History

1914 - Rapture & the Mount of Olives

In 1914 the Watchtower were expecting great things. The Watchtower believed that their work on earth had been completed and 1914 would be the year that they would experience the “Rapture”, whereby all true Christians are taken from Earth by God into Heaven before other events associated with the end of the world take place. They believed in this so much that in 1914 the Watchtower organized a trip to Jerusalem so that they would be first to experience the Rapture.

The photo below was taken from the top of the Mount of Olives, which overlooks Jerusalem. Why the Mount of Olives? The Mount of Olives is important due to the belief that when the Messiah arrives through the golden gate, then people who are buried (or situated) on the Mount of Olives will be 'First in line’.

Notice how Judge Rutherford is sitting on Charles Taze Russell’s right hand.