Prophecy No. 2: Beth Sarim = "House of Princes”.
Prophecy: The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society began construction on a house in 1929 in San Diego, CA call Beth Sarim which means “House of Princes”. Joseph F. Rutherford, Watch Tower President, predicted that “men of old” like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David would be resurrected to live in Beth Sarim.
Details & Documentation.
1. A palatial Spanish style, two-story, ten room house was built in 1929 with two car garage, costing about $75,000.
2. Excerpt from property deed written by Joseph F. Rutherford.
“Both the grantor and the grantee are fully persuaded from the Bible testimony which is the word of Jehovah God …that the kingdom of God will have visible representatives on the earth who will have charge of the affairs of the nations under supervision of the invisible ruler, Christ. …That among those who will be thus the faithful representatives and visible governors of the world will be David, who was once King over Israel; and Gideon, and Barak, and Samson, and Jepthai. and Joseph, formerly ruler of Egypt, and Samuel the prophet and other faithful men named with approval In the Bible at Hebrews 11th. chapter.”
3. House became personal residence of Joseph F. Rutherford while he lived.
4. Twelve years later in 1942 they still expected the resurrection of the princes, and Armageddon at any moment.
“In this expectation the house at San Diego, California, which house has been much publicized with malicious intent by the religious enemy, was built, in 1930, and named ‘Beth Sarim,’ meaning ‘House of Princes.’ It is now held in trust for the occupancy of those princes on their return.” The New World pp. 104—105.
5. The official line of the Society about Beth Sarim is reflected by Fred Franz, Past President of the Society, in the 1954 trial in Scotland. This trial was conducted to determine if a Jehovah Witness could serve in the armed forces in Scotland. See testimony below. Source:https://www.lulu.com/shop/court-of-scotland/shop/court-of-scotland/the-1954-walsh-trial-transcript/ebook/product-162gvmk.html?page=1&pageSize=4
6. In 1948, the Society sold Beth Sarim.