Was 1914 a significant year in bible prophesy?

Decades in advance,the Bible Students,as Jehovah's Witnesses were then called, proclaimed that there would be significant developements in 1914.

As recorded at Luke 21:24, Jesus said: "Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations until the appointed times of the nations ("the times of the Gentiles," - King James Version, are fulfilled."

Jerusalem had been the capital city of the Jewish nation -the seat of rulership of the line of kings from the house of David. (Psalms 48:1,2) However,these kings were unique among national leaders.They sat on "Jehovah's throne" as representatives of God himself. (1 Chronicles 29:23) Jerusalem was thus a symbol of Jehovah's worship.

How and when,though,did God's rulership begin to be "trampled on by the nations"? This happened in 607 B.C.E when Jerusalem was conquered by the Babylonians. "Jehovah's throne" became vacant,and the line of kings who decended from David was interupted. (2 Kings 25:1-26)

Would this "trampling" go on forever? No,for the prophesy of Ezekiel said regarding Jerusalem's last king,Zedekiah:"Remove the turban,and lift off the crown...it will certainly become no ones' until he comes who has the legal right,and I must give it to him." (Ezekiel 21:26,27) The one who has "the legal right" to the Davidic crown is Christ Jesus.(Luke 1:32,33) So the "trampling" would end when Jesus became king.

When would that grand event occur?

Jesus showed that the Gentiles would rule for a fixed period of time.The account in Daniel chapter 4 holds the key to knowing how long that period would last.It relates a prophetic dream experienced by king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.he saw an immense tree that was chopped down.Its stump could not grow because it was banded with Iron and copper.An angel declarred:"Let seven times pass over it." - Daniel 4:10-16)

In the Bible,trees are sometimes used to represent rulership. (Ezekiel 17:22-24 31:2-4) So the chopping down of the symbolic tree represents how God's rulership,as expressed through the kings of Jerusalem,would be interupted.However,the vision served notice that this trampling of Jerusalem would be temporary - a period of "seven times."

How long is that "seven times" ?

Revelation 12:6,14 indicates that three and a half times equal "a thousand,two hundred and sixty days." "Seven times" would therefore last twice as long,or,2,520 days.But the Gentile nations did not stop "trampling" on God's rulership a mere 2,520 days after Jerusalem's fall.Evidently then,this prophecy covers a much longer period of time. On the basis of Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6,which speak of "a day for a year," the "seven times" would cover 2,520 years.

The 2,520 years began in October 607 B.C.E when Jerusalm fell to the Babylonians and the Davidic king was taken off his throne.The period ended in October 1914.After that time,"the appointed times of the nations" ended,and Jesus Christ was installed as God's heavenly king." - Psalms 2:1-6 Daniel 7:13,14.

Just as Jesus stated,his"presence" as heavenly king has been marked by dramatic world develpments -wars,famine,earthquakes,pestilences,increasing of lawlessness.. (Matthew 24:3-8 Luke 21:11)

Such developments bear powerful testimony to the fact that 1914 indeed marked the birth of God's heavenly kingdom and the beginning of the "last days" of this present system of things. -2 Timothy 3:1-5. See also Revelation chapter 6 and 12:12.

To understand the significance of 1914 will take more space than is available her on this forum. The ancient writers never had dates as we know them so no future dates could ever be written. However future dates could be determined by events prophesied. It is interesting that before 1914 other some other religious groups also saw 1914 as a marked date in Bible prophecy, but because of pressure from the main stream religions they changed their minds. The "WHAT DOES THE BIBLE Really TEACH." ( page 215- 218 ) gives a very brief overview of the prophecy that relates to 1914. If you really want an in depth answer please e mail me or ask the next JW that comes to your door to fully explain it.

The beginning of WW1 in 1914 was a very significant event in world history, so it is probably mentioned in Scriptural prophecies that pertain to the "last days" Some Bible teachers equate the first of the "three woes" in Revelation chapter 9 with WW1. If it is so, then the third woe (third world war) will indeed be the "last days".

Not as the Jehovah's Witnesses and

the Philippine Church of Christ church that my son-in-law use to go to preach.

One of the false prophecies they have changed and still hold onto is the 1914 teachings.

I was deceived to from infancy to adulthood. I had believed their false interpretation of prophecy. Many speak presumptuously, prophecies will fail, yet those spoken by the Spirit of God will be found to be true. They as far as I know STILL continue to believe they do regarding 1914.

In verse 22 of Daniel 4, Daniel tells King Nebuchadnezzar,"IT IS YOU, O king ...."

There is and never was a second fulfillment of this prophecy. The prophecy is a warning to all who think of themselves as the king did.

The Society is always pointing their fingers at other religions for ORIGINS of things that they do, yet they fail to look at their own ORIGIN. They themselves are the ones who preached this, are they again covering over their ORIGIN.

They stand and judge others all the time, have they forgotten, Judge not lest YOU be judged? By the measure with YOU measure others You shall also be measured.

ps~

According to Romans chapter 11 the Gentile Times began when the Jews rejected Jesus in 33 c.e. not in 1914

pss~

If those of the remenant were resurrected and began ruling with Christ in 1914 wouldn't they be as kings & priests longer than those who are now living?

psss~

Matthew 28:18- 20 Shows that the date Jesus became King of Kings was after he had presented his sacrifice to Jehovah in the year 33 C.E.

"ALL authority HAS been given to Me in heaven and on earth."

Only the King of Kings can say this!

pssss~

There is only one hope. In Rev. 7 the angel is showing John ONE thing. "The number of those who are sealed with the promise".

How many did he see?

144,000 who were Jews "AND AFTER THESE a great multitude"

Where were ALL those who are sealed?

ALL of them are in ONE place. Not some on Earth and some in heaven. They ALL were before the throne of God.

The "last days" or "latter days" are from the resurrection until the Judgment. That is why the Hebrews writer said in Hebrews 1:1-2 that "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds." So, no. 1914 isn't significant to Christians at all.

(Matthew 24:1-35 and Luke 21:7-24 discuss the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD).

EDIT-- Jesus already established His kingdom, the Church in Acts 2. When His disciples asked Him when His kingdom would come, He replied "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:7-8). In Acts 2:1-4, the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles and they spoke the Gospel in vss.14-38. The rest of the book of Acts is the fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy in Acts 1. They started in Jerusalem (Acts 2-7). Then, they went into Judea and Samaria (Acts 8-10). Then, the rest of the book is about the Gospel spreading to the ends of the earth (Acts 11-28). The Kingdom of Christ is already here and has been established for almost 2000 years. If it wasn't, why would Stephen say that he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:55)? Why did Peter assert that that Jesus was the "Lord" over King David (Acts 2:34-36)? Why does Paul call Jesus "the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords" (1 Timothy 6:15)? It is because He is already The King and because he is already reigning over His Kingdom.

1914 didn't mark anything. It was just another year. The sooner we realize this, the better off we will all be.

Awake, please be awake. The prophetic skills of the JW is pathetic. Major events that happened: The 1914 accdg to posters is the start of WW1; then in 1917, the Blessed Mary, showed to the children in Fatima. So, JW messed up, can't guess correctly and kept on changing the dates to 1924, 1975 and more to come. LOL

*sigh* You people.

1914 was the first year for the First World War, and the only religious aspect of it was it was started when a religious/nationalist fanatic assassinated a head of state. There were, of course, many other causes, but that one event triggered the fighting more than the others.

There was nothing biblical about it. That religions were heavily involved in the reasons the war started is far more important, and routinely ignored by those who think religion is the answer to problems rather than the cause of them.

Bible prophesy is a long string of failures.

No. 1914 was the beginning of WWI.There isn't one word about WWI in the Bible. No one can for see the future . Prophesy is BS.

It was the start of WW1 but Jws mostly like to say it was the start of the beginning. of the end.....depressing weirdos

If God said that the day of Armageddon would come "as a thief in the night" and that NO ONE knows the "day or hour," why would he give the EXACT year the "last days" supposedly started?