheny]], [[Pennsylvania]], and had until then been imperfectly represented since the Great Apostasy by a number of historical Christian groups.<ref>‘The Faithful Slave’ Passes the Test!, ''The Watchtower'' March 1, 2004, p. 13-18.</ref>
-''See also [[Reunification]].''
-{{disambig}}
+===1870-1916===
+[[Image:ctrussell2.jpg|left|120px|thumb|[[Charles Taze Russell]] (1852-1916)]]
+Born into a [[Presbyterian]] family, Russell had nearly lost his faith until he came in contact with a group of [[Second Adventists]] (one of the spiritual heirs of the [[Millerites]]). Adventist ministers [[Jonas Wendell]], George Storrs and George Stetson were early influences. In 1876 Russell met [[Nelson H. Barbour]] and subsequently adopted Barbour's understanding of biblical chronology. Barbour had predicted a visible return of Christ for 1873<ref>''Evidences for the Coming of the Lord in 1873: or the Midnight Cry'', N.H. Barbour (1871). Available online at: [http://www.heraldmag.org/olb/contents/history/barbour%20midnight%20cry.htm http://www.heraldmag.org/olb/contents/history/barbour%20midnight%20cry.htm] accessed February 20, 2006</ref>, and when that failed revised the prediction to 1874.<ref>''The Midnight Cry and Herald of the Morning,'' March 1874</ref>Soon after that disappointment Barbour's group decided Christ had returned to the earth in 1874, but invisibly.<ref>Russell explains how he accepted the idea of an invisible return of Christ in 1874 from N.H. Barbour in the July 15, 1906 ''Watch Tower'', p. 3822.</ref> Russell provided financial backing for Barbour and became co-editor of Barbour's magazine ''Herald of the Morning''. Jointly they issued the book ''The Three Worlds''<ref>''The Three Worlds or The Harvest of This World'' by N.H. Barbour and C.T. Russell (1877). Scan available online at: [http://www.davidgladden.com/jw/books/worlds.pdf http://www.davidgladden.com/jw/books/worlds.pdf] accessed February 20, 2006</ref>which announced Christ's return in 1874 and the resurrection of the saints in 1875<ref>''The Three Worlds'', pp. 104-108</ref>, and predicted events for 1878<ref>The end of the "harvest" was expected in 1878. See pages 68, 89-93, 124, 125-126, 143 of ''The Three Worlds''.</ref> and 1914<ref>The year 1914 was seen as the final end of the "day of wrath": "...the 'times of the Gentiles,' reach from B.C. 606 to A.D. 1914, or forty years beyond 1874. And the time of trouble, conquest of the nations, and events connected with the day of wrath, have only ample time, during the balance of this forty years, for their fulfillment." ''The Three Worlds'', p. 189</ref>. Breaking with Barbour in 1879 over the concept of [[substitutionary atonement]], Russell soon began publishing his own magazine ''Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence'', now known as ''[[The_Watchtower]]''. Russell retained Barbour's teaching that the "end times" had begun in 1799,<ref>"The 'Time of the End,' a period of one hundred and fifteen (115) years, from A.D. 1799 to A.D. 1914, is particularly marked in the Scriptures." ''Thy Kingdom Come'', p. 23.</ref>and Christ's invisible return in 1874.<ref>''Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom'', pp. 631-632</ref>. 1878 became the date for Christ's being enthroned as king, the resurrection of the saints<ref>''Thy Kingdom Come'' (1890), Volume 3 of ''Studies in the Scriptures'', pp. 305-308.</ref> and for the judgment of Christendom.<ref>"This spuing out, or casting off, of the nominal church as an organization in 1878, we then understood, and still proclaim, to be the date of the commencement of Babylon's fall..."--''Zion's Watch Tower'', April 1883. ''Reprints'' pp. 474-5.</ref>1914 was held as the ending date of a harvest period which would culminate in Armageddon.<ref>''The Watch Tower'', January 15, 1892, p. 1355</ref><ref>A compendium of quotes on 1914 taken from Watchtower publications can be read at: [http://www.reexamine.org/quotes/1914.htm http://www.reexamine.org/quotes/1914.htm] accessed February 20, 2006</ref>
+<div style="float: right; margin:10px; font-size: 90%;">
+{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="250"
+|-
+| colspan=7 bgcolor=#c0c0c0 align="center" | <b>Timeline of Eschatological Doctrine</b>
+|-
+! || Last Days Begin || Christ's Return || Christ as King || Resurrection of Anointed || Judgment of Religion || Great Tribulation
+|- bgcolor=#e0e0e0
+| <b>1879-1920</b>
+| align="center" | 1799
+| align="center" | 1874
+| colspan=3 align="center" | 1878
+| align="center" | 1914, 1915, 1918, 1920
+|-
+| <b>1920-1925</b>
+| align="center" | 1799
+| align="center" | 1874
+| colspan=3 align="center" | 1878
+| align="center" | 1925
+|- bgcolor=#e0e0e0
+| <b>1925-1933</b>
+| align="center" | 1799
+| align="center" | 1874
+| align="center" | 1914
+| align="center" | 1878 changed to 1918 in 1927
+| align="center" | 1878 changed to 1919 in 1930
+| align="center" | within generation of 1914
+|-
+| <b>1933-1966</b>
+| colspan=3 align="center" | 1914
+| align="center" | 1918
+| align="center" | 1919
+| align="center" | within generation of 1914
+|- bgcolor=#e0e0e0
+| <b>1966-1975</b>
+| colspan=3 align="center" | 1914
+| align="center" | 1918
+| align="center" | 1919
+| align="center" | 1975?
+|-
+| <b>1975-1995</b>
+| colspan=3 align="center" | 1914
+| align="center" | 1918
+| align="center" | 1919
+| align="center" | within generation of 1914
+|- bgcolor=#e0e0e0
+| <b>1995-{{CURRENTYEAR}}</b>
+| colspan=3 align="center" | 1914
+| align="center" | 1918
+| align="center" | 1919
+| align="center" | imminent
+|}
+</div>
+Known as "Pastor Russell", he formed a legal entity which developed into the [[Non-profit organization|non-profit]] organization: The [[Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania]] in 1881 (currently headquatered in [[New York City]]); in 1884 it was incorporated with Russell as president. Over several years, many millions of copies of ''Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence'' were distributed in several languages to proclaim Christ's presence and the dawn of his Millennium. In addition, his six-volume work, originally entitled ''Millennial Dawn'' but later changed to ''Studies in the Scriptures'', established the fundamental doctrines derived from their Bible study. (As a consequence, the [[Bible Students]] were sometimes called "Millennial Dawnists".) In 1914 Russell founded the [[International Bible Students Association]] in [[Great Britain]].
+Beginning in January 1914, the Bible Students began public showings of the ''The Photo-Drama of Creation''<ref>Video clip from the Photo-Drama is available online at: [http://www.exjws.net/museum/Russell%20Video%203.mov http://www.exjws.net/museum/Russell%20Video%203.mov]The book is available online at: [http://www.davidgladden.com/jw/books/photo_drama_of_creation.pdf http://www.davidgladden.com/jw/books/photo_drama_of_creation.pdf]</ref>, a multi-hour presentation covering the history of the Bible combining film, color slides and audio. Russell died on October 31, 1916 during a cross-country preaching trip.
+===1916-1942===
+[[Image:Rutherford.jpg|120px|left|thumb|[[Joseph Franklin Rutherford]] (1869-1942)]]
+An editorial committee was set up to supervise the writing of Watch Tower publications after Russell's death.<ref>''Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom'', pp. 64-65. Russell's "Will and Testament" was published in the December 1, 1916 ''Watch Tower''. Available online at [http://www.agsconsulting.com/htdbv5/r5999.htm http://www.agsconsulting.com/htdbv5/r5999.htm] accessed February 12, 2006</ref> On January 6, 1917, [[Joseph Franklin Rutherford]] (also known as "Judge Rutherford") was elected president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society but opposition soon developed from some associates. This opposition came to a head later in 1917 when four of the seven directors of the Watchtower Society attempted to pass a resolution consolidating power in the board of directors instead of the president. They were evicted by police<ref>''Faith on the March'' by A.H. Macmillan, p. 79. The directors claim, however, that the police officer did not force them out. (''Apocalypse Delayed'', M.J. Penton, pp. 319-320)</ref>, and Rutherford succeeded in legally securing power. On July 17, 1917 Rutherford distributed copies of the book ''The Finished Mystery''<ref>''The Finished Mystery'', published 1917, volume 7 of ''Studies in the Scriptures''. Scan available online at [http://www.davidgladden.com/jw/books/studies_in_the_scriptures/series7_the_finished_mystery.pdf http://www.davidgladden.com/jw/books/studies_in_the_scriptures/series7_the_finished_mystery.pdf] accessed February 15, 2006</ref> (considered to be the final volume of ''Studies in the Scriptures'') to the headquarters staff. The book, which had been published without the board's consultation, was received by many at headquarters as a "bombshell."<ref>''Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom'', p. 66-68</ref>On the same day, Rutherford dismissed the four directors from the board on the grounds that their election to it had not followed the corporation by-laws.<ref>See ''Faith on the March'', p. 80. The ousted directors disagreed: "...if the directors were not legally elected, neither were the Society's three officers: Rutherford, Pierson, and Van Amburgh. In order to have been chosen officers in January 1917, they would have had to have been legally elected directors. Yet, they had not been, and hence, by Rutherford's own logic, did not hold office legally."--''Apocalypse Delayed'', M. James Penton, p. 52</ref>Rutherford called for a democratic vote among the Bible Student community which gave its support to his administration.<ref>''Apocalypse Delayed'', M.J. Penton, p. 54</ref>Dissension and schisms ensued in local congregations, however. New predictions were made for the years 1918<ref>"Also, in the year 1918, when God destroys the churches wholesale and the church members by millions, it shall be that any that escape shall come to the works of Pastor Russell to learn the meaning of the downfall of 'Christianity.'"--''The Finished Mystery'' 1917, p. 485 (later editions read differently) </ref>, 1920<ref>"And the mountains were not found. Even the republics will disappear in the fall of 1920. And the mountains were not found. Every kingdom of earth will pass away, be swallowed up in anarchy." ''The Finished Mystery'', 1917 edition, p. 258. (This date is changed in later editions.)</ref> and 1925.<ref>"The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures than 1914." &mdash; September 1, 1922 ''Watch Tower'', p. 262. The year 1925 was significantly highlighted later in Rutherford's ''Millions Now Living Will Never Die''.</ref>
+The Watchtower Society's opposition to clergy support of World War I garnered prosecution by the United States federal government. ''The Finished Mystery'' was banned in Canada and pages of the book which criticized patriotism were removed before distribution. Rutherford and the new board of directors were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for violating the "Espionage Act." They were released on bail in March, 1919 and the judgment against them was reversed and charges dropped.<ref>''Apocalypse Delayed'', M.J. Penton, pp. 55-56</ref>
+Once released from prison Rutherford energized the Bible Students to preach. An emphasis on preaching house-to-house began in 1922.<ref>''Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom'', pp. 259-260</ref>Early preaching campaigns included distribution of Rutherford's book ''Millions Now Living Will Never Die''<ref>''Millions Now Living Will Never Die'', J.F. Rutherford (1920). Scanned copy available online at: [http://www.strictlygenteel.co.uk/millions/millions.html http://www.strictlygenteel.co.uk/millions/millions.html] accessed February 18, 2006</ref> which predicted "end times" events for 1925.<ref>''Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom'', pp. 632-633</ref>No more dates were suggested after the 1925 disappointment<ref>"There was a measure of disappointment on the part of Jehovah’s faithful ones on earth concerning the years 1914, 1918, and 1925, which disappointment lasted for a time. Later the faithful learned that these dates were definitely fixed in the Scriptures; and they also learned to quit fixing dates for the future and predicting what would come to pass on a certain date, but to rely (and they do rely) upon the Word of God as to the events that must come to pass."--''Vindication'', by J.F. Rutherford, Vol.1 (1931), p.338-339</ref>but Armageddon was still held to be imminent.<ref>''The Watchtower'', September 15, 1941 p. 288 spoke of "the remaining months before Armageddon."</ref>
+Some who left the movement became known as the [[Associated Bible Students]], or simply "[[Bible Students]]". In 1918 the [[Pastoral Bible Institute]] was founded and began publishing ''The Herald of Christ's Kingdom''. By 1928, memorial attendance dropped nearly 75%  from 1922, due to the previous power struggle and the failed predictions for the year 1925.<ref>''Apocalypse Delayed - The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses'' James M. Penton 1985.</ref>In 1929, Rutherford built a luxury villa which he named "Beth-Sarim" to house the expected biblical "princes" who were to be resurrected.<ref>See March 31, 1930 ''Time'' magazine, p. 60. Scan available at [http://members.cox.net/tzdaniels/pictures/Time_March_31_1930.jpg http://members.cox.net/tzdaniels/pictures/Time_March_31_1930.jpg] Accessed February 1, 2006. This belief was discarded in 1950. ''Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom'', p. 263</ref> In 1931, Rutherford adopted the name "Jehovah's Witnesses" to distinguish themselves from those "Bible Students". The editorial committee was disbanded in 1931<ref>Up until 1931, each issue of the ''Watch Tower'' published this notice: "This journal is published under the supervision of an editorial committee, at least three of whom have read and approved as truth each and every article appearing in these columns." See "Rutherford vs. the Editorial Committee" in ''A People For His Name'' by Timothy White, pp. 186-188</ref> but had been superseded by Rutherford beginning in 1925.<ref>See ''The Watchtower'', June 15, 1938, p. 185: "In the beginning of the first Hebrew month ''The Watchtower'' of March 1, 1925 published the article "The Birth of The Nation," meaning the kingdom had begun to function. An editorial committee, humanly provided for, then was supposed to control the publication of ''The Watchtower'', and the majority of that committee strenuously objected to the publication of that article "The Birth of The Nation," but, by the Lord's grace it was published and that really marked the beginning of the end of the editorial committee, indicating that the Lord himself is running the organization."</ref>
+From 1925 to 1933, Rutherford reinterpreted the Witnesses' eschatological understandings.<ref> Documentations of these changes can be found on pages 3-37 of Historical Idealism and Jehovah's Witnesses, by Thomas Daniels, available online at: [http://www.catholic-forum.com/members/popestleo/Historical%20Idealism%20and%20Jehovahs%20Witnesses.pdf http://www.catholic-forum.com/members/popestleo/Historical%20Idealism%20and%20Jehovahs%20Witnesses.pdf] accessed February 1, 2006.</ref>By 1933, 1914 was seen as the beginning of Christ's presence and the start of the last days instead of being considered the terminal date for chronology.<ref>''The Harp of God'' (both the 1921 and 1927 editions) affirmed on page 231 that “the Lord’s second presence dates from 1874.” The March 1, 1922 ''Watch Tower'' and pages 65-66 of the book ''Prophecy'' (published in 1928) reiterated this position. However, by 1930 some vagueness can be seen. For example, the October 15, 1930 ''Watch Tower'', page 308 says the “second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ dates from about A.D. 1875.” The November 1, 1932 ''Watch Tower'', page 325 is even less precise, stating that from “approximately 1875 forward” Christ was preparing the way. The first clear statement occurs in 1933: "The year 1914, therefore, marks the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of glory."--December 1, 1933 ''Watch Tower'', p. 362</ref> The 1878 resurrection date was changed to 1918<ref>"In June, 1927, ''The Watch Tower'' published the proof from the Scriptures that those who thus died faithful were asleep in death until the coming of the Lord to his temple in 1918." ''Light, Book One'', (1930), p. 78</ref>and the teaching of the judgment of religious groups was moved to 1919.<ref>''Light, Book One'', p. 318-319.</ref>These are the current teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses regarding 1914, 1918 and 1919. Witnesses no longer consider the dates 1799, 1874 and 1878 to have any eschatological significance.
+Under Rutherford, Jehovah's Witnesses grew from about 44,000 in 1928 to about 115,000 at the time of his death in 1942. Rutherford was known for bold rhetoric and assertive preaching tactics. He coined the phrase "Religion is a snare and a racket," heavily denouncing the [[Catholic Church]] as well as [[Christendom]] itself, modern [[Judaism]] and national governments. Placards, information marches and sound cars became part of the preaching methods employed. Under his leadership, a legal staff was developed that battled successfully in both US and Canadian courts. At issue was their right to preach. These legal battles resulted in significant improvements in freedom of speech and religion in both countries.<ref>See, e.g., ''[[Cantwell v. State of Connecticut]]'', ''[[Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire]]'', ''[[West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette]]''.</ref>
+===1942-Present===
+[[Image:Watchtower_headquarters.jpg|thumb|left|New York headquarters of Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society]]
+[[Nathan Homer Knorr]] succeeded Rutherford as president of the Watch Tower Society. Known as an efficient administrator, Knorr founded the [[Gilead_school|Watchtower Bible School of Gilead]] to train missionaries as well as the [[Practices of Jehovah's Witnesses#The Theocratic Ministry School|Theocratic Ministry School]] to train preaching and teaching on the congregational level. Knorr's Vice-President [[Frederick William Franz]] became the leading theologian and was credited as being the principal translator of the ''[[New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures]].'' Witness membership rose from 115,000 to over 2 million under Knorr's leadership.
+During the 1960s and early 1970s, many references appeared in the Witnesses' literature and at their assemblies suggesting Christ's thousand-year millennial reign would begin by 1975.<ref>A comprehensive list of quotes from Watch Tower 1975 articles, unaltered with date references, publication, and page numbers etc. [http://www.reexamine.org/quotes/1975.htm http://www.reexamine.org/quotes/1975.htm]</ref><ref>See "Witnessing the End" in the July 18, 1969 ''Time'' magazine. Scan available online at: [http://www.dannyhaszard.com/time1975.jpg http://www.dannyhaszard.com/time1975.jpg] accessed February 14, 2006</ref> While Witnesses have always been encouraged to increase the preaching work, and avoid secular life goals or careers, this emphasis was especially strong prior to 1975.<ref>Scanned text discouraging higher education from the Watch Tower 22 May 1969, p.15 [http://www.jwfiles.com/scans/AW5-22-69p15.htm http://www.jwfiles.com/scans/AW5-22-69p15.htm]</ref> Approximately 20% left (or became inactive) from 1975 to 1980.<ref>See ”1975—The Appropriate Time for God to Act,” pp. 237-253 in ''Crisis of Conscience'', by [[Raymond Franz]]. Available online at: [http://users.volja.net/izobcenec4/coc/9.pdf http://users.volja.net/izobcenec4/coc/9.pdf] accessed February 12, 2006</ref>
+[[Image:WT_Logo.gif|right]]
+The leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses was reorganized in 1975 and the power of the presidency passed on to the [[Governing_Body_of_Jehovah%27s_Witnesses|Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses]]. Subsequent presidents of the Watch Tower Society after Knorr's death in 1977 have been [[Frederick William Franz]], [[Milton George Henschel]] and [[Don A. Adams]]. However, doctrinal and organizational decisions after 1975 have been made by the Governing Body.<ref>''1977 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses'', p. 258</ref>
+In 1995 changes regarding their understanding of Jesus' comments regarding "this generation" (from Matthew 24:34) were published.<ref>See ”1914 and ‘This Generation’”, pp. 254-272 in ''Crisis of Conscience'' by [[Raymond Franz]]. Available online at: [http://users.volja.net/izobcenec4/coc/10.pdf http://users.volja.net/izobcenec4/coc/10.pdf] accessed February 12, 2006</ref> During the previous four decades, Jehovah's Witnesses had taught that the generation which saw the events of 1914, which would not die before Armageddon came.<ref>"He shows the beginning of this time and how the troubles increase, and mentions some of the sorrows to fall on the world, during the time of trouble. The length of time is indicated by him when he said, 'Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.' (Matt. 24:34, NW) The actual meaning of these words is, beyond question, that which takes a 'generation' in the ordinary sense, as at Mark 8:12 and Acts 13:36, or for those who are living at the given period. So it was on 'this generation' that the accumulated judgments were to fall. (Matt. 23:36) This therefore means that from 1914 a generation shall not pass till all is fulfilled, and amidst a great time of trouble. Vision of the 'Time of the End', ''The Watchtower'', July 1951, p. 404</ref> The Witnesses' current teaching regarding the meaning of the term "this generation" is that it simply refers to those who saw the signs of Christ's presence. Jehovah's Witnesses continue to teach that Armageddon is imminent.<ref>"A Time To Keep Awake", ''The Watchtower'' (November 1). p. 19 par. 12, and p. 20 par. 15.</ref>
+==References==
+<div style="font-size: 90%"><references/></div>