How did Jehovah Witnesses find out about the invisible return of Jesus in 1914 if they could not see Him?

1914 was originally slated by the organization later known as “Jehovah’s Witnesses” to be the END of this system of things…not the beginning of the end. 1874 was recognized to be the beginning of Christ’s invisible presence.

“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 the END of the time of trouble. (The Watchtower Reprints, July 15, 1894, p. 1672)

“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 Time is at Hand, 1907 ed., p. 101

“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…” The Battle of Armageddon, 1912 ed., p. 621

“Surely there is not the slightest room for doubt in the mind of a truly consecrated child of God that the Lord Jesus is present and has been since 1874…” The Watchtower, January 1, 1924, p. 5

How did the organization arrive at these dates? Through measurements taken from the Great Pyramid of Giza:

"So, then, if we measure backward down the "First Ascending Passage" to its junction with the "Entrance Passage," we shall have a fixed date to mark upon the downward passage. This measure is 1542 inches, and indicates the year BC 1542, as the date at that point. Then measuring down the "Entrance Passage" from that point, to find the distance to the entrance of the "Pit," representing the great trouble and destruction with which this age is to close, when evil will be overthrown from power, we find it to be 3416 inches, symbolizing 3416 years from the above date, BC 1542. This calculation shows AD. 1874 as marking the beginning of the period of trouble; for 1542 years BC plus 1874 years AD. equals 3416 years. Thus the Pyramid witnesses that the close of 1874 was the chronological beginning of the time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation -- no, nor ever shall be afterward. And thus it will be noted that this "Witness" fully corroborates the Bible testimony on this subject...” Thy Kingdom Come, (Millennial Dawn, vol. 3); by Charles Taze Russell, copyright 1891, by The Watch Tower Bible And Tract Society. 1904 edition

The 1914 date would have been scrapped just like the 1874 date before it, had it not been for the fact that WWI happened to break out that year, giving them the “proof” they needed that their date was correct. So they set about reconciling 1914 with the “seven times” prophecy of Daniel. Only it would never work with the established date of 586 B.C. as the fall of Jerusalem, so they had to claim the fall of Jerusalem happened in 607 B.C. This is a false date, and the 1914 doctrine of Jehovah's Witnesses is false doctrine.

When Jesus really does return, EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM, even those who pierced Him. Who pierced Jesus? It wasn't the Jews, and it wasn't the Romans. It was every single one of us...OUR sins that He bore in His body on the tree (1 Peter 2:24). Our sins nailed Him to that tree and held Him there. He could have called legions of angels to His rescue, but His love for each one of us stopped Him from doing so. His return will be visible, just as lightning is visible when it flashes from east to west, and in that day, His feet will surely stand on the Mount of Olives.

that is a sturdy question. this might finally help the asker and others to comprehend what “return” meant in Jesus’ words. The Greek word used became into “parousia” or presence. Abernathy has responded the question undeniable and easy. yet i think of the asker will reject what's implied via the word “return,” inasmuch as he has rejected the different implications of word “worship.” (Matthew 18:26 vs Matthew 4:10). For them, the word “worship”s interior the Bible have one meaning. So i think of they have comparable discernment with the word “return” interior the Bible. =) Addt: The apostles asked Jesus: "what may be the sign of your coming," (Matthew 24:3). If Jesus' coming is seen, why might the apostles ask for indicators? what's using indicators if Jesus' coming might properly be certainly seen? Luke 17:20 extra says: "the dominion of God would not comprise remark" Addt: indicators? i'm helpful the asker comprehend what those indicators are. (Matthew 24:3-14). those indicators grew to grow to be strongly obtrusive on account that 1914. Even secular/non-JW commentators and historians view 1914 as a surprising substitute and a important turnng poingt in human background. yet i think of the asker would not settle for this fact, yet particularly proceed to exist modifications made via JWs. lower back, if Jesus' coming might properly be for sure seen, why might the apostles ask for indicators?

Well, I don't have "Jehovah's Witness" in my name, so maybe people won't think I'm genuine, but I'll give it my best shot anyway.

To start with, as has been pointed out by fellow Answerers, "see" can mean many different things. In fact, it has exactly 24 distinct meanings, only one of which is to perceive with ones eyes. I might say "I can see your point", but is your point actually visible? I could see you to the door, but I could do that with my eyes closed. I could have seen action in the third Congolese War, even though I was blinded in the Second Congolese War. I might say "let's see, which restaurant shall we boycott?" or "see if you can make sense out of this answer" without literally referring to eyes. If I want to see whether you speak Attic Greek, I can do this entirely by conversation without looking at a thing. If you and I were to become romantically interested in one another, then we might start seeing each other. Then if we were playing poker and you had raised the initial bet, I might see your bet despite the extra-dark sunglasses I wear to play poker.

Thus: you can see (hah) how we could see the invisible return of Jesus in 1914, even though we were not even born yet. And we can see the invisible residence of Jesus for the ensuing ninety-six years, even though He never writes. Not even a postcard. But these are the Times that try our Souls.

Thus, the WT is a non-prophet organization- the last knock on my door by JWs - they told me that Charles T. Russel's was not their prophet.

Edit:

However, the bottom line is that their founder (Charles T Russell) came up with the 1914 date by measuring the GREAT PYRAMID in Egypt.

Click on the website below, for the information from their own book(s) concerning this and which also shows the pyramid that they built at his grave site- in memorial of his effort. It also has other info & photos).

As is typical of Jehovah's Witnesses, when they don't complete a pass they punt. Smile.

Charles Taze and his millennial Millerite friends are to blame for one of the biggest boondoggle doctrines of JW history.

Charles Taze Russell the first president of the Watchtower Society began predicting end times dates in the 1870's. Without all the gory details every single prediction failed.

He died 2 years after his failed prediction of the end in 1914. It was the second president Joseph Franklin Rutherford who changed the doctrine to a 'heavenly fulfillment'. Thus placating some of the then Bible Students who were upset about Rutherford taking over Russell's presidency by devious means.

By holding onto Russell's predictions relating to 1914 Rutherford saved a few more from leaving the WTBS at the time. Rutherford went on to make 1914 a very significant date for jw doctrine. Loudly proclaiming the date as the beginningg of the 'generation that would not pass away' before Armageddonn and a new earth.

That generation has passed away, and jw's are now trying to dig themselves out of the predicamentt they find themselves in. So it is that in April the Watchtower magazine will shed new light on this ridiculous doctrine. Blind is not the word that comes to mind.

Edit: To get the truthful answer regarding failed predictions one needs to go directly to the original prediction, examine it, not what the appologists for the mistake have to say.

I personnaly have more faith in an objective, information gathering source like Wiki, over Jw publications that blow in the wind from year to year,

Here is what Wiki says about 1914:

The religion's doctrines surrounding 1914 are the legacy of a series of emphatic claims regarding the years 1799, 1874, 1878, 1914, 1918 and 1925 made by Watch Tower Society founder Charles Taze Russell and the organization's publications between 1879 and 1924. Claims by the religion about the significance of those years, including the presence of Jesus Christ, the beginning of the "last days", the destruction of worldly governments and the earthly resurrection of Jewish patriarchs, were successively abandoned when it became apparent the dates were wrong.[4] The Watchtower had described its chronology as "of divine origin and divinely corroborated ... absolutely and unqualifiedly correct"[5] and that a repudiation of Russell's teachings was "equivalent to a repudiation of the Lord".[6][7] The Watch Tower Society has admitted its early leaders promoted "incomplete, even inaccurate concepts".[8]

Don't believe Wiki, then check their sources, all come from Watchtower publications, can you beat that!

they base that claim on a bible verse ( i don't know verse and book) that nation will rise up against nation. World war 1 began in 1914, so they think that is a sign of the end times. Nation has been rising up against nation since the beginning of nations.

Jesus returned in 1914??????!!!!!!!!!

What??! Jesus will only come back once again to earth and it could not have been in 1914.

They made it up out of the clear blue sky. 1874 was getting pretty far away and none of the predictions were coming true. So they had to move Christ's return up to buy them more time.

they dont know this the watchtower taught it to them

Both "JennyM" and "Tyler J(one of Jehovahs Witness)" have provided you with the answer as well as the exact link that takes you to where it is explained in simple terms as to how and why Jehovah Witnesses found out about the invisible return of Jesus in 1914.

You can either:

A) Read their answers and carefully review the information presented there with a Bible.

or

B) Select as best answer someone who is NOT one of Jehovah's Witnesses. As if a person who is not one of Jehovah's Witnesses would know about the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses better than one of Jehovah's Witnesses themselves.

Ciao