Armageddon Ends in October 1914
Zion's Watch Tower: The Battle of the Great Day of God Almighty Wraps Up in October 1914
Charles Taze Russell wrote in 1892 that Scripture 'definitely marked' October 1914 as the close of the final battle. The date arrived; the battle did not conclude.
What was said
“The date of the close of that "battle" is definitely marked in Scripture as October, 1914. It is already in progress, its beginning dating from October, 1874.”
— Charles Taze Russell, founder of the Bible Student movement (Zion's Watch Tower) · said Jan 15, 1892 · due October 1914
October 1914 came. Human rule did not close, and no end of the age was announced.
The Story
From the January 15, 1892 Zion's Watch Tower; the 'battle' is 'the battle of the great day of God Almighty'. Russell's Studies in the Scriptures likewise named October 1914 as the 'farthest limit' of the rule of imperfect men (Wikipedia's summary). The Watch Tower movement's 1975 entry is separate.
Later spin
After 1914 the date was reinterpreted as the start of Christ's invisible reign in heaven rather than the close of the battle.
Receipts
- Zion's Watch Tower, January 15, 1892 (reprint R1354), archived at the Wayback Machineaccessed 2026-09-29
- Unfulfilled Watch Tower Society predictions - Wikipediaaccessed 2026-09-29