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Karl Klein recalls Rutherford: “I made an ass of myself” retrospective response
On: we may expect 1925 to witness the return of these faithful men of Israel
Linked by Rainbow Watch. Klein refers to Rutherford’s “statements as to what we could expect in 1925” without naming a publication; the link places his report beside Rutherford’s 1920 statement.
Source quotation · Karl F. Klein, life story in The Watchtower, 1 October 1984, p. 24, footnote b, complete. Klein, at Brooklyn Bethel from 1925, reports a remark of J. F. Rutherford (“he”); the remark itself is undated. Regarding his misguided statements as to what we could expect in 1925, he once confessed to us at Bethel, “I made an ass of myself.”
Jehovah Has Dealt Rewardingly With Me · Karl F. Klein, “‘Jehovah Has Dealt Rewardingly With Me’” (as told by Karl F. Klein), The Watchtower, 1 October 1984, pp. 21–28, footnote b (keyed in paragraph 24, p. 24), complete. Watchtower Online Library transcription, retrieved 1 October 2026. HTML and footnote letter removed.
Source reuse and transcription Copyrighted modern publication. One complete footnote of 25 words quoted.
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Regarding his misguided statements as to what we could expect in 1925, he once confessed to us at Bethel, “I made an ass of myself.”
The 1975 Yearbook: “The year 1925 came and went” retrospective response
On: we may expect 1925 to witness the return of these faithful men of Israel
Linked by Rainbow Watch. The Yearbook says the faithful men of old “had not been resurrected to become princes in the earth” by the end of 1925. This excerpt does not name the 1920 book.
Source quotation · 1975 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses, “Part 2—United States of America,” p. 146; three sentences of one paragraph (short excerpt). The year 1925 came and went. Jesus’ anointed followers were still on earth as a class. The faithful men of old times—Abraham, David and others—had not been resurrected to become princes in the earth. (Ps. 45:16)
1975 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses · 1975 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses (Brooklyn: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society), “Part 2—United States of America,” p. 146, the first three sentences of the paragraph beginning “The year 1925 came and went.” Watchtower Online Library transcription (yb75 pp. 109–183), retrieved 1 October 2026. Zero-width spaces in the web text removed; HTML removed.
Source reuse and transcription Copyrighted modern publication. Short excerpt of 36 words (three sentences of one paragraph) quoted for commentary on the 1925 expectation.
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The year 1925 came and went. Jesus’ anointed followers were still on earth as a class. The faithful men of old times—Abraham, David and others—had not been resurrected to become princes in the earth. (Ps. 45:16)
The Watch Tower at the start of 1925: “It may not be” interpretation
On: in the fall of the year 1925
Linked by Rainbow Watch. Written on 1 January 1925, before the fall date. The article addresses the expectation that the church would be changed to heavenly glory during 1925. It neither cites Millions Now Living Will Never Die nor mentions the return of the faithful men of old.
Source quotation · Unsigned lead article “Work for the Anointed,” The Watch Tower, 1 January 1925, p. 3, paragraph 2, complete. The year 1925 is here. With great expectation Christians have looked forward to this year. Many have confidently expected that all members of the body of Christ will be changed to heavenly glory during the year. This may be accomplished. It may not be. In his own due time God will accomplish his purposes concerning his own people. Christians should not be so deeply concerned about what may transpire during this year that they would fail to joyfully do what the Lord would have them to do.
The Watch Tower, 1 January 1925 · The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence (Brooklyn), vol. XLVI, no. 1, 1 January 1925, unsigned lead article “Work for the Anointed,” p. 3, paragraph 2, complete. Internet Archive scan of the 1925 volume, page image inspected (leaf 3). Printed paragraph number omitted; italics rendered plain; whitespace normalized.
Source reuse and transcription Published in the United States in 1925; public domain in the United States.
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Published revision history 2026-10-01T14:02:23+00:00
The year 1925 is here. With great expectation Christians have looked forward to this year. Many have confidently expected that all members of the body of Christ will be changed to heavenly glory during the year. This may be accomplished. It may not be. In his own due time God will accomplish his purposes concerning his own people. Christians should not be so deeply concerned about what may transpire during this year that they would fail to joyfully do what the Lord would have them to do.
The Watch Tower in 1926: in 1925 many said “The ancient worthies have not returned” retrospective response
On: we may expect 1925 to witness the return of these faithful men of Israel
Linked by Rainbow Watch. The paragraph reports that in 1925 many said “The ancient worthies have not returned.” It does not name the 1920 book; the link joins it to the expectation stated there.
Source quotation · Unsigned lead article “The Servant and Service,” The Watch Tower, 15 August 1926, p. 247, one paragraph, complete; the writer speaks in the first person (“The writer heard these very words”). Verse fourteen of the prophecy reads: “But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.” In 1918 many of the Lord’s people were discouraged, and some said, at least by their conduct: “The Lord hath forgotten us.” The writer heard these very words used by some in that year: but in the following year the same ones who had thus spoken were revived, and they are still rejoicing in the Lord. Again in 1925 many said: “The ancient worthies have not returned; and some who seem to be saints are still on the earth: surely the Lord hath forgotten us.” Verses fifteen and sixteen of this prophecy is the response from the Lord in which, in substance, he says: ‘Though a woman may forget her babe, yet God will never forget Zion: he has graven her upon the palms of his hands, and she is continually before him.’
The Watch Tower, 15 August 1926 · The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence (Brooklyn), 15 August 1926, unsigned lead article “The Servant and Service,” p. 247, left column, the paragraph beginning “Verse fourteen of the prophecy reads,” complete (paragraph number omitted). Internet Archive item w_E_19260815, image 6, inspected; the type is worn. Two worn marks after “said” and “revived” are read as commas (the OCR layer reads the first as a period). Line-end hyphenation joined; whitespace normalized.
Source reuse and transcription Published in the United States in 1926; public domain in the United States since 2022. The Internet Archive item carries a Public Domain Mark.
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Verse fourteen of the prophecy reads: “But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.” In 1918 many of the Lord’s people were discouraged, and some said, at least by their conduct: “The Lord hath forgotten us.” The writer heard these very words used by some in that year: but in the following year the same ones who had thus spoken were revived, and they are still rejoicing in the Lord. Again in 1925 many said: “The ancient worthies have not returned; and some who seem to be saints are still on the earth: surely the Lord hath forgotten us.” Verses fifteen and sixteen of this prophecy is the response from the Lord in which, in substance, he says: ‘Though a woman may forget her babe, yet God will never forget Zion: he has graven her upon the palms of his hands, and she is continually before him.’
The Watch Tower in February 1925: “Let us be cautious … about predicting particulars” interpretation
On: we may expect 1925 to witness the return of these faithful men of Israel
Linked by Rainbow Watch. Written in February 1925, before the date. The paragraph cautions against “predicting particulars” for a located date but does not name Millions Now Living Will Never Die; the link places it beside the 1920 expectation for 1925.
Source quotation · Unsigned lead article “The Year of Jubilee,” The Watch Tower, 15 February 1925, p. 57, paragraph 51, complete. It seems to be a weakness of many Bible Students that if they locate a future date in the Bible, immediately they center as many prophecies upon that date as possible. This has been the cause of many siftings in the past. As far as we recall, all the dates foreseen were correct. The difficulty was that the friends inflated their imaginations beyond reason; and that when their imaginations burst asunder, they were inclined to throw away everything. No doubt Mr. Miller was correct in locating 1844 as a Bible date. But he expected too much. 1874 was also easily located. 1878 was also a marked date, and one which caused Brother Russell a severe trial until he corrected his expectations, as noted in his “Harvest Siftings”, of April, 1894, now out of print. Many can remember how “absolutely sure” some were about 1914. No doubt the Lord was pleased with the zeal manifested by his servants; but did they have a Scriptural basis for all they expected to come to pass that year? Let us be cautious, therefore, about predicting particulars. The Lord will make them clear as fast as they become meat in due season. However, we feel sure that he will not chide us if we earnestly and reverently search for what may be revealed, watching also the facts about us.
The Watch Tower, 15 February 1925 · The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence (Brooklyn), 15 February 1925, unsigned lead article “The Year of Jubilee,” p. 57, paragraph 51, complete (paragraph number omitted). Internet Archive item magazines-the-watchtower-and-herald-christ-presence-1925, leaf 57, page image inspected. Line-end hyphenation joined; whitespace normalized.
Source reuse and transcription Published in the United States in 1925; public domain in the United States.
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It seems to be a weakness of many Bible Students that if they locate a future date in the Bible, immediately they center as many prophecies upon that date as possible. This has been the cause of many siftings in the past. As far as we recall, all the dates foreseen were correct. The difficulty was that the friends inflated their imaginations beyond reason; and that when their imaginations burst asunder, they were inclined to throw away everything. No doubt Mr. Miller was correct in locating 1844 as a Bible date. But he expected too much. 1874 was also easily located. 1878 was also a marked date, and one which caused Brother Russell a severe trial until he corrected his expectations, as noted in his “Harvest Siftings”, of April, 1894, now out of print. Many can remember how “absolutely sure” some were about 1914. No doubt the Lord was pleased with the zeal manifested by his servants; but did they have a Scriptural basis for all they expected to come to pass that year? Let us be cautious, therefore, about predicting particulars. The Lord will make them clear as fast as they become meat in due season. However, we feel sure that he will not chide us if we earnestly and reverently search for what may be revealed, watching also the facts about us.
The Watch Tower, 1 August 1918: five years to the spring of 1925 and the resurrection of the ancient worthies interpretation
On: we may expect 1925 to witness the return of these faithful men of Israel
Linked by Rainbow Watch. Written in August 1918, two years before Millions Now Living Will Never Die. Reading Genesis 45:6, the article counts five years “to the spring of 1925, to the resurrection of the ancient worthies”; it does not name the later book. The link sets it beside the book’s expectation for the same year.
Source quotation · The Watch Tower, 1 August 1918, “Joseph and His Brethren,” p. 232 (unsigned). “For these two years [possibly from the spring of 1918 to the winter of 1919 or spring of 1920] hath the famine [for the truth] been in the land [among professing Christians]; and yet there are five years [to the spring of 1925, to the resurrection of the ancient worthies] in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest”—no general religious work for the world can be done.—Gen. 45:6.
The Watch Tower, 1 August 1918: “Joseph and His Brethren” · The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence (Brooklyn, N.Y.), vol. XXXIX, no. 15, 1 August 1918 (masthead, p. 227), unsigned article “Joseph and His Brethren,” p. 232, the paragraph on Genesis 45:6 from “For these two years” through “—Gen. 45:6.” Read in the Watch Tower Society’s reprint of the magazine: Internet Archive item magazines-the-watchtower-and-herald-christ-presence-1918, BookReader leaves 111 (masthead, reprint p. [6299]) and 114 (reprint p. [6302]). Transcribed from the page images. Line-end hyphenation joined; whitespace normalized.
Source reuse and transcription Publication of 1918, reproduced in the Watch Tower Society’s reprint volumes; public domain in the United States.
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“For these two years [possibly from the spring of 1918 to the winter of 1919 or spring of 1920] hath the famine [for the truth] been in the land [among professing Christians]; and yet there are five years [to the spring of 1925, to the resurrection of the ancient worthies] in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest”—no general religious work for the world can be done.—Gen. 45:6.
The Watch Tower, 15 December 1918: the ancient worthies made alive at the beginning of the earthly kingdom, “in 1925 we believe” interpretation
On: we may expect 1925 to witness the return of these faithful men of Israel
Linked by Rainbow Watch. Written in December 1918, two years before Millions Now Living Will Never Die. The answer expects the ancient worthies to be made alive at the beginning of the earthly phase of the kingdom, “in 1925 we believe”; it does not name the later book. The link sets it beside the book’s expectation for the same year.
Source quotation · The Watch Tower, 15 December 1918, “Interesting Questions: Meaning of the East Gates of the Temple,” p. 381 (unsigned). Question: What is represented by the east gates in the Temple of Ezekiel’s vision?
Answer: From the viewpoint of the Patriarchal and Jewish ages the outer east gate, as far in as the porch, represents the tentative justification of the ancient worthies. But from the viewpoint of the Gospel age the east gate, including the porch, symbolizes both the tentative and the vitalized justification of the little flock and the great company; and this same gate, up to the porch, represents the tentative justification of the remainder of the household of faith. The porch of the outer east gate represents the vitalization of tentative justification. For the little flock and the great company this takes place at the instant of begetting to the divine nature in the Holy. The ancient worthies will receive the vitalization of their tentative justification at the beginning of the earthly phase of the kingdom of heaven, in 1925 we believe; for during their first earthly lives they met all the conditions required of them. It is well to keep in mind that a porch represents vitalization, resurrection, raising to the condition of the plane indicated by the court to which the porch belongs.
The Watch Tower, 15 December 1918: “Meaning of the East Gates of the Temple” · The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence (Pittsburgh, Pa.), vol. XXXIX, no. 24, 15 December 1918 (masthead, reprint p. [6367]), “Interesting Questions,” the question and answer headed “Meaning of the East Gates of the Temple,” from “Question: What is represented” through “the court to which the porch belongs.”, ending on p. 381. Read in the Watch Tower Society’s reprint of the magazine: Internet Archive item magazines-the-watchtower-and-herald-christ-presence-1918, BookReader leaves 179 (masthead), 181 (running head “December 15, 1918”), 183 (reprint p. [6371], marked “(377-381)”) and 184 (reprint p. [6372], marked “(381)”). Transcribed from the page images. Small capitals of the heading rendered in title case; line-end hyphenation joined; whitespace normalized.
Source reuse and transcription Publication of 1918, reproduced in the Watch Tower Society’s reprint volumes; public domain in the United States.
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Published revision history 2026-10-21T14:09:01+00:00
Question: What is represented by the east gates in the Temple of Ezekiel’s vision?
Answer: From the viewpoint of the Patriarchal and Jewish ages the outer east gate, as far in as the porch, represents the tentative justification of the ancient worthies. But from the viewpoint of the Gospel age the east gate, including the porch, symbolizes both the tentative and the vitalized justification of the little flock and the great company; and this same gate, up to the porch, represents the tentative justification of the remainder of the household of faith. The porch of the outer east gate represents the vitalization of tentative justification. For the little flock and the great company this takes place at the instant of begetting to the divine nature in the Holy. The ancient worthies will receive the vitalization of their tentative justification at the beginning of the earthly phase of the kingdom of heaven, in 1925 we believe; for during their first earthly lives they met all the conditions required of them. It is well to keep in mind that a porch represents vitalization, resurrection, raising to the condition of the plane indicated by the court to which the porch belongs.
The Watch Tower, 15 June 1918: the ancient worthies made alive at the beginning of the earthly kingdom, “we believe in 1925” interpretation
On: we may expect 1925 to witness the return of these faithful men of Israel
Linked by Rainbow Watch. Written in June 1918, two years before Millions Now Living Will Never Die. The answer expects the ancient worthies to be made alive at the beginning of the earthly phase of the kingdom, “we believe in 1925”; it does not name the later book. The link sets it beside the book’s expectation for the same year.
Source quotation · The Watch Tower, 15 June 1918, “Questions Concerning Ezekiel’s Temple,” p. 189 (unsigned). Question.—Does the east gate of the inner court symbolize the fact that the members of the great company are developed after having been “raised to the spirit condition”?
Answer.—It depends on the meaning attached to the expression “raised to the spirit condition.” “Raised” means resurrected, and is properly figured by the porch of the gate. A porch represents vitalization, resurrection, raising to the condition of the plane indicated by the court to which the gate belongs. The outer-court north-gate-porch shows the final resurrection, or full life, through the process of resurrection, which will be gained by the hosts of mankind. Such a resurrection requires that all the conditions of obedience be met, and they will be met by all the loyal portion of mankind by the end of the thousand years, and by many individuals much sooner. The porch of the outer gate (east) represents the vitalization of tentative justification. For the little flock and the great company this takes place, after having met the conditions for justification, at the instant of begetting to the divine nature in the Holy. The ancient worthies will receive the vitalizing, or making alive of their tentative justification, at the beginning of the earthly phase of the kingdom of heaven, we believe in 1925, having met all the conditions during their first earthly lives.—Hebrews 11.
The Watch Tower, 15 June 1918: “Questions Concerning Ezekiel’s Temple” · The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence (Brooklyn, N.Y.), vol. XXXIX, no. 12, 15 June 1918 (masthead, p. 179), unsigned article “Questions Concerning Ezekiel’s Temple,” p. 189, the second question and the first paragraph of its answer, from “Question.—Does the east gate” through “—Hebrews 11.” Read in the Watch Tower Society’s reprint of the magazine, which sets two original pages on each reprint page: Internet Archive item magazines-the-watchtower-and-herald-christ-presence-1918, BookReader leaves 85 (masthead, reprint p. [6273]), 89 and 93 (running heads “June 15, 1918”) and 91 (reprint p. [6279]). Transcribed from the page images. Italic “Question.” and “Answer.” rendered plain; line-end hyphenation joined; whitespace normalized.
Source reuse and transcription Publication of 1918, reproduced in the Watch Tower Society’s reprint volumes; public domain in the United States.
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Question.—Does the east gate of the inner court symbolize the fact that the members of the great company are developed after having been “raised to the spirit condition”?
Answer.—It depends on the meaning attached to the expression “raised to the spirit condition.” “Raised” means resurrected, and is properly figured by the porch of the gate. A porch represents vitalization, resurrection, raising to the condition of the plane indicated by the court to which the gate belongs. The outer-court north-gate-porch shows the final resurrection, or full life, through the process of resurrection, which will be gained by the hosts of mankind. Such a resurrection requires that all the conditions of obedience be met, and they will be met by all the loyal portion of mankind by the end of the thousand years, and by many individuals much sooner. The porch of the outer gate (east) represents the vitalization of tentative justification. For the little flock and the great company this takes place, after having met the conditions for justification, at the instant of begetting to the divine nature in the Holy. The ancient worthies will receive the vitalizing, or making alive of their tentative justification, at the beginning of the earthly phase of the kingdom of heaven, we believe in 1925, having met all the conditions during their first earthly lives.—Hebrews 11.