Persecution: Sometime around late 1973 early 1974, when JWs everywhere were in eager anticipation of Armageddon breaking out, we also feared something else. Prior to Armageddon, there would be the Great Tribulation, and just about this time we expected heavy persecution, so much so, that is was hard to help Bible Studies (newbies) to get over this fear.
Service Meeting Part: During a Service Meeting, the Elder giving the part was speaking about such persecution and of course all this was prefaced with our obedience to Jehovah and his organization, doing all the works, meetings, etc. ...
... As he spoke, there was suddenly loud banging on all of our entry-exit doors. We could hear men yelling that they were going to break the doors down, and that we were under arrest. The banging got louder, and louder ... The Elder asked the attendants to hold the doors closed and locked ...
... children started screaming, one sister passed out, and a couple of others ran to the bathroom to vomit. My oldest daughter, about a one year old baby at the time, started crying, and my wife looked at me with confusion, wondering what we do. I looked around to see what the rest of the brothers were doing, and then looked back at the Elder on the platform ... I too felt concern as the banging on the doors continued and got even louder along with the demands that we come outside the Kingdom Hall, or they would come in to get us ...
What happened?: The Elder on the platform starting smiling, and talked loud into the microphone over the screaming and crying going on among mostly children, and the consoling hushes of parents ... and told the attendants to open the doors and let the brothers in. It was all a joke staged as a "Teaching Point to help us see the need to be prepared for Persecution, with Armageddon so near.
I was royaly pissed: I was an MS at the time, but after the meeting, I took the Elder and a couple of brothers into the 'back room' and told him what I thought of his stupid and cruel stunt. One of the brothers, and Elder, laughed and told me I was taking things too seriously. But, while I have a good sense of humor, this seemed outrageous. Another Elder told me that this is what we will see during persecution, and that the Meeting Part did what it was designed to do. I pointed out that during persecution, we would have God's spirit protecting us, but during a joke meeting part, God was not behind that. I was counseled to accept it and forget it. I did not do either, but I did not make any more of an issue.
Fear of Persecution: One of the biggest issues that JWs used to harp on in the 1960s and through the 1970s was persecution at every level from family rejection when one becomes a JW, to being raped and tortured just before the Great Tribulation andf then Armageddon. Situations such a Malawi were used to support this notion of persecution, because the JWs there were cruely beaten, raped, toprtured and murdered. Why? Because of a silly policy that the majority of the Governing Body did not support, but failed to achieve the necessary 2/3 vote to repeal the Party Card prohibition.
Mind-Control: Fear is our most base animal instinct and most powerful emotion far and above love or any other noble quality. Fear is a time tested tool of despots, wicked leaders over nations, and cult leaders over blinded followers. The Watch Tower Society via its policies and publications all the way down to local Elders made heavy use of fear in the Pre-1975 years ... and, I suspect that is one reason for the increase in witnessing activity, growth, and maintenance of membership.
And today?: I have not followed the WTS teachings for nearly 9 years ... so I am not sure how much they use fear of persecution, but they still use plenty of "fear", such as fear of the world and those they label as apostates, etc. Fear is their number one game.
The Apostle John once said, "There is no fear in love: but perfect love caste out fear, because fear has punishment; and he that fears is not made perfect in love. - 1 John 4:18
Simply Amazing