Every Failed End-Time Prediction by the Watchtower—With Sources
4 min read
A Complete Chronological and Thematic Breakdown of the Watchtower’s Doomsday Timeline
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society—headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses—claims to be God’s exclusive channel on Earth. They often call themselves “the faithful and discreet slave” of Matthew 24:45 and have taught that Jehovah uses them alone to dispense spiritual truth and direction.
However, their credibility as God’s sole prophet is under serious question when we examine their history of repeatedly failed end-time predictions. These aren't vague suggestions or individual speculations—they were taught as truth from the platform, in literature, and door-to-door preaching.
As Deuteronomy 18:22 warns:
“When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD and the word does not come true, that is a word the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously.”
This post presents a full timeline of the Watchtower’s failed predictions, organized chronologically and thematically, with quotes from their own publications as primary sources.
Thematic Summary of Watchtower End-Time Failures
Theme Failed Predictions
Armageddon 1914, 1915, 1918, 1925, 1941, 1975, "Within our generation" (before 2000s)
Resurrection of the “Ancient Worthies” 1925
End of “This Generation” 1914 generation, 70–80 years (expired)
Christ’s Second Coming 1874 (invisible), then 1914
End of the World Multiple failed dates
Great Tribulation Tied to 1914, 1925, 1975, etc.
Chronological List of Failed Predictions (with Sources)
1. 1878 – Start of Christ’s Reign
Prediction: Christ began reigning in heaven in 1878
Source: Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 2 (1889), p. 239
“...the kingdom of God had its beginning in 1878.”
Reality: This date was later abandoned in favor of 1914.
2. 1874 – Invisible Return of Christ
Prediction: Jesus returned invisibly in 1874.
Source: The Time is At Hand (1907 edition), p. 101
“The Scriptures show that his second presence was due in 1874...”
Reality: After 1914 failed to deliver visible results, this doctrine was adjusted and eventually replaced with 1914 as the date of Jesus’ invisible return.
3. 1914 – Armageddon and the End of the World
Prediction: The end would come in 1914.
Source: The Time is At Hand (1908 edition), p. 101
“...the battle of the great day of God Almighty (Rev. 16:14), which will end in 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth’s present rulership…”
Reality: 1914 came and went with World War I, but not Armageddon. The organization later reinterpreted this date as the beginning of Christ’s invisible rule.
4. 1915 – End of the World (Revised)
Prediction: After 1914 failed, the end was moved to 1915.
Source: The Time is At Hand (later revisions)
“...the full end of the times of the Gentiles is not in 1914, but in 1915.”
Reality: Nothing significant occurred.
5. 1918 – Destruction of Churches and Millions Die
Prediction: Jehovah would destroy churches wholesale and punish Christendom.
Source: The Finished Mystery (1917), p. 485
“Also, in the year 1918, when God destroys the churches wholesale and the church members by millions…”
Reality: None of this happened.
6. 1925 – Resurrection of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
Prediction: Faithful men of old would be resurrected to rule from earth.
Source: Millions Now Living Will Never Die (1920), pp. 88–90
“Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets…”
Reality: In preparation, the Watchtower built a mansion in San Diego called Beth Sarim ("House of Princes") for their return. They never came.
7. 1941 – Children Book and Armageddon “Immediately”
Prediction: Armageddon would come so soon that young people should postpone marriage and careers.
Source: Children (1941), p. 366
“Receiving the gift [the book], the marching children clasped it to them... with full confidence... that the new world is at hand... and that they will never grow old.”
Reality: Those children are now elderly. Armageddon didn’t come.
8. 1975 – The End of 6,000 Years of Human History = Armageddon
Prediction: Strongly implied that 1975 could mark the end of the system of things.
Source: Life Everlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God (1966), p. 29
“...it would not be by mere chance or accident for the reign of Jesus Christ to run parallel with the seventh millennium of man's existence.”
Also Promoted in Talks and Magazines:
Awake! (Oct 8, 1968), p. 14: “Is it not logical to conclude that 1975 could well mark the beginning of the long-awaited Millennium?”
Reality: 1975 came and went. Many left the organization disillusioned. The Watchtower later offered a partial apology, blaming members for “reading too much into it.”
9. “This Generation” of 1914 Would Not Pass Away
Prediction: Those alive in 1914 would see the end.
Source: Awake! cover (Oct 22, 1968):
“Why Are You Looking Forward to 1975?”
Subhead: “God has kept the great crowd alive to see the fulfillment of all his promises.”
More Explicit:
Awake! (May 22, 1969), p. 15
“...the generation of people who saw the events of 1914 will not pass away until all things are fulfilled.”
Reality: That generation has passed. The doctrine has since been redefined repeatedly (“overlapping generations”).
The Shifting “Overlapping Generations” Doctrine
When the 1914 generation passed away, the Watchtower began redefining the word generation. It now includes two groups of anointed people whose lives overlap—a definition never found in Scripture and widely criticized for its vagueness.
Source: Watchtower (April 15, 2010), pp. 10–11
“The term ‘generation’ applies to two overlapping groups of anointed Christians…”
This doctrine was created to buy time and avoid admitting that the original prediction failed.
Key Bible Test: Deuteronomy 18:20–22
“But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak... that same prophet shall die...
And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?’
— when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously…”
By this biblical standard, the Watchtower fails the test of a true prophet.
Conclusion: Why This Matters
The Watchtower has repeatedly claimed to speak on behalf of Jehovah—and has repeatedly been wrong. These aren’t minor errors; they are central claims about the timing of Christ’s return, Armageddon, and salvation itself.
Millions have sold homes, delayed families, skipped education, and lived in fear because of these false predictions.
And when the predictions failed, the organization never took accountability. Instead, the burden was placed on the followers: “You misunderstood,” “We were overzealous,” “Jehovah is refining our understanding.”
But God’s Word says a true prophet is never wrong.
“God is not a man, that He should lie…” — Numbers 23:19
If you're questioning the Watchtower’s authority, you're not being disloyal to God—you’re being honest.
Sources Cited
Studies in the Scriptures series (Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society, 1889–1917)
The Time is At Hand (Charles Taze Russell, 1908)
The Finished Mystery (1917)
Millions Now Living Will Never Die (1920)
Children (1941)
Life Everlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God (1966)
Awake! and Watchtower magazine issues (various, 1960s–1990s)
Jehovah’s Witnesses' official website archives
Bible: ESV, NWT for comparative reference