Chapter 2 – The Gentile Times
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“Brother Russell…recognized that the year 1914 would mark the end of the Gentile Times… He urged others to check his writings carefully against God’s inspired Word so that they would be satisfied that what they were learning was in full harmony with it.”
– Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Kingdom Proclaimers –
On October 2nd, 1914, the Founder of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Charles Taze Russell, confidently strode into the Bethel dining hall and made the startling announcement to the headquarters staff: “The Gentile times have ended; their kings have had their day.” And what far-reaching effects that bold proclamation has had upon the modern movement of Jehovah’s Witnesses! Since that announcement almost 100 years ago, the faith of Jehovah’s Witnesses has been made to revolve around the core belief that Jesus Christ began ruling in his heavenly kingdom back in 1914. The Watchtower has since then sponsored the proclamation—“Jehovah himself has become king”!
Without question 1914 was a crucial strategic turning point in world history. Because by means of chronology the International Bible Students had already been anticipating earthshaking events to commence in 1914, the start of the First World War seemed to confirm their expectations. In fact, many of the Bible Students were certain Armageddon was then imminent. But was that date, now nearly a century in our past, “the most important date for all human c