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Predictions and dates · Claim record

In July 1894 Zion's Watch Tower told readers who doubted the 1914 date: 'They are, we believe, God's dates, not ours', adding that 'the end of 1914 is not the date for the beginning, but for the end of the time of trouble'.

Claim ID claim-predictions-1894-gods-dates-not-oursConcerns 15 July 1894Explicit statement
Explicit statement · 15 July 1894 Verified

In July 1894 Zion's Watch Tower told readers who doubted the 1914 date: 'They are, we believe, God's dates, not ours', adding that 'the end of 1914 is not the date for the beginning, but for the end of the time of trouble'. Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence, 15 July 1894

The organisation’s position or later explanation: Proclaimers (1993) p. 135 acknowledges that early Bible Students 'first thought that global troubles culminating in anarchy... would precede that date', and adds: 'But then, ten years before 1914, the Watch Tower suggested that worldwide turmoil that would result in the annihilating of human institutions would come right after the end of the Gentile Times.'

Show the evidence (1 source)
Primary JW publication Verified

Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence, “Can It Be Delayed Until 1914? (editorial reply to readers)”

15 July 1894 · pp.226 (standard citation); Reprints pp. 1676-1677 (the passage falls under the [1676] marker) · C. T. Russell (editor) · Tower Publishing Co., Allegheny, Pa.

“our readers are writing to know if there may not be a mistake in the 1914 date. ... 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 for the end of the time of trouble.”

Reply to readers who, seeing labour unrest, doubted conditions could last until 1914.

Scan of original

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. Wording and 'July 15, 1894' issue header confirmed in the scan OCR; Reprints marker [1676] precedes the passage. Original page number 226 is the standard citation but not read from the scan.

Scan provenance. Internet Archive upload by Veillez.org of the 1894 volume (Reprints pagination visible, e.g. '[1676]'). Public domain.

Notes. Important: the sentence explicitly says 1914 was expected to be the END of the time of trouble.

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-zwt-1894-0715-gods-dates

Claim page

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