Second Chance?

RU Saved

Does this quote mean that basically everyone will be resurected and then have another chance to learn about God during the 1000 year millennium?

Included in the earthly resurrection will be (1) the faithful witnesses of Jehovah who died before Christ did, (2) the billions of other people who will be brought back in the "resurection of judgement" and (3) the people of good will who today take their stand on God's side but who through sickness, old age or another cause happen to die before Armegeddon is fought. It is thought that the earthly resurrection will be spread out over a period of time so that all these people after being resurected on earth can be taken care of in an orderly way, and without confusion. The people brought back earlier will help to get things ready for others who are yet to return. (From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained, p.232)

If yes, then why would someone become a JW now when they can just push it off to the future? Party time? Why would someone choose to become a JW and not a "Christian"? If someone chose to become a born again Christian lets say,and JWs were right, then you would have nothing to lose, right? Its a winning "odds" everytime if you were a gambler.

Confession

If I understand your question correctly, R U, the answer is quite simple. Since the Watchtower Society has always taught that Armageddon is "right around the corner," the JW thinks it's coming in his/her lifetime. If it comes before he dies, and he is not found among the faithful JWs, he is warned that he will experience the "second death," the "lake of fire" from which there will be no return. Everlasting cutting off. It would be quite a gamble to think he will enjoy "party time," hoping that Armageddon will not come in his lifetime--so that he can be resurrected.

Further, let's say he was dying; he knew he only had a few months to live. Wouldn't someone in that position think he could enjoy his last few months, reveling in pleasures of the flesh? When discussing this, JWs are quick to point out that "Jehovah ultimately decides" who will be in his righteous kingdom. Someone deliberately sinning but expecting to be forgiven after death and resurrected is "grieving the Holy Spirit." Such ones (similar to those who commit suicide) are warned that God does not want deceivers in the "New System."

Hellrider

I`m not sure what you mean, RU. There`s nothing new in that quote. The belief is, and always was, that everyone who dies before Armageddon (with a very few exceptions) will be ressurected. So, as JWs are, as they always were, taught that it`s "going to happen in their lifetime", they have to A) either be JWs their whole life, or B) DIE. For some reason, they choose A). I think it`s a bit more hard to keep them believing (at least those very few with brains) that it`s going to happen in their lifetime, now that they did away with the literal interpretation of the word "generation". All they have now is the "sign of the end times", and that only works on the very, very paranoid.

robhic

Here are a couple of items I have saved in regard to this question. Looks pretty much like they're saying you have to be a JW to survive:

From The Watchtower, September 1, 1989, p. 19:

"Remaining Organized for Survival Into the Millennium":

Only Jehovah’s Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the "great crowd," as a united organization under the protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system dominated by Satan the Devil.

(Revelation 7:9-17; 2 Corinthians 4:4) They will make up the "flesh" that Jesus Christ said would be saved through the worst tribulation of all human history. As it was in the days of Noah, said Jesus, so it would be in the day when He would be revealed. Inside the ark that took many years of organized effort to complete, only eight human souls survived the global Deluge. They survived as a united family group. (Matthew 24:22, 37-39; Luke 17:26-30) Noah’s wife corresponds to the bride of Christ, and his sons and daughters-in-law to Jesus’ present-day "other sheep," who have grown into an increasing great crowd, the final proportions of which we do not now know. (John 10:16) For survival into the Millennium under the Greater Noah, Jesus Christ, they have to remain organized with the anointed remnant, "the chosen ones" on account of whom the days of the "great tribulation" will be cut short.

From The Watchtower, December 1, 1999, p. 18:

Be Happy Readers of the Book of Revelation

The message is clear: If we want to survive Armageddon, we must remain spiritually alert and keep the symbolic garments that identify us as faithful Witnesses of Jehovah God.

Is this not what they are implying/shouting out? And I have many more quotes.

Robert

Legolas

Welcome to the board!

AlmostAtheist

Sadly, it's the exact reasoning mentioned here that makes suicide look attractive to a JW, or anyone that believes in a better afterlife. Even homicide. *shudder*

Welcome to the forum!

Dave

Finally-Free

Welcome to the forum!

Sadly, it's the exact reasoning mentioned here that makes suicide look attractive to a JW, or anyone that believes in a better afterlife. Even homicide. *shudder*

Yes, according to JW teaching even Adolph Hitler has a better chance for resurrection than an infant that is destroyed at armageddon.

How warped is that?

W

garybuss

The only sure way to survive Armageddon is to be dead . . . which is also a sure way not to survive Armageddon.

Second Chance?

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