Watchtower, May 1, 1970, Page 273
A CRITICAL TIME
5 Everyone would like to know how much longer the present system will continue and when God’s purpose will be accomplished on earth in the same full way as in heaven. Jesus answered that “this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth . . . and then the end will come.” Here in the Greek Bible text he used the word telos or “end” to distinguish what he meant from the syn•téleia or “conclusion” of the system of things, the harvest period, in which we now live. (Compare Matthew 24:3, 6, Diaglott.) How close we may exactly be to the end of the present divisive system of things cannot be predicted, as Jesus reported that even he did not know the day or the hour at the time of his earthly ministry. (Matt. 24:36) However, Bible chronology which indicates that Adam was created in the fall of the year 4026 B.C.E. would bring us down to the year 1975 C.E. as the date marking 6,000 years of human history with yet 1,000 years to come for Christ’s Kingdom rule. So whatever the date for the end of this system, it is clear that the time left is reduced, with only approximately six years left until the end of 6,000 years of human history. (1 Cor. 7:29) This corroborates the understanding of Jesus’ words that the generation alive in 1914 with the outbreak of World War I would not pass away until the end comes. Only a short time, then, remains for persons who love righteousness to show God that they want to be in his “ark” of protection and live to see the blessings of the new system of things.—Matt. 24:34-42.
Why Guess About Dates At All?
by Pickled 75 Replies latest jw friends
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“The Nations Shall Know That I am Jehovah – How?”, (1971), Chapter 12, Page 216
JEHOVAH’S “SWORD” AGAINST “ALL THOSE OF FLESH”
9 Shortly, within our twentieth century, the “battle in the day of Jehovah” will begin against the modern antitype of Jerusalem, Christendom.
The ancient “soil of Israel” pictures the realm in which Christendom has operated. It pictures the standing and relationship that Christendom has claimed to occupy with God by means of his “new covenant” of which Jesus Christ is the mediator. Now is no time for anyone in Christendom to rely on any righteousness on the basis of his own merits and to boast of his own self-righteousness. Jehovah’s “sword” of warfare will cut off from this position that Christendom’s clergy claim for her all religionists who depend upon her having an acceptable standing with God. -
Pickled
Watchtower, October 15, 1974, Page 635, Growing in Appreciation for the “Divine Purpose”
"The publications of Jehovah’s witnesses have shown that, according to Bible chronology, it appears that 6,000 years of man’s existence will be completed in the mid-1970’s.
But these publications have never said that the world’s end would come then.
Nevertheless, there has been considerable individual speculation on the matter.
So the assembly presentation “Why We Have Not Been Told ‘That Day and Hour’” was very timely. It emphasized that we do not know the exact time when God will bring the end.
All we know is that the end will come within the generation that sees fulfilled on it the sign that Jesus Christ said would then be in evidence. (See Matthew chapters 24, 25.)
All indications are that the fulfillment of this sign began in 1914. So we can be confident that the end is near; we do not have the slightest doubt that God will bring it about, the speaker stressed. But we have to wait and see exactly when, in the meantime keeping busy in God’s service." -
Pickled
Watchtower, January 1, 1975, Will You Live to See Christ’s “Coming”?
In view of all these facts, along with Jesus’ prophetic words,
millions of people now living will see the “day” of Christ’s coming to mete out justice upon this system of things, religious, political, commercial and social.
But to survive that execution of judgment is another matter.
Said Jesus: “Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken along and the other be abandoned; two women will be grinding at the hand mill: one will be taken along and the other be abandoned.” (Matt. 24:40, 41) Weeks earlier Jesus had made a similar statement, prompting the disciples’ question, “Where, Lord?” He answered, “Where the body is, there also the eagles will be gathered together.” (Luke 17:37) The ones “taken along” are spiritually sharp-sighted, like eagles, who gather to the one whom they discern to be the Messiah, for the spiritual feast that Jehovah provides within his place of safety. They will gather together with God’s congregations on earth, under his true Messiah.
Those “abandoned” will be those who do not keep spiritually awake and who consequently get swallowed up in a selfish way of life, as did the people in Noah’s day.
Such are “abandoned” to destruction along with the world system of things in which they are involved. -
Pickled
The previous posts are only a portion of the clear messages and prophecies concerning what was to take place in 1975.
For those of you who were Witnesses during that time, who considered yourselves faithful servants of Jehovah, who believed these words to be directly from that "Channel of Communication"...that "Faithful and Discrete Slave"....that "Mouthpiece of God"....."The Annointed".....members of the 144,000.....The only ones qualified to interpret scriptures....those brothers of Jesus Christ providing "Proper Food at the Proper Time" since 1919....Those brothers who are equal to the Apostles.....
If you were faithful and believed them....
Here is what they wrote to YOU in response.................................................... -
Pickled
Watchtower, July 15, 1976, A Solid Basis for Confidence, Pgs. 440-441
BE CAREFUL TO KEEP A BALANCED VIEW
10 Jehovah’s word or message is true when it speaks about our entering into God’s rest now and remaining in it through the “great tribulation,” after which Christ’s thousand-year reign will transform the earth into a paradise garden. God’s word is indeed ‘sharp like a two-edged sword.’
It will show what we really are, revealing what our thoughts and the intentions of our heart are.
Are we serving Jehovah God because we love him, trust him and have full confidence in what he says?
Or are we ‘becoming weary in well-doing,’ looking for a certain date primarily as bringing a relief to ourselves, with little concern for the lives of other people? (Gal. 6:9)
Are we appreciative of all the good things we have had from Jehovah and from association with his people?
Have not the things we have learned helped us in our family lives?
Do we not love the many genuine friends we have now gained as a result of knowing the truth?—Mark 10:29, 30.
11 It may be that some who have been serving God have planned their lives
according to a mistaken view of just what was to happen on a certain date or in a certain year.
They may have, for this reason, put off or neglected things that they otherwise would have cared for.
But they have missed the point of the Bible’s warnings concerning the end of this system of things, thinking that Bible chronology reveals the specific date.
12 What do Jesus’ own words show concerning the proper attitude as to the end—to look for a date, or what?
He said: “Pay attention to yourselves that your hearts never become weighed down with overeating and heavy drinking and anxieties of life, and suddenly that day be instantly upon you as a snare. For it will come in upon all those dwelling upon the face of all the earth. Keep awake, then, all the time making supplication that you may succeed in escaping all these things that are destined to occur, and in standing before the Son of man.”—Luke 21:34-36.
13 Did Jesus mean that we should adjust our financial and secular affairs so that our resources would just carry us to a certain date that we might think marks the end?
If our house is suffering serious deterioration, should we let it go, on the assumption that we would need it only a few months longer?
Or, if someone in the family possibly needs special medical care, should we say, ‘Well, we’ll put it off because the time is so near for this system of things to go’?
This is not the kind of thinking that Jesus advised.
They meant for us to be absolutely confident that the day will not come one moment later than Jehovah purposes. Peter said that this should prompt us to “holy acts of conduct and deeds of godly devotion,” being watchful that we are living by Bible principles and that we are busy proclaiming the Kingdom message and convincing people of the urgency of turning to God. (2 Pet. 3:11, 12)
All of us can make improvements in our worship of God, cementing a closer relationship with him. Perhaps we have up to this time done the best we can, and have made improvements as we went along.
Does the fact that the end is very near, then, mean to us that we should make big changes in our way of living and serving God?
Not necessarily so.
However, there may be major improvements that we Scripturally need to make.
Also, if there are areas in our life in which we can ‘buy out’ time from vain pursuits in this system we should do it. In this way, many have continued to experience the joy of full-time “pioneer” service over the years. All of us can check to see what we can do.—Eph. 5:15, 16. -
Pickled
Just a quick recap…….
“Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world’s end.”
---- Kingdom Ministry, May 1974
“Did Jesus mean that we should adjust our financial and secular affairs so that our resources would just carry us to a certain date that we might think marks the end?
If our house is suffering serious deterioration, should we let it go, on the assumption that we would need it only a few months longer? ……This is not the kind of thinking that Jesus advised.”
----Watchtower, July 15, 1976
“Circumstances such as poor health or responsibilities in connection with your family may limit what you can do in the field ministry. And yet, the pioneer ranks include many who have health limitations, as well as some persons with families. But these brothers and sisters are able to regulate their lives so that they can care for their responsibilities and still put in the 1,200 hours a year, an average of 100 hours a month in the field ministry, required of pioneers.”
----Kingdom Ministry, May 1974
“Or, if someone in the family possibly needs special medical care, should we say, ‘Well, we’ll put it off because the time is so near for this system of things to go’?
This is not the kind of thinking that Jesus advised.”
----Watchtower, July 15, 1976 -
Pickled
Yearbook 2000, Pages 196-197, Czech Republic
“Six Thousand Years of Human Existence”
In 1969 the Watchtower magazine in Czech began publishing a series of articles based on the book Life Everlasting—In Freedom of the Sons of God. Chapter 1, under the subheading “Six Thousand Years of Human Existence Closing,” contained an explanation of the Jubilee and of Bible chronology. This material influenced some in a positive way; it also led to many questions and much speculation.
The office in Czechoslovakia sent a letter dated February 22, 1972, to all congregations. It set out a lengthy explanation of reasons why we should not make any definite assertions about the date when Armageddon will strike. It pointed out that no publication of the Society had said that Armageddon will come in a certain year.
The letter concluded: “Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world are familiar with these facts, and no one should add any personal claims as to what will happen before or during the year 1975. -
Pickled
By their own claims, the “Faithful and Discrete Slave” had “…NO SCRIPTURAL GROUNDS FOR ANY CLAIMS” leading up to or during 1975.
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the “Faithful and Discrete Slave” was appointed in 1919 based on the fact that they were providing the “Proper Food” (accurate teaching), at the “Proper Time” (aware of the correct time of Jesus presence).
The “Food” and the “Times” that were being “dispensed” from 1879 to 1919 and beyond….also have been retracted as “misunderstandings.” They did not believe in 1919 that Jesus returned in 1914. They were completely unaware at the time they were appointed that “Faithful and Discrete Slave” that the Master was even knocking at all.
This means that from 1879 up to 1975, the “Faithful and Discrete Slave” was dispensing improper food at improper times.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the one and only time Jesus inspected the “Faithful and Discrete Slave” and APPROVED them for that role, was in 1919.
They believe that Jesus personally appointed a group of people to dispense the secret meanings and hidden interpretations of the scriptures while at the same time that same group was dispensing numerous erroneous teachings that they later confirmed were false.
If they managed to fool Jesus in 1919 then possibly they are capable of fooling you as well. -
Pickled
While studying with the Witnesses, I asked about the emphasis on dates and warnings about not allowing any planning for the future to get in the way of the preaching work.
The answer I received from several was that since 1975, the "Faithful and Discrete Slave" reorganized and has replaced an emphasis on those previous things with an emphasis on the preaching work. The "Light" continues to get brighter and brighter, and all of the "New Light" is now about those basic truths in the Bible and the preaching work, and those messages that were "over zealous" and "misunderstood" are no longer part of the message.
That means that the Witnesses who made the mistake of believing the "Faithful and Discrete Slave" up to 1975, and were reprimanded for it, can now breathe a sigh of relief because this same "Faithful and Discrete Slave" is longer doing the same thing. This means that the members no longer receive literature that includes warnings or interpretations about when the end of the world will occur. This means that the "Faithful and Discrete Slave" has stopped sending the members those messages that created the dilemma of whether or not to interpret them literally.
Yes, that's what that means. It means that the "Faithful and Discrete Slave" humbly recognized the chaos they created among their faithful believers, and have vowed since 1975 to never do that to them again.
Watchtower, March 1, 1988, Page 21, Childbearing Among God’s People
Childbearing Today
15 How should Christians view marriage and childbearing today, in this “time of the end”? (Daniel 12:4) It is truer than ever that “the scene of this world is changing,” or, as another translation puts it, “the present scheme of things is rapidly passing away.”—1 Corinthians 7:31, Phillips.
16 Now, as never before, “the time left is reduced.” Yes, only a limited time remains for Jehovah’s people to finish the work he has given them to do, namely: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)
That work must be accomplished before the end comes. It is, therefore, appropriate for Christians to ask themselves how getting married or, if married, having children will affect their share in that vital work.