They did state that individuals were involved in "
having to do with the publication of the information that contributed to the buildup of hopes centered on that date ." See below. *
I pasted from the article you quoted -
"as we draw close to the completion of six thousand years of human existence during this decade, there is the thrilling hope that a grand Sabbath of rest and relief is indeed at hand."
Clearly there were hopes of the end of human mismanagement and a looking forward to a relief from the effects of physical 'sin' or 'sin' caused by imperfection. But this does not amount to prophetic statements, which was my point. There have never been any new prophecies since the first century.
But there has been a revealing or greater understanding of scriptural passages and how they relate to the present day context of, for example, world events, as they unfold.
Many during the seventies set their future relief upon a date or year. That they did that cannot be supported by scripture. To do so is a human error. Even the Apostles made human errors. However in saying that, the scriptures do say that a Christian should have an attitude of keeping in expectation. This was the attitude of the first century Christians. So keeping in step with that attitude is scriptural, because "you do not know when the appointed time is" Mark 13:33.
Conveying an idea that it may occur at the end of 6000 years from Adam's day down to our own was easily a projected hope based on understanding at that time. So there was good reason to think that events "may" occur. But no one said it will occur.
On the other point of so many leaving. The fact that many left is worth noting.
So where did they go? What are they doing now? Have they decided that there is no use in following Jesus' commands? Did they return to the 'former things' and once again began to conduct themselves in a way that is unscriptural? Did they gather themselves together and commence to proclaim the good news throughout the entire inhabited earth? What became of them? Or did they adjust their thinking? Did they return?
The Governing Body did admit that the matter had been wrongly portrayed. Here are 2 quotes from 2 publications discussing the matter;-
Jehovah's Witnesses-Proclaimers of God's Kingdom chap. 8 p. 104
The Witnesses had long shared the belief that the Thousand Year Reign of Christ would follow after 6,000 years of human history. But when would 6,000 years of human existence end? The book Life Everlasting—In Freedom of the Sons of God, released at a series of district conventions held in 1966, pointed to 1975. Right at the convention, as the brothers examined the contents, the new book triggered much discussion about 1975.
At the convention held in Baltimore, Maryland, F. W. Franz gave the concluding talk. He began by saying: “Just before I got on the platform a young man came to me and said, ‘Say, what does this 1975 mean?’” Brother Franz then referred to the many questions that had arisen as to whether the material in the new book meant that by 1975 Armageddon would be finished, and Satan would be bound. He stated, in essence: ‘It could. But we are not saying. All things are possible with God. But we are not saying. And don’t any of you be specific in saying anything that is going to happen between now and 1975. But the big point of it all is this, dear friends: Time is short. Time is running out, no question about that.’
In the years following 1966, many of Jehovah’s Witnesses acted in harmony with the spirit of that counsel. However, other statements were published on this subject, and
some were likely more definite than advisable.
This was acknowledged in The Watchtower of March 15, 1980 (page 17). But
Jehovah’s Witnesses were also cautioned to concentrate mainly on doing Jehovah’s will and not to be swept up by dates and expectations of an early salvation.
w80 3/15 pp. 17-18
In modern times such eagerness, commendable in itself, has led to attempts at setting dates for the desired liberation from the suffering and troubles that are the lot of persons throughout the earth. With the appearance of the book Life Everlasting—in Freedom of the Sons of God, and its comments as to how appropriate it would be for the millennial reign of Christ to parallel the seventh millennium of man’s existence, considerable expectation was aroused regarding the year 1975. There were statements made then, and thereafter, stressing that this was only a possibility. Unfortunately, however, along with such cautionary information, there were other statements published that implied that such realization of hopes by that year was more of a probability than a mere possibility. It is to be regretted that these latter statements apparently overshadowed the cautionary ones and contributed to a buildup of the expectation already initiated.
In its issue of July 15, 1976, The Watchtower, commenting on the inadvisability of setting our sights on a certain date, stated: “If anyone has been disappointed through not following this line of thought, he should now concentrate on adjusting his viewpoint, seeing that it was not the word of God that failed or deceived him and brought disappointment, but that his own understanding was based on wrong premises.” In saying “anyone,” The Watchtower included all disappointed ones of Jehovah’s Witnesses, hence including persons having to do with the publication of the information that contributed to the buildup of hopes centered on that date. *
So in summing up. Some were focusing on a date or year. Others were not. There was no direction given regarding 1975 except a cautionary one, that the year 1975 might bring relief was in the realms of a
'probability' which sounded more than
'only a possibility', which led to basing a view on a
'wrong premise'. It was not a directive or a command and it was most certainly not a belief. Just an expectation that many took too literally. Why were they disappointed? There was still the fulfillment of Jesus words to look forward too.
I don't believe I am denying anything written. It comes down to how you view the matter - from the point of view of a human or from the point of view based in scripture. Jehovah's Witnesses are as human as anyone else and can make mistakes.
If you are meaning it is a mistake to not acknowledge a 'prediction' or 'prophecy' then all I can say is, I never saw or read a 'prediction' or a 'prophecy'. I read about hopes and expectations that fell short of the mark.
Wouldn't you prefer to put 1975 where it belongs? As a lesson in what to focus on. When reading the Bible it is clear that those who love God always recover from a failing or a fall, so to speak. I feel confident that those who reviewed the matter and decided to stay have moved on from there. There are more important matters at hand to focus on rather than the errors or supposed errors of other people.
I am guessing but do you have another reason for focusing on the 1975 situation?
Didn't mean for this to be such a long post.
