But then paragraph three changes everything. Here is a teaching that dramatically impacted my life. Later in the book it is evident that this teaching didn't mean what it did in the late 60s and early 70s. Still the seeds of teaching can be found in this paragraph:
We follow the theory that each of the Seven Days of the Creative Week was a period of seven thousand years. This, seven times seven thousand, equals forty-nine thousand (7 x 7,000 = 49,000) years, ushering in a grand Jubilee Epoch.
There is no support for this shown here. This teaching became a pivotal JW teaching in the late 60s and early 70s. Although JW leadership says that members misunderstood the teachings during that time period, JWs were led by the leadership to believe that 6000 years of man's existence was going to end in 1975 and Armageddon would come. Interestingly, the idea of Armageddon is NOT part of the Photo Drama.
Since JW leadership actively denies that they prophesy and that members ran ahead of "Jehovah's organization" in 1975 it is appropriate to document what they actually said in the run up to 1975. But before I do this I want to talk about what this teaching meant for me personally and for my family. I was born in the early 70s and I was told from a very young age that I would never start school. I would never have children in this "evil age." I would soon live with lions and tigers and bears (oh my!) Families I knew pulled their children from middle and high school so they could spend more time preaching, sold everything they owned, spent or donated all of their savings based on 1975 being the end of the world. People lived in a fevered state of existence. There was a sense of urgency to the preaching work. It was also during this time my mom became reactivated as one of the JWs.
Here are some 1975 quotes sent to me by a friend who was in her 20s during this time:
Our Kingdom Ministry March 1968 p.4
Making some special effort to do more than the usual helps us live up to our dedication. In view of the short period of time left, we want to do this as often as circumstances permit. Just think, brothers, there are only about ninety months left before 6,000 years of man's existence on earth is completed… Do you remember what we learned at the assemblies last summer? The majority of people living today will probably be alive when Armageddon breaks out, and there are no resurrection hopes for those who are destroyed then. So, now more than ever, it is vital not to ignore that spirit of wanting to do more.
[Emphasis Added]
Awake! 1969 May 22 p.15
If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things. Why not? Because all the evidence in fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years. Of the generation that observed the beginning of the 'last days' in 1914, Jesus foretold: 'This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.' Therefore, as a young person, you will never fulfill any career that this system offers. If you are in high school and thinking about a college education, it means at least four, perhaps even six or eight more years to graduate into a specialized career. But where will this system of things be by that time? It will be well on the way towards its finish, if not actually gone! This is why parents who base their lives on God's prophetic Word find it much more practical to direct their young ones into trades that do not require such long periods of additional schooling… True, those who do not understand where we are in the stream of time from God's viewpoint will call this impractical. But which is really practical: preparing yourself for a position in this world that soon will pass away? or working toward surviving this system's end and enjoying eternal life in God's righteous new order?
[Emphasis Added]
The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah - How (1971) p.216
Shortly, within our twentieth century, the "battle in the day of Jehovah" will begin against the modern anti-type of Jerusalem, Christendom.
[Emphasis Added]
You can find a lot more here.Anyway, the seeds of the 1975 fiasco begin here in 1914 - ironically enough a date which has always been a line in the sand for JWs. But there is no discussion of it other than it's a theory they hold to. Later as JW theology developed lots of reasons came up for the 7000 years of creation. But at this time there is no evidence - just a theory. A lot of people based their lives on this "theory" that acted a lot like a prophecy. A lot of people, careers, families and more were destroyed by this non-prophecy. It also caused a lot of nightmares. I remember the picture on the linked page that is on the top (came out in the '80s I think) and I remember the picture on the bottom right which I believe is pre-1975.
As if that wasn't enough we get more wacky science at the end of the page. We're still talking about those rings like Saturn that were supposedly around the earth at that time. They talk about "mineralized waters" being above the earth held in by centrifugal force. They broke and reached the earth which caused the mineral deposits in the earth. My favorite quote comes in the last paragraph:
The Deluge of Noah's day was the last, of pure water only, heavier minerals being attracted first. Hence minerals are generally under several layers of shale and soil.
Ok so the minerals in the soil got there by collapsing rings (supposedly like the rings around Saturn) and Noah floated on pure water. If it was coming down to be on the already mineralized earth, why would it matter? Furthermore, once again we are given no citation or reference. I don't know if this was modern science in 1914 but I'm guessing no. We know a lot about how minerals got here and a ring around the earth wasn't ever taken seriously I don't think.
Just wait till you see the science that is coming up. It'll knock your socks off.
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