That is what 2 JW ladies who came to my door recently told me.
To start at the beginning, periodically, these ladies have called and spoken to Mrs Thirdson but always on a week day. Mrs Thirdson is always very polite and has accepted the mags saying that I might be interested in reading them but making it clear that we are Christians and not interested in joining their religion. Later she told them that I had been raised a JW and when they asked my name Mrs Thirdson said that I was foreign and they wouldn't know me.
Anyway, they came again recently when I was at home, I had just put my daughter's lunch on the table when there was knock at the door. I thought due to the early afternoon hour that it might be a salesman or political campaigner. Instead it was a lady, (I didn't notice the second younger one at first) and said she was bringing the latest magazines. (This is the gist of the conversation, I left out some things but this is the main part.)
I was not prepared for this but before she managed to get anything out of her bag I said, "may I ask you a question? Why do you call on us. We are a Christian family and believers, why do you find it necessary to keep calling at our home?"
The lady explained that because the worsening world conditions are predicted in the Bible and that the end of this system is near they need to call. I said, "Jesus stated that no one knows the day or the hour. His return could be tomorrow or thousands of years away."
"Yes," she said, "but the Bible shows we are living in the time of the end." My reply was that your people have been saying this for 140 years. Her reply was we believe in everything in the Bible.
My response back was, "where in the Bible does it state that Jesus returned in 1914?"
"Well, we could come back and explain it."
"No, show me here and now. After all, this is a fundamental teaching of your religion and just about the only unique thing you teach."
The other lady said, "We don't believe Jesus is God."
I said, "neither do the Unitarians, or the Christadelphians or for that matter the Mormons. But the 1914 teaching is crucial to your teaching that Jesus chose your religion in 1918, so explain it from the Bible."
Well, out comes the Reasoning book. After seeing that the scripture citation was rather long, needed lots of explanation there was some hesitation so I pointed to the diagram of the 2520 years. I said' " OK even if you could explain the convoluted scripture jumping and making times years and years of days years the biggest problem is 607 BC. It's the wrong starting point, Jerusalem wasn't destroyed that year."
"When was it destroyed then?"
"About 587 BC or 20 years after your date. Why don't you check an encyclopedia or other history book, you won't find anyone saying 607. This is important, if that date is wrong then Jesus didn't return in 1914 and neither did he choose your religion in 1918. Tell me when was your modern religion founded?"
"In the late eighteen hundreds."
"Are you aware that your founding leader leader died in the early part of the twentieth century believing Jesus returned in 1874?"
Shocked looks!
"Do you know who William Miller was?"
"No."
"He was a Baptist lay preacher who predicted that Jesus would return in 1844." His followers were disappointed but the millennialist movement produced the Seventh Day Adventists as well the foundation for Russell's teachings. Now Russell predicted the end of the world in 1914 and got that wrong, and your religion has a history of predicting dates and getting them wrong, what is to stop the writers of this book changing their minds and saying that 1914 is wrong? After all, this book (pointing to Reasoning from the Scriptures) is not inspired is it?"
Both ladies responded it was.
Me, incredulous, "Your leaders who write these books are inspired, like the Bible?"
Both ladies "Yes."
Me - "So they're infallible, like the pope?"
Younger lady, "Oh no, they are imperfect and make mistakes."
Me "Well they are not inspired."
Older lady "Well, we should be getting along we have people waiting for us."
Me "OK, but you have a couple of things to research, when was Jerusalem destroyed by the Babylonians and who was William Miller."
Younger lady, "Well you should read Matthew 24."
Me "I certainly will. But I suggest you do the same and reflect on Jesus words about the deceivers who claim he already returned."
So we left it at that and off they went. I don't expect they will back anytime soon or not at least when I am expected to be around. Mrs Thirdson will be primed to follow up should they ever come back.
3rd