Predictions and dates1920s1930s1940s1970s1980s1990sEvidence collection
Evidence bundle · explicit prediction
1925 and Beth-Sarim
‘Millions Now Living Will Never Die’ was the movement’s most widely distributed message of the 1920s. Its date was 1925. The record of what was published before, during and after that year is unusually complete.
Last reviewed 19 September 2026
What was predicted
we may expect 1925 to witness the return of these faithful men of Israel from the condition of death, being resurrected and fully restored to perfect humanity ... Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old
that 1925 shall mark the resurrection of the faithful worthies of old and the beginning of reconstruction, it is reasonable to conclude that millions of people now on the earth will be still on the earth in 1925. Then ... we must reach the positive and indisputable conclusion that millions now living will never die.
Rutherford's Millions Now Living Will Never Die (1920) said 'we may expect 1925 to witness the return of these faithful men of Israel from the condition of death' and 'we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old', and derived the book's title from that date. Source: Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920Source: Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920
The organisation’s position or later explanation: Proclaimers p.78 quotes the sentence and says 'The year 1925 came and went. Some abandoned their hope.'; Yearbook 1975 p.146: 'The faithful men of old times... had not been resurrected'.
1920 · pp.88-90 · J. F. Rutherford · International Bible Students Association
“we may expect 1925 to witness the return of these faithful men of Israel from the condition of death, being resurrected and fully restored to perfect humanity ... Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old”
Seventy jubilees of fifty years from 1575 B.C. are said to end 'in the fall of the year 1925, at which time the type ends and the great antitype must begin'.
Provenance and verification note for Millions Now Living Will Never Die, The Jubilee / Earthly Rulers sections
Confidence note. Both scans' OCR opened; running headers '88', '90' visible around the passage.
Scan provenance. Internet Archive (daveignatius) scan; also Library of Congress Harry Houdini Collection copy at https://archive.org/details/millionsnowlivin00ruth. Public domain.
1920 · p.97 · J. F. Rutherford · International Bible Students Association
“that 1925 shall mark the resurrection of the faithful worthies of old and the beginning of reconstruction, it is reasonable to conclude that millions of people now on the earth will be still on the earth in 1925. Then ... we must reach the positive and indisputable conclusion that millions now living will never die.”
The book's title claim is explicitly derived from the 1925 expectation.
Provenance and verification note for Millions Now Living Will Never Die, Concluding argument
Confidence note. Wording confirmed in scan OCR; page 97 is the standard citation (not read from a header). Page 97 is confirmed by the following "98" page header in the scan.
Scan provenance. Internet Archive (daveignatius); public domain.
Over the following years the date was stated more firmly, not less.
The physical facts show beyond question of a doubt that 1914 ended the Gentile times ... The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures because it is fixed by the law God gave to Israel.
Our thought is, that 1925 is definitely settled by the Scriptures, marking the end of the typical jubilees. Just exactly what will happen at that time no one can tell to a certainty; but we expect such a climax in the affairs of the world that the people will begin to realize the presence of the Lord and his kingdom power.
The year 1925 is a date definitely and clearly marked in the Scriptures, even more clearly than that of 1914; but it would be presumptuous on the part of any faithful follower of the Lord to assume just what the Lord is going to do during that year.
1 September 1922 · p.262 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“The physical facts show beyond question of a doubt that 1914 ended the Gentile times ... The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures because it is fixed by the law God gave to Israel.”
Adds that 'even before 1924 the great crisis will be reached and probably passed'.
15 July 1924 · p.211 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“The year 1925 is a date definitely and clearly marked in the Scriptures, even more clearly than that of 1914; but it would be presumptuous on the part of any faithful follower of the Lord to assume just what the Lord is going to do during that year.”
Preceded by 'Let no one now be deceived by calculations as to just when the Lord will cease his work with the Church on earth.'
In April 1923 the Society denied that travelling speakers had been told to stop talking about 1925 and stated: 'Our thought is, that 1925 is definitely settled by the Scriptures, marking the end of the typical jubilees.' Source: The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence, 1 April 1923
1 April 1923 · p.106 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“Our thought is, that 1925 is definitely settled by the Scriptures, marking the end of the typical jubilees. Just exactly what will happen at that time no one can tell to a certainty; but we expect such a climax in the affairs of the world that the people will begin to realize the presence of the Lord and his kingdom power.”
Denies that pilgrims were told to cease talking about 1925.
Provenance and verification note for The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence, Questions and answers (on reports that pilgrims were told to stop talking about 1925)
Confidence note. Issue header 'APRIL 1, 1923' and page markers 105/106 precede the passage in the scan OCR.
Scan provenance. Internet Archive upload by Veillez.org of the 1923 volume; public domain.
Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID.src-wt-1923-0401-p106-1925
The resurrection of the patriarchs, the heavenly change of the anointed and the end of the work. The 1975 Yearbook records that ‘the faithful men of old times—Abraham, David and others—had not been resurrected to become princes in the earth’, and that some ‘prepared for their own loved ones with expectancy of their resurrection’. A 1991 life story: ‘In 1924 the grown-ups talked a lot about 1925 … “If the Lord takes us away, what will become of our children?”’ Source: 1975 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, 1975Source: The Watchtower, 1 November 1991
Before and after, within a single year
1 January 1925
‘This may be accomplished. It may not be.’
The year 1925 is here. With great expectation Christians have looked forward to this year. Many have confidently expected that all members of the body of Christ will be changed to heavenly glory during the year. This may be accomplished. It may not be. ... Christians should not be so deeply concerned about what may transpire during this year
With the year begun, the magazine that had called 1925 ‘definitely settled’ now urged readers not to be ‘so deeply concerned about what may transpire during this year’.
1 September 1925
A ‘selfish’ expectation Satan would ‘inject’
The end of 1925 is about here. Some have expected to see the work of the church in the flesh completed this year. ... It is to be expected that Satan will try to inject into the minds of the consecrated the thought that 1925 should see an end of the work
By September the expectation that the work would end in 1925 was described as possibly reflecting ‘a measure of selfishness’, and as a thought that ‘Satan will try to inject into the minds of the consecrated’.
On 1 January 1925 The Watch Tower acknowledged that 'many have confidently expected that all members of the body of Christ will be changed to heavenly glory during the year', adding 'This may be accomplished. It may not be', and that Christians 'should not be so deeply concerned about what may transpire during this year'. Source: The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence, 1 January 1925
1 January 1925 · p.3 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“The year 1925 is here. With great expectation Christians have looked forward to this year. Many have confidently expected that all members of the body of Christ will be changed to heavenly glory during the year. This may be accomplished. It may not be. ... Christians should not be so deeply concerned about what may transpire during this year”
By September 1925 The Watch Tower described the expectation that the church's work would be completed that year as possibly reflecting 'a measure of selfishness', and warned that 'Satan will try to inject into the minds of the consecrated the thought that 1925 should see an end of the work'. Source: The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence, 1 September 1925
1 September 1925 · pp.259-262 · pars. 10, 25-26 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“The end of 1925 is about here. Some have expected to see the work of the church in the flesh completed this year. ... It is to be expected that Satan will try to inject into the minds of the consecrated the thought that 1925 should see an end of the work”
Reframes the 1925 expectation as partly 'selfish' and as a satanic temptation to negligence.
Again in 1925 many said: 'The ancient worthies have not returned; and some who seem to be saints are still on the earth: surely the Lord hath forgotten us.'
The organisation’s position or later explanation: Proclaimers p.633: 'They certainly did not err in believing that God would without fail do what he had promised. But some of their time calculations and the expectations that they associated with these gave rise to serious disappointments.'
15 August 1926 · p.246 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“Again in 1925 many said: 'The ancient worthies have not returned; and some who seem to be saints are still on the earth: surely the Lord hath forgotten us.'”
Compares the 1925 disappointment with the discouragement of 1918.
Provenance and verification note for The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence, (study article on Isaiah 49)
Confidence note. Page markers 246/247 bracket the passage in the OCR.
Scan provenance. Internet Archive single-issue scan (uploader Paul.bond.faith); public domain.
Notes. The separate 1926 statement 'Some anticipated that the work would end in 1925, but the Lord did not so state' (cited as w1926 p.232) was NOT located in any scan opened; unverified.
Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID.src-wt-1926-0815-p246-forgotten
1975 · p.146 · Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York
“The year 1925 came and went. Jesus' anointed followers were still on earth as a class. The faithful men of old times—Abraham, David and others—had not been resurrected to become princes in the earth. ... 'Instead of its being considered a "probability," they read into it that it was a "certainty," and some prepared for their own loved ones with expectancy of their resurrection.'”
Quotes Anna MacDonald: '1925 was a sad year for many brothers. Some of them were stumbled; their hopes were dashed.'
1993 · pp.631-633 · Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York
“This later led to the idea—sometimes stated as a possibility, sometimes more firmly—that since the seventh millennium of human history would begin in 1975, events associated with the beginning of Christ's Millennial Reign might start to take place then. ... some of their time calculations and the expectations that they associated with these gave rise to serious disappointments. Following 1925, meeting attendance dropped dramatically in some congregations in France and Switzerland. Again, in 1975, there was disappointment”
Adds that after 1975 'some withdrew from the organization. Others ... were disfellowshipped', and that 'the number who defected was relatively small'.
Provenance and verification note for Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom (jv), Chapter 28, Testing and Sifting From Within — 'Were Their Expectations Correct?'
Confidence note. Opened on wol; page marker 633 precedes the quoted sentences.
1980 · p.62 · Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York
“The book Millions Now Living Will Never Die had been widely used in the French field since 1921, and on the basis of its contents, much was expected of 1925. But when 1925 came and went without the anticipated happenings coming to pass, those on the outside who had read the book made fun of the brothers.”
Country history; adds that 1925 'sparked off even greater difficulties within the organization'.
1 November 1991 · p.26 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“In 1924 the grown-ups talked a lot about 1925. ... 'If the Lord takes us away, what will become of our children?' ... The year 1925 came and went, and nothing happened.”
The expectation did not end in 1925. On 24 December 1929 a deed, printed in The Golden Age the following March, conveyed a house in San Diego to the Society to hold ‘perpetually in trust’ for David, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, Joseph, Samuel and other faithful men of Hebrews 11, ‘as representatives of God’s kingdom on earth’. Salvation (1939) repeated the purpose. Source: The Golden Age, 19 March 1930Source: Salvation (book), 1939
the said WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY shall hold said title perpetually in trust for the use of any or all of the men above named as representatives of God's kingdom on earth ... Any persons appearing to take possession of said premises shall first prove and identify themselves ... as the person or persons described in Hebrews chapter eleven
The title to Beth-Sarim is vested in the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society in trust, to be used by the president of the Society and his assistants for the present, and thereafter to be for ever at the disposal of the aforementioned princes on the earth.
A deed dated 24 December 1929, published in The Golden Age of 19 March 1930, conveyed the San Diego house Beth-Sarim to J. F. Rutherford for life and then to the Watch Tower Society 'perpetually in trust' for David, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, Joseph, Samuel and 'other faithful men' of Hebrews 11, who were expected to return and take charge of earth's affairs; claimants were to 'prove and identify themselves' to the Society. Source: The Golden Age, 19 March 1930
The organisation’s position or later explanation: Proclaimers p.89: the house 'was built with funds that were a direct contribution for that purpose' and was sold a few years after Rutherford's death because it 'had fully served its purpose'.
19 March 1930 · pp.405-407 · R. J. Martin · Golden Age Publishing Co. / Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“the said WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY shall hold said title perpetually in trust for the use of any or all of the men above named as representatives of God's kingdom on earth ... Any persons appearing to take possession of said premises shall first prove and identify themselves ... as the person or persons described in Hebrews chapter eleven”
Deed dated 24 December 1929 names David, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, Joseph and Samuel as expected occupants; Martin adds that 'when David and Joseph or some of the other ancient worthies return they will have it'.
Provenance and verification note for The Golden Age, (defence of Rutherford and publication of the Beth-Sarim deed) by R. J. Martin
Confidence note. Page numbers 406 and 407 and 'March 19, 1930' header visible in the OCR; deed text read in full.
Scan provenance. Internet Archive (daveignatius) scan of the issue. Copyright status: 1930 US periodical, likely public domain if not renewed; quote kept short.
Salvation (1939) stated that Beth-Sarim's title was held 'in trust... thereafter to be for ever at the disposal of the aforementioned princes on the earth', and that the house was built as 'tangible proof' of belief that the faithful men of old 'will soon be resurrected'. Source: Salvation (book), 1939
The organisation’s position or later explanation: The Watchtower 15 Dec 1947 (as quoted in Proclaimers p.89): faith in the princes' return 'is based, not upon that house Beth-Sarim, but upon God's Word of promise'.
1939 · pp.311-312 · J. F. Rutherford · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“The title to Beth-Sarim is vested in the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society in trust, to be used by the president of the Society and his assistants for the present, and thereafter to be for ever at the disposal of the aforementioned princes on the earth.”
Also says the house was built 'as a testimony to the name of Jehovah' and that 'if and when the princes do return and some of them occupy the property, such will be a confirmation of the faith'.
Provenance and verification note for Salvation (book), Chapter: God's Government, section 'Beth-Sarim'
Confidence note. Page markers 311/312 bracket the passage in the OCR.
Scan provenance. Internet Archive (daveignatius) scan; a library lending copy also exists (salvation0000jfru). Copyright: 1939 US book; short quotation only.
The house was sold after 1947. The organisation’s history quotes The Watchtower of 15 December 1947: it ‘had fully served its purpose and was now only serving as a monument quite expensive to keep; our faith in the return of the men of old time … is based, not upon that house Beth-Sarim, but upon God’s Word of promise.’ Source: Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom (jv), 1993
How the organisation later described 1925
The 1993 history: ‘The year 1925 came and went. Some abandoned their hope.’ The 1975 Yearbook: ‘Instead of its being considered a “probability,” they read into it that it was a “certainty.”’ In 1984 a Governing Body member, Karl Klein, recorded in a published life story that Rutherford, ‘regarding his misguided statements as to what we could expect in 1925 … once confessed to us at Bethel, “I made an ass of myself.”’ That is a reported oral remark, published by the organisation; it is not a Rutherford publication. Source: Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom (jv), 1993Source: The Watchtower, 1 October 1984
Organisation's explanation · 1 October 1984Verified
A 1984 Watchtower life story by Governing Body member Karl Klein reports that Rutherford, 'regarding his misguided statements as to what we could expect in 1925', once said at Bethel, 'I made an ass of myself.' Source: The Watchtower, 1 October 1984
The organisation’s position or later explanation: This is itself an official publication's account.
1 October 1984 · pp.24 (footnote b; the online library prints footnotes after the last page marker) · footnote b · Karl F. Klein · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“Regarding his misguided statements as to what we could expect in 1925, he once confessed to us at Bethel, 'I made an ass of myself.'”
Footnote to Klein's recollection of J. F. Rutherford; a Governing Body member's published account.
Provenance and verification note for The Watchtower, 'Jehovah Has Dealt Rewardingly With Me' (life story of Karl F. Klein)
Confidence note. Opened on wol; the footnote text sits under page marker 28. The common citation 'p. 24' is where the footnote reference is usually placed in the print edition; page not independently confirmed as 24.
Notes. It is a recollection of an oral remark, reported in an official publication; present it as such.
Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID.src-w-1984-1001-p24-28-ass-of-myself
“Members read certainty into a probability.” The organisation’s explanation. The 1923 and 1924 texts above used ‘definitely settled’ and ‘definitely and clearly marked’, and in 1923 the Society denied that speakers had been told to stop talking about 1925. Source: The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence, 1 April 1923
“Disclaimers were published too.” True: the July 1924 statement said it would be ‘presumptuous’ to assume what the Lord would do that year, in the same sentence that called the date ‘definitely and clearly marked’. Both halves are quoted here. Source: The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence, 15 July 1924
Confidence. All 1920–1930 quotations were read in public-domain scans; the 1939 book in a library scan; the 1947 (as quoted in 1993), 1975, 1984 and 1993 items on the Watchtower Online Library. A 1926 sentence (‘the Lord did not so state’) and a 1959 book page often cited by critics could not be opened and are not used. Rating: explicit prediction.
Sources cited on this page
Show all 16 sources, in date order
Each opens a full record with links, provenance and a confidence note.
1920 · pp.88-90 · J. F. Rutherford · International Bible Students Association
“we may expect 1925 to witness the return of these faithful men of Israel from the condition of death, being resurrected and fully restored to perfect humanity ... Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old”
1920 · p.97 · J. F. Rutherford · International Bible Students Association
“that 1925 shall mark the resurrection of the faithful worthies of old and the beginning of reconstruction, it is reasonable to conclude that millions of people now on the earth will be still on the earth in 1925. Then ... we must reach the positive and indisputable conclusion that millions now living will never die.”
1 September 1922 · p.262 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“The physical facts show beyond question of a doubt that 1914 ended the Gentile times ... The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures because it is fixed by the law God gave to Israel.”
1 April 1923 · p.106 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“Our thought is, that 1925 is definitely settled by the Scriptures, marking the end of the typical jubilees. Just exactly what will happen at that time no one can tell to a certainty; but we expect such a climax in the affairs of the world that the people will begin to realize the presence of the Lord and his kingdom power.”
15 July 1924 · p.211 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“The year 1925 is a date definitely and clearly marked in the Scriptures, even more clearly than that of 1914; but it would be presumptuous on the part of any faithful follower of the Lord to assume just what the Lord is going to do during that year.”
1 January 1925 · p.3 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“The year 1925 is here. With great expectation Christians have looked forward to this year. Many have confidently expected that all members of the body of Christ will be changed to heavenly glory during the year. This may be accomplished. It may not be. ... Christians should not be so deeply concerned about what may transpire during this year”
1 September 1925 · pp.259-262 · pars. 10, 25-26 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“The end of 1925 is about here. Some have expected to see the work of the church in the flesh completed this year. ... It is to be expected that Satan will try to inject into the minds of the consecrated the thought that 1925 should see an end of the work”
15 August 1926 · p.246 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“Again in 1925 many said: 'The ancient worthies have not returned; and some who seem to be saints are still on the earth: surely the Lord hath forgotten us.'”
19 March 1930 · pp.405-407 · R. J. Martin · Golden Age Publishing Co. / Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“the said WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY shall hold said title perpetually in trust for the use of any or all of the men above named as representatives of God's kingdom on earth ... Any persons appearing to take possession of said premises shall first prove and identify themselves ... as the person or persons described in Hebrews chapter eleven”
1939 · pp.311-312 · J. F. Rutherford · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“The title to Beth-Sarim is vested in the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society in trust, to be used by the president of the Society and his assistants for the present, and thereafter to be for ever at the disposal of the aforementioned princes on the earth.”
1975 · p.146 · Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York
“The year 1925 came and went. Jesus' anointed followers were still on earth as a class. The faithful men of old times—Abraham, David and others—had not been resurrected to become princes in the earth. ... 'Instead of its being considered a "probability," they read into it that it was a "certainty," and some prepared for their own loved ones with expectancy of their resurrection.'”
1980 · p.62 · Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York
“The book Millions Now Living Will Never Die had been widely used in the French field since 1921, and on the basis of its contents, much was expected of 1925. But when 1925 came and went without the anticipated happenings coming to pass, those on the outside who had read the book made fun of the brothers.”
1 October 1984 · pp.24 (footnote b; the online library prints footnotes after the last page marker) · footnote b · Karl F. Klein · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“Regarding his misguided statements as to what we could expect in 1925, he once confessed to us at Bethel, 'I made an ass of myself.'”
1 November 1991 · p.26 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“In 1924 the grown-ups talked a lot about 1925. ... 'If the Lord takes us away, what will become of our children?' ... The year 1925 came and went, and nothing happened.”
1993 · p.78 · Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York
“'We may confidently expect,' stated the booklet Millions Now Living Will Never Die, back in 1920, 'that 1925 will mark the return [from the dead] of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old' ... The year 1925 came and went. Some abandoned their hope.”
1993 · p.89 · footnotes · Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York
“A few years after Brother Rutherford's death, the board of directors of the Watch Tower Society decided to sell Beth-Sarim. Why? 'The Watchtower' of December 15, 1947, explained: 'It had fully served its purpose and was now only serving as a monument quite expensive to keep'”