What Really Happened (Back Then) With The False Teaching & Evil, Insidious Prediction Of 1975?

[Signet Ring Servant (Haggai 2:23)]

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Hi everyone,

I am Donald C. Burney Site Admin, "Abaddon (Rev. 9:11)" on Jehovah's Truth Discussion Board. I have had this discussion board since 2018.

I was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses on Saturday, May 18th, 1968 at the age of 15 at the Circuit Assembly in Starke, Florida, while in the 9th grade in school at Amos P. Godby High School, in Tallahassee, Florida.

PLEASE NOTE: The following videos (as shown below) should prove to be quite helpful to any who want to know more about the "inside details" and massive coverup concerning the insidious, evil, false teaching & prediction of 1975 among Jehovah's Witnesses . . . as told by those who lived through those years as baptized, dedicated active adult members of the Jehovah's Witnesses Organization.

First Let's Consider One Gigantic, Cold Indisputable Fact About The False Prediction & Insidious Teaching Of 1975, As Taught By The Watchtower Society's Leadership In The Mid-1960s Thru 1975 Or So . . . They Did It!!!

This wicked teaching of 1975 did NOT start or begin with the JW brotherhood, as taught or promoted by the Watchtower Society!

No, it did not.

Let's take this obvious, clear-cut example of what Jehovah's Witnesses' Leadership said openly about the date & teaching of 1975,

1975 V. P. Fred W. Franz Pubic Address . . . The Real Truth!
[The Actual Definitive Talk On 1975 That Removes All Doubt!]
(By Rockin' To A New Beat)

Talk given by Jehovah's Witness then Watchtower Society V. P. Fred Franz, in the year of 1975.

Talk given by Jehovah's Witness Fred Franz, Watchtower Society, regarding the year 1975. False prophesies. Actual recording Discusses how Bible chronology points to the year 1975. Franz later served as President of the Watch Tower Society from 1977-1992.

This video was released September 12th, 2022 by Rockin' To A New Beat on YouTube.

Here is the actual [audio] talk, given in 1975 by then, V.P. Fred Franz preserved for us on YouTube video:



Also, the following video shown below was released back in July 2025 by Kingdom Wisdom on YouTube.

This video provides detail information about the devastating effects upon the JW Organization after the 1975 Fred Franz Prophecy failed all Jehovah's Witnesses World Wide!

Here is the link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jI1U_wdv9c&t=10s

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[Signet Ring Servant (Haggai 2:23)]

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Watchtower Society Video Explains Who Is
The Real Blame For The False Expectations Of 1975 Teaching!

Here is the Video & Commentary by Susan Gaskin on the 1975 False Teaching & Prediction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xwvi2Jpd9KU

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[Signet Ring Servant (Haggai 2:23)]

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Another Factual Video On 1975 False Teaching

Here is the video by Info Hub: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGs300U2FQE&t=233s

See also this article on a related topic: http://www.jehovahstruth.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=47

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[HowlingWolf (2Chronicles 16:9)]

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A Close Comparison Of Two Distinct Paragraphs Written In The Watchtower magazines . . .

The July 15th, 1976 Watchtower magazine quote:

"But it is not advisable for us to set our sights on a certain date...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." -- See Watchtower 7/15/1976 p.441

At first, it looks like the Watchtower writers are placing the real blame upon the brothers in general, for the false expectations, and disappointments stemming from the false teaching of 1975.

But actually, they are not. At least not totally. There is someone else, someone who is very important in the eyes of the JW Brotherhood. Someone else, who is to blame, also.

It is then Watchtower Society V. P. Frederick W. Franz & Nathan H. Knorr. Example, see video on actual talk given by F. Franz, clearly and boldly advancing and teaching the false date of Armageddon to massive audience of Jehovah's Witnesses. (Talk occurs about 10 minutes into the video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59b33o-KgdE

We must remember, this 1975 teaching, back then, was a major embarrassment coming upon the entire, Jehovah's Witnesses Organization earth wide. As of September 5th, 1975, Sundown, it was proven completely false. No doubt this singular action (the public teaching of the date of 1975) on their parts, easily made the Watchtower Society look to the world at large, as being wicked "false prophets." It put them (and the JW International Brotherhood) in an indefensible position, for their field ministry. -- See Deuteronomy 18:20-22.

Still, there is more to this terrific story, for the Jehovah's Witnesses Organization.

Well we all know, it is quite true, generally-speaking, the Watchtower Society loves to shift the blame of past Watchtower Society mistakes of the organization, upon the unwitting JW Brotherhood. This has happened frequently in the past. No doubt. However in this particular case, there appears to be something else at work here, in addition to this fact.

WHAT WAS GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES, OUT OF THE VIEW OF THE PUBLIC

You see, the first Watchtower quote (above), was actually written while the then President of the Watchtower Society Nathan Homer Knorr and His Vice-President Frederick W. Franz were still alive. So, believe it or not, the above statement was originally written to primarily humiliate them both, while occupying their offices of oversight, since it was believed (and generally known) they were mainly responsible for pushing the date of 1975, as an INSINUATED-ARMAGEDDON-DATE in the Jehovah's Witnesses literature. They (Knorr/F. Franz) taught it was more of a "probability" than a mere "possibility," which proved to be very, very wrong. A colossal mistake!

In other words, "2 schools of thought" at Brooklyn Bethel Headquarters on the date of 1975.

It seems, this bold statement was made by eager members of the newly empowered Governing Body, who could actually make such bold admissions, since they had duly received power and authority over Watchtower publications, ever since January 1st, 1976. So, the Watchtower magazine was used to chastise these men.

Now, let us notice the following quote, which tells more about the critical situation.

The March 15th, 1980 Watchtower magazine quote:

"With the appearance of the book Life Everlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God, and its comments as to how appropriate it would be for the millennial reign of Christ to parallel the seventh millennium of mans existence, considerable expectation was aroused regarding the year 1975. Unfortunately, however, along with such cautionary information, There were other statements published that implied that such realization of hopes by that year was more of a probability than a mere possibility. There were statements made then, and thereafter, stressing that this was only a possibility. It is to be regretted that these latter statements apparently overshadowed the cautionary ones and contributed to a build-up of the expectation already initiated....In saying anyone, the Watchtower included all disappointed ones of Jehovah's Witnesses, hence including persons having to do with the publication of the information that contributed to the build-up of hopes centered on that date. (Watchtower, March 15, 1980, p. 17-18)

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[HowlingWolf (2Chronicles 16:9)]

Greetings:

Yes, we are going back quite a few years, aren't we.

I was a little older than most back then, that is by September of 1975 . . . the big date and all.

I was an adult at the time, married, and serving as a full-time regular pioneer. Back then I was a Ministerial Servant and was permitted to do lots of things in the congregation, because I was "serving where the need was greater," along with my wife.

At that time, I was permitted to be a Book Study Conductor, Theocratic Ministry School (as it was called back then) Conductor, Public Speaker inside and outside the congregation as a visiting speaker, in 1975. Later in April of 1978, I became the Presiding Overseer for a small congregation at the age of 25, with lots of privileges on assemblies, and so on.

I was made aware of "insider" problems at Brooklyn Bethel between 1978-1980, by way of a newly arrived Bethelite who had close ties with certain "heavies" at Bethel during that time. (When he arrived, I was personally involved in a big fight/dispute with a C.O. and a D.O. in a struggle of human issues within the local congregation, which eventually required the presence of a "Special Committee" to settle the problem. This Bethelite friend helped me out with this situation.)

The newly arrived Bethelite and myself, was on the phone with Brooklyn Bethel to get advice on how to proceed. Two members of the three-man Committee that was responsible for the writing of the "Aid To Bible Understanding" publication were the ones we dealt with. Ray Franz was one of the two we dealt with. My ex-Bethelite friend was a very close associate with these men, and very close with NH Knorr, believe it or not. He talked about him all the time, sometime with tears. Yeap, he wanted to go back to Brooklyn Bethel so bad he could taste it.

I later served in the Gadsden, Alabama Circuit in a small nearby town, when Ray & wife arrived there and starting working for Peter Gregerson, who headed up Warehouse Groceries at the time.

Let's just say, the whole ordeal was quite an experience and eye-opener for a young man, in his mid-twenties among Jehovah's Witnesses, during those years.

But somehow, I survived, happily.

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[HowlingWolf (2Chronicles 16:9)]

September 7th, 1975 -- War At Brooklyn Bethel!!!

Frederick W. Franz Explodes "Governing Body" False Teaching (Taught In Newly Released "Aid To Bible Understanding" Book) before audience of Gilead Graduates At Brooklyn Bethel Headquarters -- September 7th, 1975!

Hear audio of actual Frederick W. Franz 1975 Gilead speech where he scripturally debunks concept of first century Governing Body's existence. (Audio of Gilead Talk available at YouTube.)

See and hear two individuals discuss Raymond V. Franz's personal recall of this actual 1975 Bethel event.

See and hear eye-witness testimony of one who was an actual member of the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses for nine (9) years, Raymond V. Franz. Notice his comments on how the Bible, God's Word, was actually viewed by these men who governed the Jehovah's Witnesses Organization with absolute and complete authority. (See Matthew 15:7-9, Mark 7:7, 8)

See link of RV Franz recounting 1975 events: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbwfIPnnSb4

In a most controversial speech, delivered September 7th, 1975, the then Watchtower Society Vice-President Fred W. Franz holds up the Watchtower's first true Bible reference book, "Aid to Bible Understanding" before the entire audience at the Gilead Graduation ceremonies. Ironically, it was the research done for this volume which led both to (a) the "new light" on the elder arrangement, and (b) the establishment of the modern concept of a "Governing Body," which supposedly held divinely approved authority over all first century Christians.

On September 7th, 1975. before an audience of loyal, soon-to-be missionaries for Jehovah's Witnesses at Gilead Training School, then Vice President Franz vehemently and sarcastically destroyed the Watchtower's "new light" on the necessity of a "Governing Body". The concept of one centralized authority, it seems, was not the bee in Franz's bonnet. What DID upset Franz seemed to be the new Governing Body's attempt to find justification for this dogma in the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 15. Fred Franz used the book of Acts itself to dismantle the Watchtower Society's pretense (taught in the newly released "Aid To Bible Understanding" Publication) of finding precedent for this "Governing Body'" Concept in the New Testament.

Please research the above information for yourselves, to ascertain the facts.

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[HowlingWolf (2Chronicles 16:9)]

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No doubt, if the rank and file JW could finally see, there was WAR/UPHEAVAL, and outright discord going on at Brooklyn Bethel Headquarters (among the Governing Body) which started in 1975 (failed prediction) up till 1980 (when RV Franz was removed), then they would know how greatly divided their GB leaders were. It was like, in 1975 and the failed prediction staring them in the face, they became acutely divided into a "Trump Maga GOP" Crowd vs. a "Biden-Harris Democrat" Crowd, with Knorr & F. Franz representing the latter group. They became the "old guard", the establishment, who had to be ousted. The old guys, President & Vice-President, N. Knorr & F. Franz, who had ruled the Jehovah's Witnesses Organization unopposed, since the early 1940s.

In the Spring of 1980, everything came to a head. RV Franz got booted from the GB.

The events that happened at Bethel Headquarters, between those years of 1975-1980 absolutely proves there was no "spirit-directed organization" in existence among Jehovah's Witnesses. They were greatly divided. They were fighting between themselves. The GB was at war!

And it all got started with that failed prediction of 1975.

Thus we can see, the Governing Body is a highly political organization in itself. Its politics, at its best.

Which is why Raymond V. Franz said openly many times, since 1980, the GB (including Knorr & F. Franz) don't even consider the bible as a guide at all, in making their "holy" decisions. They never have. This is public knowledge on YouTube for all to see. (Jehovah's Witnesses don't have to have RV Franz's books for that.)

Hence we have these ridiculous assertions or "GB Updates" surfacing, about wearing a beard or not, and sisters being permitted to wear slacks or not, and counting field service time or just check a box, and on and on. None of this stuff is scriptural. This is obvious.-- See Matthew 15:8, 9; Mark 7:7, 8.

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[HowlingWolf (2Chronicles 16:9)]

The Bethel Apostate Purge of 1980 Audio Clip

These two (2) videos was released 4 years ago by JW Escape on YouTube. Here are the two (2) videos:

Part. 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIPkoDPrL6Y

Part. 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pU60dPdqTKI

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[TruthFinder Mt. 7:14]

Greetings!

I'm TruthFinder.

Tell me a little more about the 1935 "cutoff" Date again. Were any of you back there during that time when Watchtower taught that in the publications? This sounds fascinating.

TF

[Melody (Daniel 9:24)]

Greetings!

I'm TruthFinder.

Tell me a little more about the 1935 "cutoff" Date again. Were any of you back there during that time when Watchtower taught that in the publications? This sounds fascinating.

TF

Hello TruthFinder,

Welcome to the board. Here you will find some very amazing information past, present and future.

I have been associated with Jehovah's Witnesses since 1975 when my family met and started studying with them. I was 10 years old. I studied on and off and finally got baptized in 1989 when I was age 23.

During the mid 1980's, I remember the Watchtower publishing certain statements having to do with the date of 1935. They believed no one would be selected as an anointed person after 1935, unless they were a "replacement person" for a unfaithful previously anointed person. They felt that this process of replacing an anointed person was to be considered a very rare thing. Extremely rare.

I had not been baptized that long, but maybe 3-4 years before I got baptized, I remember some pretty stringent comments were made in a 1985 Watchtower magazine about certain new JW's that had strong ties with church/Christendom beliefs about going to heaven, and wanting to push these ideas in the JW congregation.

For some reason this came across to me as being very hostile to any newly anointed ones in the JW congregation that got baptized in recent years since the date of 1935.

To me, it was mean-spirited to treat these ones that way. Jesus taught us to love one another at John 13:35 but I did not see that love coming from the Watchtower Society and the GB.

I even remember some experiences of some people in nearby congregations that were being given a hard time because of this harsh viewpoint of Brooklyn Bethel. I heard about this.

I'm sure other people on this discussion board can comment about the cut off date of 1935, because they have been in the organization longer than me.

I hope this helps.

Melody