1799 Makes the "Time of the End"
..it and returned to France on October 1, 1799. The campaign is briefly, yet graphically, described in the prophecy, verses 40 to 44 ; and being completed in 1799 marks, according to the prophet ’ s own words , the beginning of the “ time of the end ”. ( See Below.)
1799
“THE “Time of the End,” a period of one hundred and fifteen (115) years, from A.D. 1799 to A.D. 1914, is particularly marked in the Scriptures. “The Day of His Preparation” is another name given to the same period ” Studies in the Scriptures – Thy Kingdom Come p.23
Few Witnesses today are aware of the relevance of the year 1799, that this year is pivotal to the very existence of Jehovah’s Witnesses. 1799 was the beginning of ‘the time of the end’. This concept started the era of enlightenment and Adventist movement of the 1800’s, resulting in Russell’s end time belief system.
In 1796 George Bell explained that the Pope was the Antichrist and would fall in 1797. The war that started shortly afterwards along with Napoleon debasing the Pope was seen as evidence of the fulfilment of this. So dramatic was the effect of the apparent fulfilment of this prophecy that it started a general belief that the last days had started and led to the Adventist movement as a whole. The reasoning was related to Daniel’s prophecy of the King of the North and prophecies of the 1260 days in Daniel 7:25, Revelation 12:7 and 11:1-3.
Studies in the Scriptures Series II and Zion’s Watch Tower Jan-Feb 1889 discussed this as relating to the 1799 date.
Catholic Papal rule started in 539 A.D. and was said to have ended 1260 years later in 1799, thus starting the beginning of the time of the end. The prophecy of the 1355 days was similarly calculated to extend from 539 A.D. to 1874, another key date in Russell’s understanding of the end times. Although Russell did not get involved in the Adventist movement until the 1870’s he accepted this date as truth and felt that God had chosen him as his mouthpiece to preach the urgency of the times.
The reasoning was still held well after 1914.
“”The time of the end” embraces a period from 1799 A.D., as above indicated to the time of the complete overthrow of Satan’s empire and the establishment of the kingdom of the Messiah.” The Harp of God (1921) p.236
“Napoleon began this Egyptian campaign in 1798, finished it, and then returned to France on October 1, 1799. The campaign is briefly, yet graphically described in the prophecy, verses 40-44; and its being completed in 1799 marks, according to the prophet’s own words, the beginning of “the time of the end .Twelve hundred and sixty years from 539 A.D. brings us to 1799, which is another proof that 1799 definitely marks the beginning of “the time of the end.” This also shows that it is from the date 539 A.D. that the other prophetic days of Daniel must be counted.” Creation (1927) 2,175,000 ed. p.293
It is amusing to see the lengthy list of inventions The Harp of God used as proof that the 1800’s was the time of the end; cream separators, fireless cookers, Darkest Africa, shoe-sewing machines, the telegraph, the telephone, the great increase in knowledge and vacuum cleaners. The locomotive, where people could travel at a rate of 100 miles an hour and the ‘flying machine, which is a very modern invention’ were considered fulfilment of the ‘day of God’s preparation’ spoken of in Nahum 2:1-6.
“The running to and fro of people is without question a fulfilment of the prophecy testifying to the “time of the end”. These physical facts can not be disputed and are sufficient to convince any reasonable mind that we have been in “the time of the end” since 1799.”
Then as now, the Organization resorted to insult. Rutherford indicated above in The Harp of God that a person is not of ‘reasonable mind’ if they do not believe 1799 started the time of the end. Today if you do not believe that 1914 was the start of the end you are part of ‘the Antichrist’ and disfellowshipped.
In the Watchtower 1922 Mar 1 it is stated that;
“The indisputable facts, therefore, show that the “time of the end” began in 1799; that the Lord’s second presence began in 1874.”
“THE “Time of the End,” a period of one hundred and fifteen (115) years, from A.D. 1799 to A.D. 1914, is particularly marked in the Scriptures. “The Day of His Preparation” is another name given to the same period ” Studies in the Scriptures – Thy Kingdom Come p.23
Few Witnesses today are aware of the relevance of the year 1799, that this year is pivotal to the very existence of Jehovah’s Witnesses. 1799 was the beginning of ‘the time of the end’. This concept started the era of enlightenment and Adventist movement of the 1800’s, resulting in Russell’s end time belief system.
In 1796 George Bell explained that the Pope was the Antichrist and would fall in 1797. The war that started shortly afterwards along with Napoleon debasing the Pope was seen as evidence of the fulfilment of this. So dramatic was the effect of the apparent fulfilment of this prophecy that it started a general belief that the last days had started and led to the Adventist movement as a whole. The reasoning was related to Daniel’s prophecy of the King of the North and prophecies of the 1260 days in Daniel 7:25, Revelation 12:7 and 11:1-3.
Studies in the Scriptures Series II and Zion’s Watch Tower Jan-Feb 1889 discussed this as relating to the 1799 date.
Catholic Papal rule started in 539 A.D. and was said to have ended 1260 years later in 1799, thus starting the beginning of the time of the end. The prophecy of the 1355 days was similarly calculated to extend from 539 A.D. to 1874, another key date in Russell’s understanding of the end times. Although Russell did not get involved in the Adventist movement until the 1870’s he accepted this date as truth and felt that God had chosen him as his mouthpiece to preach the urgency of the times.
The reasoning was still held well after 1914.
“”The time of the end” embraces a period from 1799 A.D., as above indicated to the time of the complete overthrow of Satan’s empire and the establishment of the kingdom of the Messiah.” The Harp of God (1921) p.236
“Napoleon began this Egyptian campaign in 1798, finished it, and then returned to France on October 1, 1799. The campaign is briefly, yet graphically described in the prophecy, verses 40-44; and its being completed in 1799 marks, according to the prophet’s own words, the beginning of “the time of the end .Twelve hundred and sixty years from 539 A.D. brings us to 1799, which is another proof that 1799 definitely marks the beginning of “the time of the end.” This also shows that it is from the date 539 A.D. that the other prophetic days of Daniel must be counted.” Creation (1927) 2,175,000 ed. p.293
It is amusing to see the lengthy list of inventions The Harp of God used as proof that the 1800’s was the time of the end; cream separators, fireless cookers, Darkest Africa, shoe-sewing machines, the telegraph, the telephone, the great increase in knowledge and vacuum cleaners. The locomotive, where people could travel at a rate of 100 miles an hour and the ‘flying machine, which is a very modern invention’ were considered fulfilment of the ‘day of God’s preparation’ spoken of in Nahum 2:1-6.
“The running to and fro of people is without question a fulfilment of the prophecy testifying to the “time of the end”. These physical facts can not be disputed and are sufficient to convince any reasonable mind that we have been in “the time of the end” since 1799.”
Then as now, the Organization resorted to insult. Rutherford indicated above in The Harp of God that a person is not of ‘reasonable mind’ if they do not believe 1799 started the time of the end. Today if you do not believe that 1914 was the start of the end you are part of ‘the Antichrist’ and disfellowshipped.
In the Watchtower 1922 Mar 1 it is stated that;
“The indisputable facts, therefore, show that the “time of the end” began in 1799; that the Lord’s second presence began in 1874.”