From 1940-43, the Watchtower made 44 predictions of the immanence of Armageddon. Why did they fail?

[Jesus.defender]

From 1940-43, the Watchtower made 44 predictions of the immanence of Armageddon. Why did they fail?

Consider these examples:

In September 1940 they said, ‘The kingdom is here, the king is enthroned. Armageddon is just ahead ...The great climax has been reached.’(The Messenger, September 1940,p 6)

They said, ‘The Final End is Very Near’. (The Watchtower, Sept. 15, 1941 p 276).

‘The remaining months before Armageddon . . .’ (p 288)

They said, ‘The time is at hand for Jesus Christ to take possession of all things’. (The Watchtower, January 15, 1942 p 28)

On May 1, 1942 they said, ‘Now, with Armageddon immediately before us . . .’ (p 139)

On May 1, 1943 they said, ‘The final end of all things . . . is at hand’.’ (p139)

On September 1, 1944 they said, ‘Armageddon is near at hand’. (p 264)

In 1946, ‘The disaster of Armageddon . . . is at the door’. (Let God be True 1946, p 194)

In 1950 they said, ‘The March is on! Where? To the field of Armageddon for the ‘war of the great day of God the Almighty’’. (This Means Everlasting Life, 1950, p 311)

In 1953 they said, ‘Armageddon is so near at hand it will strike the generation now living’. (You May Survive Armageddon speech p 11)

In 1955 they said, ‘It is becoming clear that the war of Armageddon is near its breaking out point’. (Ibid p 331)

In 1958 they said, ‘When will Armageddon be fought? . . . It will be very soon’.’ (From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained, 1958, p 205)

JW leaders in Awake magazine, 8 October, 1968,. p 23 admitted that certain persons had falsely predicted the end of the world. They asked why these false prophecies were given.

Here they admit that they themselves were false prophets, that they lacked God’s guidance, and were lying:

‘True, there have been those in times past who predicted an “end to the world”, even announcing a specific date. The “end” did not come. They were guilty of false
prophesying. Why? What was missing? . . . Missing from such people were God’s truths and the evidence that He was guiding and using them.’(Awake, 8 Oct.,1968, p.23)

Note: Deuteronomy 18:20-22 states that false prophets must die.

 

 

[Ann O'Maly]

I know, metaphorically, we can all have our own personal 'Armageddons,' but I don't think JWs ever taught that Armageddon was something indwelling or inherent.