In the 1968 Watchtower publication (and chief study book of the time) entitled: The Truth that leads to Eternal Life, the former United States Secretary of State, Dean Acheson, is quoted as warning (in 1960):
I know enough of what is going on to assure you that, in fifteen years from today, this world is going to be too dangerous to live in. (Page 9, Par. 9)
Of course, fifteen years from 1960 leads the reader to the year 1975. Unintentional? Hardly! From the late 1960s, the year 1975 was constantly put before the Witnesses as:
In 1968, with the release of the Truth book, such speculations were reinforced in the mind of every Witness and of all prospective converts. Note the following references to the year 1975 also found in the 1968 edition of this Watchtower study book (pp. 88-89, par.11):
More recently, the book entitled "Famine—1975!" said … Today’s crisis can move in only one direction—toward catastrophe. Today hungry nations; tomorrow starving nations.
and:
By 1975 civil disorder, anarchy, military dictatorships, runaway inflation, transportation breakdowns and chaotic unrest will be the order of the day
In 1968, the year 1975 was far enough away for the Society to freely speculate and instill in the Witnesses’ minds the nearness of Armageddon! However, when 1975 came and went, and the expected end of ‘this wicked old system of things’ failed to arrive, the Society was forced to create some ‘new light’ on the subject and cover-up earlier speculations.
This is clearly evident with the release of a revised edition of the Truth book in 1981. Note the subtle changes to the above references. In the revised edition, Dean Acheson makes no reference to a time frame (ie: 15 years from 1960 = 1975) and he is no longer quoted as ‘warning’ but simply ‘concluding’ that ‘soon the world is going to be too dangerous to live in.’ By this revision, the Society’s earlier allusion to 1975 is subtly erased. Similarly, the direct references to 1975 on pages 88-89 of the 1968 edition of the Truth book are also conveniently omitted in the 1981 revised edition—as though they had never even been there! This is a typical ploy on the part of the Watchtower Society to cover-up their deception. Whenever they have been caught out—they have repeatedly released revised editions wherein the exposed errors are subtly erased from the pages!
Clearly, former U.S. Secretary of State, Dean Acheson said ‘something’ about the future of the world—as he saw it in 1960. But, to be safe, don’t quote him (or any other authority for that matter) from a Watchtower publication! Because, as you can see, what the Watchtower Society claims they have said today may well be completely different—even the very opposite—to what is claimed they have said tomorrow!