Predictions and dates1960s1970s1980s1990sEvidence collection
Φάκελος τεκμηρίων · ισχυρός υπαινιγμός
1975
Η οργάνωση δεν τύπωσε «ο Αρμαγεδδών θα έρθει το 1975». Αυτό που τύπωσε, επί εννέα χρόνια, ήταν μια χρονολόγηση που κατέληγε στο φθινόπωρο του 1975, επανειλημμένα ερωτήματα για το αν το τέλος θα ακολουθούσε αμέσως, μια απάντηση περί «εβδομάδων ή μηνών, όχι ετών», και επαίνους για μέλη που εγκατέλειψαν τα σπίτια τους για «τον λίγο καιρό που απομένει».
Τελευταίος έλεγχος 19 Σεπτεμβρίου 2026
Τι υπαινίχθηκε έντονα
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) said that '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.', and that it would be 'appropriate' for God to make that seventh millennium 'a sabbath period of rest and release'. Source: Life Everlasting—in Freedom of the Sons of God (book), 1966Source: The Watchtower, 15 Απριλίου 1967
Η θέση της οργάνωσης ή η μεταγενέστερη εξήγησή της: The Watchtower 15 March 1980 p.17: the book's comments meant 'considerable expectation was aroused regarding the year 1975'; Proclaimers p.104 reports F. W. Franz telling a 1966 convention '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.
Σημείωση προέλευσης και επαλήθευσης for Life Everlasting—in Freedom of the Sons of God (book), Chapter 1, pars. 41-43
Σημείωση αξιοπιστίας.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.
Προέλευση της σάρωσης.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 Απριλίου 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.
Ισχυρός υπαινιγμός · 15 Αυγούστου 1968Επαληθευμένο
The Watchtower of 15 August 1968 ('Why Are You Looking Forward to 1975?') asked whether Armageddon 'will be all over by the autumn of 1975' and answered 'Possibly', saying any gap between the end of 6,000 years and Christ's reign 'may involve only a difference of weeks or months, not years'. Source: The Watchtower, 15 Αυγούστου 1968
Η θέση της οργάνωσης ή η μεταγενέστερη εξήγησή της: The Watchtower 15 March 1980 p.17 admitted that some statements 'implied that such realization of hopes by that year was more of a probability than a mere possibility' and that these 'overshadowed the cautionary ones'.
15 Αυγούστου 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.'
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 Οκτωβρίου 1968
Awake! of 8 October 1968 ('What Will the 1970's Bring?') said the 6,000 years 'will evidently finish in the autumn of the year 1975', that 'no man can say' this positively points to 1975 as the end, but that 'the 1970's will certainly see the most critical times mankind has yet known' and that divine intervention in the 1970s 'should surely not surprise us'. Source: Awake!, 8 Οκτωβρίου 1968
Η θέση της οργάνωσης ή η μεταγενέστερη εξήγησή της: Covered by the general 1980 acknowledgement.
8 Οκτωβρίου 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.
Σημείωση προέλευσης και επαλήθευσης for Awake!, What Will the 1970's Bring?
Σημείωση αξιοπιστίας.Scan OCR opened; issue header and page markers 13, 14, 15 confirmed around the passage.
Προέλευση της σάρωσης.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.
The Watchtower of 1 May 1968 calculated the autumn of 1975 as 'fully 6,000 years into God's seventh day' and, asked whether 1975 'will bring the battle of Armageddon', answered 'No one can say with certainty what any particular year will bring' — while urging readers to treat the old system as 'a sinking ship'. Source: The Watchtower, 1 Μαΐου 1968
Η θέση της οργάνωσης ή η μεταγενέστερη εξήγησή της: Proclaimers p.104 fn. h cites this article as one of the cautionary ones.
1 Μαΐου 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'.
Σημείωση προέλευσης και επαλήθευσης for The Watchtower, Making Wise Use of the Remaining Time
Σημείωση αξιοπιστίας.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.
Awake! of 22 May 1969 told young readers: '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', and that 'as a young person, you will never fulfill any career that this system offers', discouraging plans for college. Source: Awake!, 22 Μαΐου 1969
22 Μαΐου 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.
Σημείωση προέλευσης και επαλήθευσης for Awake!, What Future for the Young? (article addressed to young people)
Σημείωση αξιοπιστίας.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.
Προέλευση της σάρωσης.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).
Ημερομηνία πρόσβασης. 19 Σεπτεμβρίου 2026 · Αναγνωριστικό πηγής.src-g-1969-0522-p13-15-never-grow-old
Kingdom Ministry of May 1974 reported 'brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service' and called this 'a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world's end'. Source: Kingdom Ministry, Μαΐου 1974
Η θέση της οργάνωσης ή η μεταγενέστερη εξήγησή της: The Watchtower 15 July 1976 p.441: 'it is not advisable for us to set our sights on a certain date, neglecting everyday things'.
Μαΐου 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 Οκτωβρίου 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
The autumn of 1975 passed without Armageddon; The Watchtower of 1 October 1975 marked that 'mankind then completed 6,000 years of existence on earth' and asked 'Why Delay?'. Source: The Watchtower, 1 Οκτωβρίου 1975
Η θέση της οργάνωσης ή η μεταγενέστερη εξήγησή της: Proclaimers p.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 Οκτωβρίου 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?'.
Η θέση της οργάνωσης ή η μεταγενέστερη εξήγησή της: The yearbooks attribute the decline to 'various factors' and to some not reporting each month; Proclaimers p.633 says '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.
Η πρώτη απάντηση απέδωσε την ευθύνη στο άτομο: ‘it was not the word of God that failed or deceived him and brought disappointment, but … his own understanding was based on wrong premises.’
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
Τέσσερα χρόνια αργότερα η οργάνωση αναγνώρισε ότι ‘there were other statements published that implied that such realization of hopes by that year was more of a probability than a mere possibility’, και ότι αυτές ‘apparently overshadowed the cautionary ones’.
Εξήγηση της οργάνωσης · 15 Ιουλίου 1976Επαληθευμένο
The first official response, in July 1976, told anyone 'disappointed' to adjust 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'. Source: The Watchtower, 15 Ιουλίου 1976
Η θέση της οργάνωσης ή η μεταγενέστερη εξήγησή της: This is the organisation's explanation; it places the error with the individual's understanding.
15 Ιουλίου 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'.
Εξήγηση της οργάνωσης · 15 Μαρτίου 1980Επαληθευμένο
In March 1980 The Watchtower acknowledged that, alongside cautionary statements, '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 Μαρτίου 1980
Η θέση της οργάνωσης ή η μεταγενέστερη εξήγησή της: Proclaimers p.633 repeats the substance: the idea was 'sometimes stated as a possibility, sometimes more firmly'.
15 Μαρτίου 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 Αυγούστου 1968Source: The Watchtower, 15 Μαρτίου 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 Μαΐου 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, Μαΐου 1974
Αξιοπιστία. Τα περιοδικά του 1967–1980, η Διακονία της Βασιλείας και τα Βιβλία Έτους διαβάστηκαν στη Watchtower Online Library, με τους αριθμούς σελίδων να λαμβάνονται από τους δείκτες σελίδας της. Το Life Everlasting (1966) διαβάστηκε από ανεπίσημο αντίτυπο αρχείου και επιβεβαιώνεται από τις ίδιες τις περιγραφές του από την οργάνωση το 1980 και το 1993. Μια πρόταση που συχνά αποδίδεται στη Σκοπιά της 1ης Μαΐου 1968 (‘within a few years at most…’) δεν υπάρχει σε εκείνο το άρθρο και δεν χρησιμοποιείται. Αξιολόγηση: ισχυρός υπαινιγμός, που αναγνωρίστηκε από την οργάνωση το 1980.
Πηγές που παρατίθενται σε αυτή τη σελίδα
Show all 16 sources, in date order
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 Απριλίου 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 Μαΐου 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 Αυγούστου 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 Οκτωβρίου 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 Μαΐου 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.”
Μαΐου 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 Οκτωβρίου 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 Ιουλίου 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 Μαρτίου 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.'”