"It is possible that some of God's servants were guided in their plans misconceptions about what will happen on a certain date or in a certain a certain year... But they misunderstood the meaning of the Bible's warnings concerning the end of this system of things, for they believed that the Biblical The chronology indicates a certain date... It was not the word of God that proved to be untenable or deceived or disappointed, but his own understanding rested on false Premises... From Jesus' clear explanation, it follows that God's servants will never know beforehand the moment at which Christ will come to judgment" (Quoted by 10, 72-73).

But such explanations could not satisfy the most active part of the Jehovah's Witnesses, the so-called "pioneers," who devoted themselves entirely to the all his life to "proclaim the Kingdom" and to lead local organizations. Their number has sharply decreased. If in 1976 there were 196,656 of them (out of 2,138,537 Jehovah's Witnesses), then in 1978 there were 115,389 (out of 2,086,678 Witnesses Jehovah) (14. 47).

Nathan Knorr died on June 7, 1977, and on June 23 at a joint meeting Directors of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania and New York, Vice-President Frederick was elected president of both corporations William Franz (14, 46; 10, 14).

He was born on September 12, 1893, in Covington, Kentucky. United States. Apparently, his parents were Presbyterians, since after graduating he entered the University of Cincinnati, where he studied to be a priest Presbyterian Church. Frederick learned about Russell's teachings from his elder brother, under whose influence he left the Presbyterian community and began to cooperate with the Bible Students.

"On November 13, 1913, he was baptized, and the following year he left from the university and joined the ranks of literary distributors (pioneers). On June 1, 1920, Brother Franz became a member of the Wefnl family in Brooklyn. Soon he was appointed "overseer of the department of distribution of literature, And in 1926 he was transferred to the editorial department... In 1945, Brother Franz became vice president of the Watch Tower Society (Watch Tower Society — G. D.) and other corporations united with it" (SB, 15.03.1993. – P. 31-32).

As we remember, he headed the activities of the New World Translation Committee and was the initiator of a campaign promoting the onset of Armageddon in 1975. The prophecy turned out to be false, but the campaign carried out significantly increased the human and material resources of the Watch Tower Society.

On March 15, 1980, The Watchtower issued an explanation concerning book "Eternal Life in the Freedom of the Sons of God". The journal said:

"With the appearance of the book 'Eternal Life in the Freedom of the Sons of God' and its commentaries ... Considerable hopes were awakened for 1975. These statements... were only probable. Unfortunately... other warning information, implying that such an understanding of the hopes of that year was more likely, than possible, was not perceived" (quoted by 14:48).

From April 1980, Franz carried out a purge of the Society's management staff. First of all, those who actively participated in the deployment were reduced prophecy campaign for the year 1975 and did not want to forget that it was initiated by the new president. Employees of many departments of the Society, including almost the entire staff of the Press Department of the headed by Raimund Franz, a member of the Governing Corporation and nephew of the President (14, 49). The new president managed to stop the downward trend Society (in 1977 the number of Jehovah's Witnesses decreased by 1%, in 1978 — by 1.4%; In 1979, the increase was 0.5%, and in 1980 - 3.7% (14, 47). The word "Armageddon" began to be used much less often and was supplanted more neutral expressions, such as "the day of Jehovah," "the great tribulation," "The Judgment of God," etc. (10:71).

In 1976, there were some organizational changes in the management of the apparatus of the Watch Tower Society.

"Over the years, the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses has been identified with the Board of Directors of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, Pennsylvania, And the affairs were mainly managed by its president...

... In 1976, the Governing Corporation began its work with six committees, each of which is entrusted with the care of certain areas of activity all over the world" (SB, 15.05.1995. – p. 23).

The Watchtower of 15.04.1992 reported that in order to assist the committees Brothers were appointed to the Governing Corporation mainly from among the "others" sheep" (Sat, 15.05.1995. – P. 23).

At present, "the Governing Body is made up of anointed Christians (in 1993 - 11 people). Seven of them serve as members of the Society's board Watchtower. The Governing Body directs worldwide operations Jehovah's Witnesses. Its members are not inspired by God and therefore are not infallible, but they rely on the inerrant Words of God as the ultimate authority on the and have many years of experience in obedience to the will of God" (7:26).