“Therefore their speech shows them to be false prophets. While they claim to speak in the name of the Lord, their predictions neither come true nor tend to magnify Jehovah’s name. According to the divine rule they prove to be false... If these prophecies have not been fulfilled, and if all possibility of fulfillment is past, then these prophets are proven false. (Prophecy, 1929 ed., p. 22)

“... God has on earth today a prophetlike organization, ... Jehovah's anointed witnesses on earth.” (Watchtower 1964 October 1 p.601 Pay Attention to Prophecy)

“Who will be Jehovah’s prophet? Who will be the modern Jeremiah? The plain facts show God has been pleased to use Jehovah Witnesses” (Watchtower 1/15/1959)

So God’s servants know what this world’s rulers do not. They know Jehovah’s purposes and his seasons. First Peter 1:11 says that, in the past, God’s servants “kept on investigating what particular season or what sort of season the spirit in them was indicating.” With God’s spirit indicating this, the apostle Paul could say to true fellow worshipers: “You people know the season.” (Romans 13:11) Since Jehovah’s servants of today obey him as ruler, God’s holy spirit also reveals to them what season it is from his viewpoint. Amos 3:7 says: “The Sovereign Lord Jehovah will not do a thing unless he has revealed his confidential matter to his servants the prophets.”
(Watchtower 4/15/1986 p.18)

The long succession of prophecies unfulfilled began with their founder Charles Russell.

1872 “In this chapter we present the Bible evidence which indicates that six thousand years from the creation of Adam were complete with A.D. 1874; and hence that, since A.D. 1872, we are chronologically entered upon the seventh thousand or the Millennium - the forepart of which, the 'Day of the Lord,' the 'day of trouble,' is to witness the breaking into pieces of the kingdoms of this world and the establishment of the Kingdom of God under the whole heavens.” (Charles T. Russell: Studies in the Scriptures vol.2 - The Time Is At Hand, 1913 ed . p.33)

1872 “THERE ARE EVIDENCES THAT - Six thousand Years from Adam ended in A.D. 1872.” (C.T.Russell: Studies in the Scriptures I - The (Divine) Plan of the Ages, A17}

1872 “.. the exact Bible Chronology points to October 1872 as the beginning of the seventh thousand years, or Millennium ..” (C.T.Russell: Studies in the Scriptures vol.3 - Thy Kingdom Come 1905 ed. p.127)

1872 “… six thousand years from the creation of Adam .. ended with the Jewish year which began in the autumn of A.D. 1872, and we are, therefore, already in 'the great day of the Lord'; or seventh thousand.” (N.H.Barbour and C.T.Russell: Three Worlds, and the Harvest of This World, 1877 67).

1872 “We are already living in the seventh millennium - since October 1872.” (C.T.Russell: Studies in the Scriptures Vol.2- The Time Is At Hand, 1915 ed. 363)

“six thousand years of evil which ended in 1874 “ (Studies in the Scriptures Vol. 7, p. 301)

1877 'The End Of This World; that is the end of the gospel and the beginning of the millennial age is nearer than most men suppose; indeed we have already entered the transition period, which is to be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation Dan. 12:3.” (N.H. Barbour and C.T. Russell, Three Worlds, and the Harvest of This World, p. 17).

1878 “... that in the spring of 1878 all the holy apostles and other 'overcomers' of the Gospel age who slept in Jesus were raised spirit beings.” (C.T.Russell: Studies in the Scriptures Vol. 3, p. 234)

1879 “Christ came in the character of a Bridegroom in 1874.... at the beginning of the Gospel harvest.” (Watchtower, Oct 1879, p. 4)

1880 “As the beginning of that change was marked by the coming of Christ from heaven, so the 2300 years above mentioned indicated that Christ was due to leave the most holy place - ‘heaven itself’ - in 1844.” (Watchtower 7/1880 p. 3, Reprints p. 115)

1880 “We need not here repeat the evidences that the “seventh trump” began its sounding A.D., 1840, and will continue until the end of the time of trouble, and the end of “The times of the Gentiles,” A.D., 1914, and that it is the trouble of this “Great day,” which is here symbolically called the voice of the Archangel when he begins the deliverance of fleshly Israel. “At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince (Archangel) which standeth for the children of thy people and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation.” Dan. xii. 1. Nor will we here, again present the conclusive Bible proof that our Lord came for his Bride in 1874, and has an unseen work as Reaper of the first-fruits of this Gospel Age. (Zion's Watchtower November, 1880 p. 1)

1881 “The autumn of 1874, anxiously expected, finally came, but the earth rolled on as ever”…”they said , surely we had been in error-but where? Surely it is taught that Jesus would come again; perhaps our calculation of time is at fault.”…Then the prophetic arguments were carefully re- examined. Was error found? No, they stood the test of all investigation and the jubilee argument and the “1335 days” of Daniel could not possibly be prolonged beyond the fall of ’74 or the spring of 1875 and these periods were both past.”(Zion’s Watchtower p.3 Feb.1881)

“If bro. Miller and Barbour were his instruments, then that midnight cry based on the prophetic and other statements and evidences, was correct...we believe that the midnight cry was of God.”(ibid.)

1881 January: “Matt. xxv and the parallelism of the Jewish and Gospel ages, seem to teach that the wise of the virgins ‘who are alive and remain’ must all come in, to a knowledge of the Bridegroom’s presences, by the fall of 1881, when the door - opportunity to become a member of the bride - will close.” (January 1881 Watchtower, p. 4) February: “And now we come nearer to the time when our change seems due (we know not the day or hour, but expect it during 1881, possibly near the autumn when the parallels show the favor to Zion complete and due to end, the door the marriage shut and high calling to be the bride of Christ, to cease) and light on the subject is becoming clearer...” (Watchtower, February, 1881, p. 5)

1881 “We look to October of this year, as the limit of favor - the end of ‘the acceptable year (time or age) of the Lord’ - the closing of the ‘straight gate’ to the ‘narrow way’ of the opportunity to become a member of the bride of Christ and partaker of his Divine Nature.” (Watchtower, July/August 1881, p. 6)

1886 “The outlook at the opening of the New Year has some very encouraging features. The outward evidences are that the marshaling of the hosts for the battle of the great day of God Almighty, is in progress while the skirmishing is commencing. … The time is come for Messiah to take the dominion of earth and to overthrow the oppressors and corrupters of the earth, (Rev. 19:15 and 11:17, 18) preparatory to the establishment of everlasting peace upon the only firm foundation of righteousness and truth.” (Zion's Watchtower, January, 1886; Watchtower reprints I, p. 817)

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

1889 “Be not surprised, then, when in subsequent chapters we present proofs that the setting up of the Kingdom of God is already begun, that it is pointed out in prophecy as due to begin the exercise of power in A.D. 1878, and that the 'battle of the great day of God Almighty (Rev. 16:14) which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth's present rulership, is already commenced. The gathering of the armies is plainly visible from the standpoint of God's word.” (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 2, The Time Is At Hand, 1889 Ed., p. 101. The 1915 Edition of this quote was changed from” A.D. 1914” to read 'A.D. 1915')

1889 “Here we furnish the evidence that from the creation of Adam to (but not including) A.D. 1873 was six thousand years. And though the Bible contains no direct statement that the seventh thousand will be the epoch of Christ's reign, the great Sabbath Day of restitution to the world, yet the venerable tradition is not without a reasonable foundation.” (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 2, p. 39. 1889)

1889 “In this volume we offer a chain of testimony on the subject of God’s appointed times and seasons, each link of which we consider Scripturally strong...it is beyond the breadth and depth of human thought, and therefore cannot be of human origin. (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 2, 1889, p. 15)

1890 “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…” (The Watchtower Reprints, October 1890, p.1243)

1892 “The date of the close of that ‘battle’ is definitely marked in the Scripture as October, 1914. It is already in progress, its beginning dating from October 1874.” (Watchtower Reprints, January 15, 1892, p. 1355)

1894 “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.” (The Watchtower Reprints, July 15, 1894, p.1675)

1897 “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.” (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 4, 1897, pl. 621)

1889 “If, then, the seventh thousand-year period of earth's history be an epoch specially noted as the period of Christ's reign, we shall by showing that it began in 1873, be proving that we are already in it.” (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 2, p. 40. 1889)

1889 “In the coming 26 years, all present governments will be overthrown and dissolved.” (C.T. Russell, Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 2, p. 98-99, 1889)

1889 “In this chapter we present the Bible evidence which indicates that six thousand years from the creation of Adam were complete with A.D. 1872; and hence that, since A.D. 1872 are chronologically entered upon the seventh thousand or the Millennium.” (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 2, p. 33, 1889)

1889 “Remember that the forty years' Jewish Harvest ended October A.D. 69, and was followed by the complete overthrow of that nation; and that likewise the forty years of the Gospel age harvest will end October, 1914, and that likewise the overthrow of 'Christendom,' so-called, must be expected to immediately follow.” (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 2, p. 245)

1889 “In this volume we offer a chain of testimony on the subject of God's appointed times and seasons, each link of which we consider Scripturally strong...It is beyond the breadth and depth of human thought and therefore cannot be of human origin. (Studies In The Scriptures, 1889, vol. 2, p. 15)

1890 “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…” (The Watchtower Reprints, October 1890, p.1243

1892 “The date of the close of that 'battle' is definitely marked in Scripture as October, 1914. It is already in progress, its beginning dating from October, 1874.” (Watchtower Reprints, January 15, 1892, p.1355)

1894 “Seventeen years ago people said, concerning the time features presented in Millennial Dawn, They seem reasonable in many respects, but surely no such radical changes could occur between now and the close of 1914: if you had proved that they would come about in a century or two, it would seem much more probable. What changes have since occurred, and what velocity is gained daily? 'The old is quickly passing and the new is coming in.' 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.” (Zion's Watchtower, Can It Be Delayed until 1914? C. T. Russell July 15, 1894, Also in Watchtower Reprints, l894 p. 1677)

1894 “A few more years will wind up the present order of things, and then the chastened world will stand face to face with the actual conditions of the established Kingdom of God. And yet the course of the Church is to be finished within the space of time that intervenes.” (Watchtower p. 56, 1894)

1894 “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.” (The Watchtower Reprints, July 15, 1894, p.1675)

1897 “...this measurement is 3416 inches, symbolizing 3416 years.... This calculation shows A.D. 1874 as marking the beginning of the period of trouble....” (C.T. Russell, Studies in the Scriptures: Thy Kingdom Come, Series III, p. 342, 1897 edition [1916 edition changed to read: “We find it to be 3457 inches, symbolizing 3457 years.... Thus the Pyramid witnesses that the close of 1914 will be the beginning of the time of trouble....”

1897 “Complete destruction of the 'powers that be' of 'this present evil worlds - political, financial, ecclesiastical - about the close of the Time of the Gentiles; October A.D. 1914.” (C.T. Russell, Studies in the Scriptures, IV, p. 622, 1897)

1897 “Our Lord, the appointed King, is now present, since October 1874, A.D....and the formal inauguration of his kingly office dates from April 1878, A.D.” (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol.4, p.621, 1897; The Watchtower Reprints, July 15, 1905, p. 3576)

Charts showing 1874 date. The Battle of Armageddon, (SS-4), 1912 ed., p. 621 (The Watchtower Reprints, July 15, 1905, p. 3576

“The Millennium began in 1874, with the Return of Christ.” (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 7, p. 386)

1902 “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.” (The Time Is At Hand, 1902 edition, p. 99)

1903 “When Uranus and Jupiter meet in the humane sign of Aquarius in 1914, the long-promised era will have made a fair start in the work of setting man free to work out his own salvation, and will insure the ultimate realization of dreams and ideals of all poets and sages in history.” (Watchtower, May 1, 1903, p. 130-131; p3184 Reprints)

1904 “According to our expectations the stress of the great time of trouble will be on us soon, somewhere between 1910 and 1912, culminating with the end of the 'Times of the Gentiles,' October, 1914.” (The New Creation, Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 6, p. 579, 1904)

1907 “In this chapter we present the Bible evidence proving that the full end of the times of the Gentiles, i.e., the full end of their lease of dominion, will be reached in A.D.1914; and that 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;-- Firstly, that at that date the Kingdom of God, for which our Lord taught us to pray, saying, “Thy Kingdom come,” will obtain full universal control, and that it will then be “set up,” or firmly established, in the earth, on the ruins of present institutions.” 
    (The Time Is at Hand 1907 ed., p.76-77)

1908 “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 at the end of A. D. 1914.” (The Time Is At Hand; 1889; 1908 ed.; p. 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” (ibid.)

1910 "This date,1910, indicated by the pyramid... we may well accept as correct the testimony of the Great Pyramid, that the last members of the 'body' or 'bride' of christ will have been tested and accepted and will have passed beyond the vail before the close of A.D. 1910 (Studies in the Scriptures,  vol.3  early ed. p.384)

1914 “The war will proceed and will eventuate in no glorious victory for any nation, but in the horrible mutilation and impoverishment of all. Next will follow the Armageddon of anarchy.” (The New York Times, October 5, 1914, p. 8)

1914 “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.” (Watchtower, November 1, 1914, p. 325)

1914 "We find it to be 3457 inches, symbolizing 3457 years .. Thus the Pyramid witnesses that the close of 1914 will be the beginning of the time of trouble .." (C.T.Russell: Studies in the Scriptures vol.3 Thy Kingdom Come,1916 ed.)

1914 “While it's possible that Armageddon may begin next Spring, yet this 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 part particularly the early months.” (Watchtower Reprints, VI, Sept 1, 1914, p. 5527)

1914 “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… The great crisis, the great clash, symbolically represented as a fire, that will consume the ecclesiastical heavens and the social earth, is very near.” (Watchtower Reprints, VI, May 1, 1914, p. 5450)

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

1915 Here we furnish the evidence that from the creation of Adam to A.D. 1873 was six thousand years. And though the Bible contains no direct statement that the seventh thousand will be the epoch of Christ's reign, the great Sabbath Day of restitution to the world, yet the venerable tradition is not without reasonable foundation. (The Time Is At Hand; 1889; 1915 ed.; p. 39)

1915 If, then, the seventh thousand-year period of earth's history be an epoch specially noted as the period of Christ's reign, we shall, by showing that it began in A.D. 1873, be proving that we are already in it.” (The Time Is At Hand; 1889; 1915 ed.; p. 40)

1915 Firstly, that at that date [1914] the Kingdom of God, for which our Lord taught us to pray, saying, “Thy Kingdom come,” will begin to assume control, and that it will then shortly be “set up,” or firmly established, in the earth, on the ruins of present institutions. (The Time Is At Hand; 1889; 1915 ed.; p. 77)

1915 “ 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 ... In view of this strong Bible evidence concerning the Times of the Gentiles, we consider it an established truth that the final end of the kingdoms of this world, and the full establishment of the kingdom of God, will be accomplished near the end of A.D. 1915. (The Time Is At Hand, 1915 edition, p. 99)

1915 “Be not surprised, then, when in subsequent chapters we present proofs that the setting up of the Kingdom of God is already begun, that it is pointed out in prophecy as due to begin the exercise of power in A.D. 1878, and that the 'battle of the great day of God Almighty' (Rev. 16:14), which will end in A.D. 1915, with the complete overthrow of the earth's present rulership, is already commenced.” (The Time Is At Hand; 1889; 1915 ed.; p. 101)

1915 “As in the type that date - three and a half years after the death of Christ - marked the end of all special favor to the Jew and the beginning of favor to the Gentiles, so we recognize A.D. 1881 as marking the close of the 'high calling,' or invitation to the blessing peculiar to this age - to become joint-heirs with Christ and partakers of the divine nature.” (The Time Is At Hand; 1889; 1915 ed.; p. 235)

1915 So it was in this harvest also up to A.D. 1878 the time prophecies and the fact of the Lord's presence, substantially as here presented, though less clearly, was our message. Since then the work has widened, and the view of other truths has become brighter and clearer; but the same fact and scriptures, teaching the same time and presence, stand unchallenged and incontrovertible. (The Time Is At Hand; 1889; 1915 ed.; p. 236)

1915 The Gentile Times prove that the present governments must all be overturned about the close of A.D. 1915; and Parallelism above shows that this period corresponds exactly with the year A.D. 70, which witnessed the completion of the downfall of the Jewish polity. (The Time Is At Hand, 1915 edition, p. 242)

1915 We are already living in the seventh millennium - since October 1872. (The Time Is At Hand; 1889; 1915 ed.; p. 363)

1915 The Battle of Armageddon, to which this war is leading, will be a great contest between right and wrong, and will signify the complete and everlasting overthrow of the wrong, and the permanent establishment of Messiah's righteous kingdom for the blessing of the world. … Our sympathies are broad enough to cover all engaged in the dreadful strife, as our hope is broad enough and deep enough to include all in the great blessings which our Master and his Millennial kingdom are about to bring to the world. (Watchtower Reprints, VI, April 1, 1915, p. 5659)

1915 To our understanding the general call to this joint heirship with our Redeemer as members of the New Creation of God, ceased in 1881. (The New Creation; 1899; 1915 ed.; p. 95)

1916 We see no reason for doubting, therefore, that the Times of the Gentiles ended in October, 1914; and that a few more years will witness their utter collapse and the full establishment of God's kingdom in the hands of Messiah.” (Watchtower Reprints, VI, Sept 1, 1916, p. 5950)

1916 “In the meantime, eyes of understanding should discern clearly the Battle of the Great Day of God Almighty now in progress; and our faith, guiding our eyes of understanding through the Word, should enable us to see the glorious outcome - Messiah’s Kingdom.” (Watchtower Reprints, September 1, 1916, p. 5951)

1917 “The data presented in the comments on Revelation 2:1 prove that the conquest of Judea was not completed until the day of Passover, A.D. 73, and in the light of the foregoing Scriptures, prove that the Sprint of 1918 will bring upon Christendom a spasm of anguish greater even than that experienced in the Fall of 1914.” (The Finished Mystery, p. 62 (1918 ed.) (later editions have changed the dates) “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’” (p. 485)

 1917 “THE CHURCHES TO CEASE TO BE ... culminating in 1918 to remove it with a stroke or plague of erroneous doctrines and deeds Divinely permitted.” [Italics added.] (Studies in the Scriptures  Vol. 7, 1917 edition, p.484 Change d– dropped the date in 1926 edition)

1917 'There will be no slip-up...Abraham should enter upon the actual possession of his promised inheritance in the year 1925' (Watchtower Oct. 15, 1917, p. 6157)

1917 The Spring of 1918 will bring upon Christendom a spasm of anguish greater even than that experienced in the Fall of 1914.... The travail that is coming is to be upon nominal Zion- “Christendom” … “Babylon”; and it will be a great and sore affliction- “A Time of Trouble such as was not since there was a nation.” (The Finished Mystery p. 62)

1917 'No doubt Satan believed the Millennial Kingdom was due to be set-up in 1915...Be that as it may, there is evidence that the establishment of the Kingdom in Palestine will probably be in 1925, ten years later than we once calculated.' (Studies In The Scriptures, Vol. 7, The Finished Mystery, p. 128)

The Laodicean period of the Church extends from the fall of 1874 to the spring of 1918, three and one-half years of preparation, and forty years of harvest." (Studies in the Scriptures  Vol. 7, p. 58)

1917 “Some interesting developments in connection with the setting up of the Kingdom may occur in 1920, six years after the great Time of Trouble began. It would not be strange if this were so, when we recall that after forty years wandering in the wilderness the Israelites came into possession of the land of Canaan after a further six years. As these matters are still future we can but wait to see. We anticipate that the “earthquake” will occur early in 1918, and that the “fire” will come in the fall of 1920. [The Finished Mystery, 1917, p. 178, Comments on Revelation 11:13. [The 1926 ed. Changed it to read: “and that the 'fire' will follow in due course.”]

1917 “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 ed., p. 258)

1917 Pastor Russell's mission, in large part, was to advise Christendom of its impending end, in the time of world-wide trouble. It is the Divine judgment upon the nations. … There will be no chance of escaping from destruction, through the nations. … The trouble is due to the dawning of the Day of Christ, the Millennium. It is the Day of Vengeance, which began in the world war of 1914 and which will break like a furious morning storm in 1918.” (The Finished Mystery, 1917, p. 404)

1917 “Until 1878 the nominal church had been in a sense God's sanctuary or temple; but He was from then on, culminating in 1918, to remove it with a stroke or plague of erroneous doctrines and deeds Divinely permitted. The Church was the strength of Christendom, that about which its life centered, and around which its institutions were built. It was the desire of the eyes of the people, that which all Christians loved. Nevertheless, God was to make manifest the profanation which ecclesiasticism had made of the Christian Church, and to cause the church organizations to become to Him as one dead, an unclean thing, not to be touched, or mourned. And the 'children of the church' shall perish by the sword of war, revolution and anarchy, and by the Sword of the Spirit be made to see that they have lost their hope of life on the spirit plane -- that 'the door is shut.”' (Studies in the Scriptures, vol. 7, 1917 p. 484.)

1917 Also, in the year 1918, when God destroys the churches wholesale and the church members by million, 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 edition, p. 485)

1917 “As the fleshly-minded apostates from Christianity, siding with the radicals and revolutionaries, will rejoice at the inheritance of desolation that will be Christendom's after 1918, so will God do to the successful revolutionary movement; it shall be utterly desolated, “even all of it.” Not one vestige of it shall survive the ravages of world-wide all embracing anarchy, in the fall of 1920. (Rev. II: 7-13) (The Finished Mystery, 1917, p. 542, [The 1926 ed. Changed it to read: “in the end of the time of trouble.”]

1917 “This vision of the prophet Ezekiel depicts the established theocratic Kingdom of God on earth, civil and religious, spiritual and earthly. . . . The Temple . . . is a type and symbol of “better things to come,” after the wars, revolutions and anarchy of the period from 1914 to 1925 have passed. (The Finished Mystery, 1917, p. 569 [The 1926 ed. reads: “of the time of trouble have passed.”])

“There will be no slip-up.... Abraham should enter upon the actual possession of his promised inheritance in the year 1925 A.D. (Watchtower 10/15/1917, p. 6157)

 “It seems conclusive that the hour of Nominal Zion's travail fixed for the Passover of 1918.... the fallen angels will invade the minds of many of the Nominal Church people ... lead to their destruction at the hands of the enraged masses. . . .' (Studies in the Scriptures Vol. 7, p,128)

“It is the Day of Vengeance, which began in the world wa1914 and which will break like a furious morning storm in1918. (Studies in the Scriptures Vol. 7, p.404)

1918 “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 11, to the condition of human perfection.” (Millions Now Living Will Never Die, p. 89)

1918 “Reexamine ... Vol. 2, pages 246 and 247; change the 37 to 40, 70 to 73 and 1914 to 1918, and we believe it is correct and will be fulfilled 'with great power and glory.”' (Studies in the Scriptures Vol. 7, p. 62)

1918 “The seven days before the Deluge may represent seven ye from 1914 to 1921, in the midst of which 'week of years' last members of the Messiah pass beyond the veil. . . . proposition is that the glorification of the Little Flock iSpring of 1918 A.D. will be half way ... between the close the Gentile Times and the close of the Heavenly Way, 1921.” (Studies in the Scriptures Vol. 7, p.64)

 1918 “What will the year 1918 bring forth? ... The Christian looks for the year to bring the full consummation of the church's hopes.” (Watchtower  1/1/1918, p. 6191)

1918 “That the harvest began in 1878, there is ample and convincing proof. The end of the harvest is due in the spring of 1918.” (Watchtower  5/1/1918, p. 6243)

1920 '...we may expect 1925 to witness the return of these faithful men of Israel from the condition of death, being resurrected' (Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920, p. 88)

1922 In 1878 the process of setting up the kingdom began. The Lord raised the sleeping saints. (Watchtower 6/1/1922, P. 174)

1922 “No one can properly understand the work of God as 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.” (Watchtower, September 15, 1922, p. 278)

“The indisputable facts, therefore, show that the “time of the end” began in 1799; that the Lord's second presence began in 1874.” (Watchtower, March 1, 1922)

1966 “'How Much Longer Will It Be?' 6,000 Years Completed in 1975 .. In what year, then, would the first 6,000 years of man's existence and also the first 6,000 years of God's rest day come to an end? The year 1975… Hence, the fact that we are nearing the end of the first 6,000 years of man's existence is of great significance. … It is the fact that shortly, according to reliable Bible chronology, 6,000 years of human history will come to an end.. .After six thousand years of toil and bondage to sin, sickness, death and Satan, mankind is due to enjoy a rest and is in dire need of a rest. (Heb. 4:1-11) Hence, the fact that we are nearing the end of the first 6,000 years of man's existence is of great significance. In what year, then, would the first 6,000 years of man's existence and also the first 6,000 years of God's rest day come to an end? The year 1975…. It means that within relatively few years we will witness the fulfillment of the remaining prophecies that have to do with the 'time of the end.'“ (Awake Oct. 8 1966 19-20)

1968 “WHY ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO 1975?” …Their interest has been kindled by the belief that 1975 will mark the end of 6,000 years of human history since Adam's creation. The nearness of such an important date indeed fires the imagination and presents unlimited possibilities for discussion.. ... in the fall of the year 1975, a little over seven years from now .. it will be 6,000 years since the creation of Adam.” (Watchtower p.494 8/15/1968)

 1968 “ in the fall of the year 1975, a little over seven years from now .. it will be 6,000 years since the creation of Adam, the father of all mankind! Are we to assume from this study that the battle of Armageddon will be all over by the autumn of 1975, and the long-looked-for thousand-year reign of Christ will begin by then? Possibly, but we wait to see how closely the seventh thousand-year period of man's existence coincides with the Sabbath-like thousand-year reign of Christ .. Are we to assume from this study that the battle of Armageddon will be all over by the autumn of 1975, and the long-looked-for thousand-year reign of Christ will begin by then? Possibly, but we wait to see how closely the seventh thousand-year period of man's existence coincides with the sabbathlike thousand-year reign of Christ. (Watchtower Aug. 15 1968 pp.499-501)

1968 .. there are only about ninety months left before 6,000 years of man's existence on earth is completed.... The majority of people living today will probably be alive when Armageddon breaks out. . . .” ( KINGDOM MINISTRY 3/1968, p. 4)

1968 “Jesus was obviously speaking about those who were old enough to witness with understanding what took place when the 'last days' began.... Even if we presume that youngsters 15 years of age would be perceptive enough to realize the import of what happened in 1914, it would still make the youngest of 'this generation' nearly 70 years old today. . . . Jesus said that the end of this wicked world would come before that generation passed away in death.” (Awake  10/8/1968,p.13)

1969 “In order for the Lord Jesus Christ to be 'Lord even of the sabbath day,' his thousand-year reign would have to be the seventh in a series of thousand-year periods or millenniums. (Matt. 12:8, AV) Thus it would be a sabbatic reign. … Soon now six millenniums of his wicked exploiting of mankind as his slaves will end, within the lifetime of the generation that has witnessed world events since the close of the Gentile Times in 1914 till now, according to the prophetic words of Jesus in Matthew 24:34. Would not, then, the end of six millenniums of mankind's laborious enslavement under Satan the Devil be the fitting time for Jehovah God to usher in a Sabbath millennium for all his human creatures? Yes, indeed!” (Watchtower Oct .15 1969 p.623)

1973 “Do You Really Believe It?.. If you are one of Jehovah's dedicated witnesses, you believe that the generation of people now living is in its 'last days.'.. We know that Jesus Christ will take such action within this generation. Bible chronology clearly establishes that in 1914 C.E. he was given rulership over the world of mankind.” (Watchtower Jan. 15 1973 pp.56, 61)

1973 “... the generation alive in 1914, some will see the major fulfillment of Christ Jesus' prophecy and the destruction.” (Awake Oct. 8 1973 p.19)

1974 “Bible prophecy and the physical facts in fulfillment thereof prove that since 1914 C.E. the generation now living is in the 'time of the end.'“ (Watchtower 1974 p.123)

1975 “… millions of people now living will see the 'day' of Christ's coming to mete out justice upon this system of things ..” (Watchtower Jan. 1 1975 p.11)

1975 “… the Creator's promise of a new order of lasting peace and true security within our generation.” (Awake Jan. 8 1975)

1975 “However, the Bible's time clock does indicate to us that 6,000 years of human history end in this year 1975. (Watchtower Oct. 1 1975 579}

Within a few years at most the final parts of Bible prophecy relative to these 'last days' will undergo fulfillment, resulting in the liberation of surviving mankind into Christ's glorious 1,000-year reign. What difficult days, but, at the same time, what grand days are just ahead! “ (Watchtower May 1 1968 271-272}

1979  "For nearly 60 years now the Jeremiah class have faithfully spoken forth Jehovah’s Word. Of its own self that Word has not burned up the combustible organizations of Christendom; nor has it smashed to pieces the mountainlike system of things. Yet the divine Word as proclaimed by the Jeremiah class is not a failure. When, at Jehovah’s due time, in the “great tribulation,” that spoken Word is carried out by him, then his own question will be answered affirmatively: “‘Is not my word correspondingly like a fire,’ is the utterance of Jehovah, ‘and like a forge hammer that smashes the crag?’” (Jer. 23:25) So let us keep faith in that Word. 28 Unlike the clergy class, those of the Jeremiah class have been sent by Jehovah to speak in his name. Nevertheless, the clergy prophets also claim to speak in his name and, hence, to tell the Bible truth. In this way Christendom’s religious leaders really ‘steal’ away the force and effect of the calamitous message proclaimed by the Jeremiah class. True, the Jeremiah class back up their message by quoting the words, “This is what Jehovah has said.” But the clergy try to add weight and the ring of truth to what they preach by affixing the words, “An utterance!” Seemingly they speak from God. So they may use a Bible text as a pretext for preaching about politics or even war propaganda. Yet Jehovah is against such clergy prophets whom he did not send forth from his intimate group and who ‘steal’ words from his Bible in order to make a wrong application of them.—Jer. 23:30, 31. (Watchtower 9/1/1979 pp. 29, 30)

More accurately, was there any group on whom Jehovah would be willing to bestow the commission to speak as a “prophet” in His name, as was done toward Ezekiel back there in 613 B.C.E.? What were the qualifications? (Watchtower 3/15/1972 p.189)

He had a “prophet” to warn them. This “prophet” was not one man, but was a body of men and women. It was the small group of footstep followers of Jesus Christ, known at that time as International Bible Students. Today they are known as Jehovah’s Christian witnesses. They are still proclaiming a warning, and have been joined and assisted in their commissioned work by hundreds of thousands of persons who have listened to their message with belief. (Watchtower 4/1/1972 p 197)

“Whom  could the real “chariot” of Jehovah's organization roll up to and confront that He might bestow upon this qualified one the commission to speak as a prophet in the name of Jehovah? ….They were a small minority group of men and women who had dedicated themselves to Jehovah....”
(The Nations shall know that I am Jehovah” -How? 1971 pp. 58-62)

1980 “If the wicked system of this world survived until the turn of the century [the year 2001 ?], 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.” (Watchtower Oct. 15 1980 p.31)

1984 “Some of that 'generation [of 1914]' could survive until the end of the century. But there are many indications that 'the end' is much closer than that!” (Watchtower 3/1/84 pp. 18-19)

1984 “If Jesus used 'generation' in that sense and we apply it to 1914, then the babies of that generation are now 70 years old or older.... Some of them 'will by no means pass away until all things occur.”' (Watchtower 5/15/1984, p. 5)

 1989 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... we do not need to know...” (Watchtower, October 1, 1989, p. 31)  

1975 “More recently, many Witnesses conjectured that events associated with the beginning of Christ's Millennial Reign might start to take place in 1975. Their anticipation was based on the understanding that the seventh millennium of human history would begin then.” (Awake June 22 1995 p.9)

Man's creation was 4026 B.C.E.; 6000 years from man's creation will end in 1975; the 7th period of 1000 years will begin in the fall of 1975.(LIFE EVERLASING, pp. 29-30)

1989  “He [the apostle Paul] was also laying a foundation for a work that would be completed in our day.” Watchtower1/1/1989, bound volume, p. 12

1999 “The apostle Paul was spearheading the Christian missionary activity. He was also laying a foundation for a work that would be completed in our 20th century.” (Watchtower Jan 1 1989 p.12, [bound volume changed “20th century” to “day”)

1999 “… there are many indications that 'the end' is much closer than that [the turn of the century]” (Watchtower Mar.1 1984 pp.18-19)

1999 “Shortly, within our twentieth century, the 'battle in the day of Jehovah' will begin against the modern antitype of Jerusalem, Christendom.” (The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah - How? 1971 p.216) 

2000 “For the year 2000, I visualize a world transformed into a beautiful paradise! But I don't think that either the present world or its rulers will live to see that day… We are living in the last days of the system of things.” (Awake Nov. 8 1986 p.78)

Let me end with their own words pointed back at them.