Predictions and dates1960s1970s1980s1990sEvidence collection
Belegsammlung · starke Andeutung
1975
Die Organisation druckte nicht „Harmagedon wird 1975 kommen“. Was sie über neun Jahre hinweg druckte, war eine Chronologie, die im Herbst 1975 endete, wiederholte Fragen, ob das Ende sogleich folgen werde, eine Antwort von „Wochen oder Monaten, nicht Jahren“ und Lob für Mitglieder, die ihr Zuhause für „die kurze verbleibende Zeit“ aufgaben.
Zuletzt geprüft am 19. September 2026
Was stark angedeutet wurde
According to this trustworthy Bible chronology six thousand years from man's creation will end in 1975, and the seventh period of a thousand years of human history will begin in the fall of 1975 C.E. ... How appropriate it would be for Jehovah God to make of this coming seventh period of a thousand years a sabbath period of rest and release, a great Jubilee sabbath
The same chapter asked: ‘How appropriate it would be for Jehovah God to make of this coming seventh period of a thousand years a sabbath period of rest and release, a great Jubilee sabbath’. At a 1966 convention F. W. Franz was asked whether this meant Armageddon by 1975 and answered, as the 1993 history reports it ‘in essence’, ‘It could. But we are not saying … Time is short.’Source: Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom (jv), 1993
Life Everlasting—in Freedom of the Sons of God (1966) sagte, 'six thousand years from man's creation will end in 1975, and the seventh period of a thousand years of human history will begin in the fall of 1975 C.E.', und es wäre 'appropriate', wenn Gott dieses siebte Jahrtausend zu 'a sabbath period of rest and release' machen würde. Source: Life Everlasting—in Freedom of the Sons of God (book), 1966Source: The Watchtower, 15. April 1967
Die Position der Organisation oder ihre spätere Erklärung: Der Wachtturm vom 15. März 1980, S. 17: Die Ausführungen des Buches bedeuteten, dass 'considerable expectation was aroused regarding the year 1975'; Verkündiger des Königreiches Gottes, S. 104, berichtet, F. W. Franz habe auf einem Kongress 1966 gesagt: 'It could. But we are not saying'.
1966 · pp.29-30 · pars. 41-43 · Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York
“According to this trustworthy Bible chronology six thousand years from man's creation will end in 1975, and the seventh period of a thousand years of human history will begin in the fall of 1975 C.E. ... How appropriate it would be for Jehovah God to make of this coming seventh period of a thousand years a sabbath period of rest and release, a great Jubilee sabbath”
Paragraph 42 adds 'six thousand years of man's existence on earth will soon be up, yes, within this generation'. The 'how appropriate' sentence is par. 43 on p. 30 (not p. 35 as sometimes cited); the p. 35 chart was not checked.
Hinweis zu Herkunft und Überprüfung for Life Everlasting—in Freedom of the Sons of God (book), Chapter 1, pars. 41-43
Hinweis zur Vertrauensangabe.Scan opened and page header '30 LIFE EVERLASTING' confirmed; host is unofficial, so cite alongside w1980 3/15 p.17 and jv p.104, which quote/describe the book.
Herkunft des Scans.Unofficial archive (Watchtower Wayback) OCR'd PDF of the 1966 book (Acrobat paper-capture, 2008). Lending copies also exist on archive.org (lifeeverlastingi00watc) but are access-restricted. Copyright 1966; short quotation only.
15. April 1967 · p.236 · par. 25 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“According to a more recent calculation of the Bible timetable, six thousand years of man's existence will end in the latter half of the year 1975, which is well within this century. The Bible millennium is ahead of us”
Contrasts Ussher's 1996 date with the Society's 1975 calculation.
Are we to assume from this study that the battle of Armageddon will be all over by the autumn of 1975, and the long-looked-for thousand-year reign of Christ will begin by then? Possibly, but we wait to see how closely the seventh thousand-year period of man's existence coincides with the sabbathlike thousand-year reign of Christ.
Our chronology, however, which is reasonably accurate (but admittedly not infallible), at the best only points to the autumn of 1975 as the end of 6,000 years of man’s existence on earth. It does not necessarily mean that 1975 marks the end of the first 6,000 years of Jehovah’s seventh creative “day.” … It may involve only a difference of weeks or months, not years.
Der Wachtturm vom 15. August 1968 ('Why Are You Looking Forward to 1975?') fragte, ob Harmagedon 'will be all over by the autumn of 1975', und antwortete 'Possibly'; ein etwaiger Abstand zwischen dem Ende der 6000 Jahre und der Herrschaft Christi 'may involve only a difference of weeks or months, not years'. Source: The Watchtower, 15. August 1968
Die Position der Organisation oder ihre spätere Erklärung: Der Wachtturm vom 15. März 1980, S. 17, räumte ein, dass manche Aussagen 'implied that such realization of hopes by that year was more of a probability than a mere possibility' und dass diese Aussagen die mahnenden in den Schatten stellten ('overshadowed the cautionary ones').
15. August 1968 · pp.494-501 · pars. 29-30, 37 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“Are we to assume from this study that the battle of Armageddon will be all over by the autumn of 1975, and the long-looked-for thousand-year reign of Christ will begin by then? Possibly, but we wait to see how closely the seventh thousand-year period of man's existence coincides with the sabbathlike thousand-year reign of Christ.”
The same paragraph (30) continues: 'Our chronology, however, which is reasonably accurate (but admittedly not infallible), at the best only points to the autumn of 1975 as the end of 6,000 years of man's existence on earth. It does not necessarily mean that 1975 marks the end of the first 6,000 years of Jehovah's seventh creative "day." ... It may involve only a difference of weeks or months, not years.' Par. 29: 'in the fall of the year 1975 ... it will be 6,000 years since the creation of Adam'. Par. 37: 'They have not dedicated their lives to serve Jehovah only until 1975.'
Hinweis zu Herkunft und Überprüfung for The Watchtower, Why Are You Looking Forward to 1975?
Hinweis zur Vertrauensangabe.Opened on wol; the 'weeks or months' and 'all over by the autumn of 1975' sentences are on p. 499; 'only until 1975' on p. 501.
Two months later Awake! asked ‘What Will the 1970’s Bring?’ and answered that the six thousand years ‘will evidently finish in the autumn of the year 1975’ and that ‘the 1970’s will certainly see the most critical times mankind has yet known’.Source: Awake!, 8. Oktober 1968
Erwachet! vom 8. Oktober 1968 ('What Will the 1970's Bring?') sagte, die 6000 Jahre 'will evidently finish in the autumn of the year 1975', dass 'no man can say', ob dies mit Bestimmtheit auf 1975 als das Ende hinweise, dass aber 'the 1970's will certainly see the most critical times mankind has yet known' und dass ein göttliches Eingreifen in den 1970er Jahren 'should surely not surprise us'. Source: Awake!, 8. Oktober 1968
Die Position der Organisation oder ihre spätere Erklärung: Durch das allgemeine Eingeständnis von 1980 abgedeckt.
8. Oktober 1968 · pp.13-15 · Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York
“That seven-year period will evidently finish in the autumn of the year 1975. Does this mean that the above evidence positively points to 1975 as the time for the complete end of this system of things? Since the Bible does not specifically state this, no man can say. However, of this we can be sure: The 1970's will certainly see the most critical times mankind has yet known.”
Sub-heading 'When Do 6,000 Years End?'; adds 'If the 1970's should see intervention by Jehovah God ... that should surely not surprise us.' Awake! before 1970 is not on wol.jw.org.
Hinweis zu Herkunft und Überprüfung for Awake!, What Will the 1970's Bring?
Hinweis zur Vertrauensangabe.Scan OCR opened; issue header and page markers 13, 14, 15 confirmed around the passage.
Herkunft des Scans.Internet Archive (daveignatius) compilation of scans from three Awake! issues; page headers 'OCTOBER 8, 1968' and page numbers 13-15 visible. Copyright 1968; short quotation only.
Der Wachtturm vom 1. Mai 1968 berechnete den Herbst 1975 als 'fully 6,000 years into God's seventh day' und antwortete auf die Frage, ob 1975 'will bring the battle of Armageddon': 'No one can say with certainty what any particular year will bring' — während er die Leser aufforderte, das alte System als 'a sinking ship' zu betrachten. Source: The Watchtower, 1. Mai 1968
Die Position der Organisation oder ihre spätere Erklärung: Verkündiger des Königreiches Gottes, S. 104, Fußnote h, führt diesen Artikel als einen der zur Vorsicht mahnenden an.
1. Mai 1968 · pp.271-273 · pars. 5, 8 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“Eight years from the autumn of 1967 would bring us to the autumn of 1975, fully 6,000 years into God's seventh day, his rest day. ... Does this mean that the year 1975 will bring the battle of Armageddon? No one can say with certainty what any particular year will bring.”
Cautionary sentence sits inside an article urging readers to treat the old system as 'a sinking ship'.
Hinweis zu Herkunft und Überprüfung for The Watchtower, Making Wise Use of the Remaining Time
Hinweis zur Vertrauensangabe.Opened on wol; page markers 271 and 272/273 confirmed. The wording 'within a few years at most the final parts of Bible prophecy...' attributed by some discovery sites to pp.272-273 was not found in this article.
If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things. Why not? Because all the evidence in fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years. ... Therefore, as a young person, you will never fulfill any career that this system offers.
Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world's end.
Erwachet! vom 22. Mai 1969 sagte jungen Lesern: 'you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things... this corrupt system is due to end in a few years' und 'as a young person, you will never fulfill any career that this system offers', und riet damit von Plänen für ein Studium ab. Source: Awake!, 22. Mai 1969
22. Mai 1969 · pp.13-14 · Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York
“If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things. Why not? Because all the evidence in fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years. ... Therefore, as a young person, you will never fulfill any career that this system offers.”
Ties the statement to 'the generation that observed the beginning of the "last days" in 1914' and advises against planning for college.
Hinweis zu Herkunft und Überprüfung for Awake!, What Future for the Young? (article addressed to young people)
Hinweis zur Vertrauensangabe.Wording confirmed in an excerpt scan of pp. 13-14 only; the passage lies within it. The article title is not visible in the excerpt and is taken from secondary citations; the passage is often cited as p. 15, which the scan does not support.
Herkunft des Scans.Internet Archive excerpt scan labelled 'pages 13-14' (uploader Paul.bond.faith). Copyright 1969; short quotation only.
Notes.Not on wol.jw.org (Awake! coverage starts 1970).
Abgerufen. 19. September 2026 · Quellenkennung.src-g-1969-0522-p13-15-never-grow-old
Der Königreichsdienst vom Mai 1974 berichtete von 'brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service' und nannte dies 'a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world's end'. Source: Kingdom Ministry, Mai 1974
Die Position der Organisation oder ihre spätere Erklärung: Der Wachtturm vom 15. Juli 1976, S. 441: 'it is not advisable for us to set our sights on a certain date, neglecting everyday things'.
Mai 1974 · p.3 · Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York
“Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world's end.”
Reports a US peak of 20,394 pioneers and asks readers whether they can adjust their affairs to pioneer.
The autumn of 1975 passed. The Watchtower of 1 October 1975 recorded that ‘mankind then completed 6,000 years of existence on earth’, in an issue that also carried an article titled ‘Why Delay?’.Source: The Watchtower, 1. Oktober 1975The organisation’s own statistics, in its own definitions, then fell for two years.
Worldwide peak publishers by service year, 1975 to 1978 (the organisation’s own figures and wording)
The 1980 Yearbook reports increases in 1979 ‘though not large’ in lands such as the United States and Great Britain, and an upswing in Nigeria and the Philippines ‘after a few years of decreases in the number of Witnesses in these lands’; it gives no worldwide figure in its narrative.Source: 1980 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, 1980
The Yearbooks attribute the decrease to some who ‘did not share in giving a witness each month’ and ‘others became inactive’; the 1993 history says that ‘in 1975, there was disappointment … As a result, some withdrew from the organization’, while calling the number ‘relatively small’. We state the figures and the organisation’s explanation; we do not assign a cause.Source: 1979 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, 1979Source: Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom (jv), 1993
Der Herbst 1975 verging ohne Harmagedon; Der Wachtturm vom 1. Oktober 1975 hielt fest, dass 'mankind then completed 6,000 years of existence on earth', und fragte 'Why Delay?'. Source: The Watchtower, 1. Oktober 1975
Die Position der Organisation oder ihre spätere Erklärung: Verkündiger des Königreiches Gottes, S. 633: 'in 1975, there was disappointment when expectations regarding the start of the Millennium failed to materialize. As a result, some withdrew from the organization.'
1. Oktober 1975 · p.579 · par. 1 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“Since a new Jewish lunar year began in September 1975 a significant point in human history was reached. What was that? According to the Bible's count of time, mankind then completed 6,000 years of existence on earth.”
Published as the autumn of 1975 arrived; the issue also carries 'Why Delay?'.
Die Position der Organisation oder ihre spätere Erklärung: Die Jahrbücher führen den Rückgang auf 'various factors' zurück und darauf, dass manche nicht jeden Monat berichteten; Verkündiger des Königreiches Gottes, S. 633, sagt, 'the number who defected was relatively small'.
1977 · p.23 · Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York
“This year there was a peak of 2,248,390 Kingdom publishers ... In 1975 the peak was 2,179,256. ... the hours were fewer, namely, 359,258,019 hours, to compare with 382,296,208 ... There are not as many pioneer publishers as the year before—114,026 ... to compare with 130,225”
Notes 'some 16,000 fewer pioneers' and that 'some publishers ... did not spend as much time in the field service as formerly'.
1979 · p.23 · Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York
“There has been an overall 1.4-percent decrease in the number of Kingdom publishers. ... there were 2,086,698, on the average, who shared in making known the 'good news' compared with 2,117,194 the year before. The peak number of publishers came to 2,182,341, which is also below that of last year.”
Adds: 'a number did not share in giving a witness each month, and others became inactive.'
1980 · pp.11-12 · Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York
“After a few years of decreases in the number of Witnesses in these lands, recent months have seen a definite upswing. ... It was also happifying to see increases this year, though not large, in such lands as the United States and Great Britain.”
The sentence concerns Nigeria and the Philippines ('the reports from such lands as Nigeria and the Philippines. After a few years of decreases in the number of Witnesses in these lands, recent months have seen a definite upswing'), and the following sentence concerns the United States and Great Britain; it is not a worldwide statement and the narrative gives no worldwide peak figure.
If anyone has been disappointed through not following this line of thought, he should now concentrate on adjusting his viewpoint, seeing that it was not the word of God that failed or deceived him and brought disappointment, but that his own understanding was based on wrong premises.
Die erste Reaktion legte die Verantwortung auf den Einzelnen: „Es war nicht das Wort Gottes, das versagte oder ihn täuschte und ihm Enttäuschung brachte, sondern … sein eigenes Verständnis beruhte auf falschen Voraussetzungen.“
15 March 1980
‘It is to be regretted’
With the appearance of the book Life Everlasting—in Freedom of the Sons of God ... considerable expectation was aroused regarding the year 1975. ... there were other statements published that implied that such realization of hopes by that year was more of a probability than a mere possibility. It is to be regretted that these latter statements apparently overshadowed the cautionary ones
Vier Jahre später räumte die Organisation ein, es seien „andere Aussagen veröffentlicht worden, die nahelegten, dass eine solche Erfüllung der Hoffnungen bis zu jenem Jahr eher eine Wahrscheinlichkeit als eine bloße Möglichkeit sei“, und diese hätten die mahnenden Aussagen „offenbar überschattet“.
Die erste offizielle Reaktion vom Juli 1976 forderte jeden, der 'disappointed' war, auf, seine Sichtweise zu berichtigen, 'seeing that it was not the word of God that failed or deceived him and brought disappointment, but that his own understanding was based on wrong premises'. Source: The Watchtower, 15. Juli 1976
Die Position der Organisation oder ihre spätere Erklärung: Dies ist die Erklärung der Organisation; sie verortet den Fehler beim Verständnis des Einzelnen.
15. Juli 1976 · pp.440-441 · pars. 15-16 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“If anyone has been disappointed through not following this line of thought, he should now concentrate on adjusting his viewpoint, seeing that it was not the word of God that failed or deceived him and brought disappointment, but that his own understanding was based on wrong premises.”
Par. 16 addresses 'one who counted heavily on a date'.
Im März 1980 räumte Der Wachtturm ein, dass es neben den zur Vorsicht mahnenden Aussagen auch andere gab: 'there were other statements published that implied that such realization of hopes by that year was more of a probability than a mere possibility. It is to be regretted that these latter statements apparently overshadowed the cautionary ones.' Source: The Watchtower, 15. März 1980
Die Position der Organisation oder ihre spätere Erklärung: Verkündiger des Königreiches Gottes, S. 633, wiederholt den Kern: Der Gedanke sei 'sometimes stated as a possibility, sometimes more firmly' geäußert worden.
15. März 1980 · pp.17-18 · par. 5 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“With the appearance of the book Life Everlasting—in Freedom of the Sons of God ... considerable expectation was aroused regarding the year 1975. ... there were other statements published that implied that such realization of hopes by that year was more of a probability than a mere possibility. It is to be regretted that these latter statements apparently overshadowed the cautionary ones”
The organisation's fullest acknowledgement about 1975.
“The Society never said 1975.” It did not say ‘Armageddon in 1975’. It published the 1975 chronology in a book, at least four magazine articles and a Kingdom Ministry, asked in print whether Armageddon would be over by then, answered ‘possibly … weeks or months, not years’, and in 1980 conceded that published statements implied probability.Source: The Watchtower, 15. August 1968Source: The Watchtower, 15. März 1980
“Cautionary statements were published.” True, and quoted here (‘No one can say with certainty’, May 1968; Franz, 1966). The 1980 article itself says the cautionary statements were ‘overshadowed’.Source: The Watchtower, 1. Mai 1968
“Individual brothers speculated.” The May 1974 Kingdom Ministry, the organisation’s monthly bulletin for congregation meetings, praised members selling their homes as ‘a fine way to spend the short time remaining’.Source: Kingdom Ministry, Mai 1974
Vertrauensangabe. Die Zeitschriften der Jahre 1967–1980, Unser Königreichsdienst und die Jahrbücher wurden in der Wachtturm-Online-Bibliothek gelesen, die Seitenzahlen stammen aus deren Seitenmarkierungen. Life Everlasting (1966) wurde in einer inoffiziellen Archivkopie gelesen und wird durch die eigenen Beschreibungen der Organisation von 1980 und 1993 erhärtet. Ein Satz, der oft dem Wachtturm vom 1. Mai 1968 zugeschrieben wird („innerhalb von höchstens wenigen Jahren …“), steht nicht in jenem Artikel und wird nicht verwendet. Einstufung: starke Andeutung, von der Organisation 1980 eingeräumt.
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Each opens a full record with links, provenance and a confidence note.
1966 · pp.29-30 · pars. 41-43 · Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York
“According to this trustworthy Bible chronology six thousand years from man's creation will end in 1975, and the seventh period of a thousand years of human history will begin in the fall of 1975 C.E. ... How appropriate it would be for Jehovah God to make of this coming seventh period of a thousand years a sabbath period of rest and release, a great Jubilee sabbath”
15. April 1967 · p.236 · par. 25 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“According to a more recent calculation of the Bible timetable, six thousand years of man's existence will end in the latter half of the year 1975, which is well within this century. The Bible millennium is ahead of us”
1. Mai 1968 · pp.271-273 · pars. 5, 8 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“Eight years from the autumn of 1967 would bring us to the autumn of 1975, fully 6,000 years into God's seventh day, his rest day. ... Does this mean that the year 1975 will bring the battle of Armageddon? No one can say with certainty what any particular year will bring.”
15. August 1968 · pp.494-501 · pars. 29-30, 37 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“Are we to assume from this study that the battle of Armageddon will be all over by the autumn of 1975, and the long-looked-for thousand-year reign of Christ will begin by then? Possibly, but we wait to see how closely the seventh thousand-year period of man's existence coincides with the sabbathlike thousand-year reign of Christ.”
8. Oktober 1968 · pp.13-15 · Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York
“That seven-year period will evidently finish in the autumn of the year 1975. Does this mean that the above evidence positively points to 1975 as the time for the complete end of this system of things? Since the Bible does not specifically state this, no man can say. However, of this we can be sure: The 1970's will certainly see the most critical times mankind has yet known.”
22. Mai 1969 · pp.13-14 · Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York
“If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things. Why not? Because all the evidence in fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years. ... Therefore, as a young person, you will never fulfill any career that this system offers.”
Mai 1974 · p.3 · Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York
“Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world's end.”
1. Oktober 1975 · p.579 · par. 1 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“Since a new Jewish lunar year began in September 1975 a significant point in human history was reached. What was that? According to the Bible's count of time, mankind then completed 6,000 years of existence on earth.”
15. Juli 1976 · pp.440-441 · pars. 15-16 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“If anyone has been disappointed through not following this line of thought, he should now concentrate on adjusting his viewpoint, seeing that it was not the word of God that failed or deceived him and brought disappointment, but that his own understanding was based on wrong premises.”
1977 · p.23 · Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York
“This year there was a peak of 2,248,390 Kingdom publishers ... In 1975 the peak was 2,179,256. ... the hours were fewer, namely, 359,258,019 hours, to compare with 382,296,208 ... There are not as many pioneer publishers as the year before—114,026 ... to compare with 130,225”
1979 · p.23 · Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York
“There has been an overall 1.4-percent decrease in the number of Kingdom publishers. ... there were 2,086,698, on the average, who shared in making known the 'good news' compared with 2,117,194 the year before. The peak number of publishers came to 2,182,341, which is also below that of last year.”
1980 · pp.11-12 · Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York
“After a few years of decreases in the number of Witnesses in these lands, recent months have seen a definite upswing. ... It was also happifying to see increases this year, though not large, in such lands as the United States and Great Britain.”
15. März 1980 · pp.17-18 · par. 5 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“With the appearance of the book Life Everlasting—in Freedom of the Sons of God ... considerable expectation was aroused regarding the year 1975. ... there were other statements published that implied that such realization of hopes by that year was more of a probability than a mere possibility. It is to be regretted that these latter statements apparently overshadowed the cautionary ones”
1993 · p.104 · Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York
“The book Life Everlasting—In Freedom of the Sons of God, released ... in 1966, pointed to 1975. ... Brother Franz ... stated, in essence: 'It could. But we are not saying. All things are possible with God. But we are not saying. ... But the big point of it all is this, dear friends: Time is short.'”