...and last, and last, and last...
The "Last Days" are like the freakin' Energizer Bunny!
...and last, and last, and last...
LAST DAYS - 1914?
by elder-schmelder 21 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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elder-schmelder
I just went to the offical website and found this.
Jesus foretold that 'nation would rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.' (Matthew 24:7) In 1914 the world became involved in a war that saw the mobilizing of nations and kingdoms in a way that was different from any war before it. In recognition of that fact, historians at the time called it the Great War. It was the first war of its kind in history, the first world war. Some 20,000,000 soldiers and civilians lost their lives, far more than in any previous war.
World War I marked the beginning of the last days. Jesus said that this and other events would be "a beginning of pangs of distress." (Matthew 24:8) That proved true, as World War II was even more deadly, some 50,000,000 soldiers and civilians losing their lives. In this 20th century, well over 100,000,000 people have been killed in wars, more than four times as many as in the previous 400 years put together! What an enormous condemnation of human rule!
Did WW1 mark the beginning of the last days. I thought that the last days started in Oct 1914?
elder-schmelder
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The Almighty Homer
World war 1 was a consequence of time that the WTS manipulated for their own purposes,
which of course is always about selling and propagating their literature, 1914 is fictionalized joke of a special
year, that has been proven many times over and over again. In many ways WW1 and WW2 were wars against countries invading another
countries. If your well studied in history you'll come to realize that mankind was much more waring in the past than to date.
Every single prophetic prophecy of the end times were happening in abundance during the times of when the scriptures were written, ( fact )
thats another notation in history that the WTS. will not acknowledge for reasons that I previously stated.
Studying the information provided by the WTS is a study in human ignorance, which is kind of unfortunate because people aren't really receiving the truth.
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Mad Sweeney
There was a thread a couple days ago on this idea of the last days signs being seen since 1914. (I started it :) ) Anyway, it's pretty clear that most of the sign of Matthew 24 has NOT happened to any significant degree since 1914. Things like earthquakes, famines and pestilences can be easily quantified as being steady or declining with a simple google search.
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Farkel
Billyex,
:he might not be crazy, just a little confused. "The Time of the End" commenced in 1799.
Not only that, the WTS taught that date as the start of the Last Days until at least 1930. But they weren't the only religion who taught it. Others tied that date to the fall of the Church's influence in France and the beginning of the end of the Holy Roman Empire.
Farkel
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flipper
ELDER-SCHMELDER- Your dad is not crazy- just confused as Farkel said. It's easy for witnesses to get confused these days because the WT society keeps changing and printing confusing versions of what constitutes the " last days". My older JW mom sent me an April 15th, 2008 Watchtower I believe which DEFINITELY used the same words your dad described " a general time frame we are living in now. "
Yes- They still believe the " last days " started in 1914 - however that April 2008 Watchtower stated that there is no " definitive length of time a generation can be. No set time. " So to the witnesses now - they are being told a generation could cover an " undetermined " amount of time. If you PM Blondie she may be able to print a link to that 2008 WT on generation. If anybody has it would you be so kind to post it ? I don't have my copy that my mom sent me back in 2008.
Also - The latest mind control info they have been telling witnesses is since they no longer believe in 1935 as the sealing of the anointed being selected - it's opened the door for more people to start partaking and professing to be of the 144,000 . That's why we see the figures going up each year now of nitwits partaking thinking they'll fly around as rulers in heaven. So how it was explained at the district convention this year was that there is an " overlap of generations " of anointed now. As the old guard dies off , i.e. Jaracz, Barr, who are in their 80's and 90's - the younger " generation " of anointed are still here extending the " generation by another 50 to 60 years or so by way of having associated with the " old " anointed . So the thought is they both " lived " in the same generation. So THAT is how the WT society is buying more " last days " for themselves. Pretty twisted and bizarre if you ask me ! NOW you understand why your dad is SO confused ?? !! Good luck straightening THAT out ! Peace out, Mr. Flipper
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cantleave
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w082/15p.23Christ’sPresence—WhatDoesItMeantoYou?***
The
GenerationSeeingthe
Sign
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Previously, this journal has explained that in the first century, “this generation” mentioned at Matthew 24:34 meant “the contemporaneous generation of unbelieving Jews.” That explanation seemed reasonable because all other recorded uses that Jesus made of the term “generation” had a negative connotation, and in most cases, Jesus used a negative adjective, such as “wicked,” to describe the generation. (Matt. 12:39; 17:17; Mark 8:38) Thus, it was felt that in the modern-day fulfillment, Jesus was referring to the wicked “generation” of unbelievers who would see both the features that would characterize “the conclusion of the system of things” (syn·te′lei·a) and the system’s end (te′los).11
It is true that when Jesus used the word “generation” negatively, he was speaking to or about the wicked people of his day. But was that necessarily true of his statement recorded at Matthew 24:34? Recall that four of Jesus’ disciples had approached him “privately.” (Matt. 24:3) Since Jesus did not use negative qualifiers when speaking to them about “this generation,” the apostles would no doubt have understood that they and their fellow disciples were to be part of the “generation” that would not pass away “until all these things [would] occur.” -
cantleave
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w082/15pp.23-24pars.12-14Christ’sPresence—WhatDoesItMeantoYou?***
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On what basis may we draw that conclusion? By carefully considering the context. As recorded at Matthew 24:32, 33, Jesus said: “Now learn from the fig tree as an illustration this point: Just as soon as its young branch grows tender and it puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. Likewise also you, when you see allthesethings, know that he is near at the doors.” (Compare Mark 13:28-30; Luke 21:30-32.) Then, at Matthew 24:34, we read: “Truly I say to you that thisgeneration will by no means pass away until allthesethings occur.”13
Jesus said that it was his disciples, soon to be anointed with holy spirit, who should be able to draw certain conclusions when they saw “all these things” occur. So Jesus must have been referring to his disciples when he made the statement: “This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.”14
Unlike unbelievers, Jesus’ disciples would not only see the sign but also understand its significance. They would “learn” from the features of that sign and “know” their true meaning. They would fully appreciate that “he is near at the doors.” While it is true that both unbelieving Jews and faithful anointed Christians saw a limited fulfillment of Jesus’ words in the first century, only his anointed followers back then could learn from these events—could understand the true meaning of what they saw. -
cantleave
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w082/15pp.24-25pars.15-16Christ’sPresence—WhatDoesItMeantoYou?***
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Those without spiritual understanding today have felt that there has been no “striking observableness” with regard to the sign of Jesus’ presence. They reason that everything is continuing on as it did in the past. (2 Pet. 3:4) On the other hand, Christ’s faithful anointed brothers, the modern-day John class, have recognized this sign as if it were a flash of lightning and have understood its true meaning. As a class, these anointed ones make up the modern-day “generation” of contemporaries that will not pass away “until all these things occur.” This suggests that some who are Christ’s anointed brothers will still be alive on earth when the foretold great tribulation begins.“Keep
ontheWatch”
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More is needed, though, than merely recognizing the sign. Jesus went on to say: “What I say to you I say to all, Keep on the watch.” (Mark 13:37) This is of utmost importance to all of us today whether of the anointed or of the great crowd. Nine decades have passed since Jesus was installed as King in heaven in 1914. As challenging as it may be, we must prove ourselves ready and keep on the watch. Understanding that Christ is present invisibly in Kingdom power helps us to do that. It also alerts us to the fact that soon he will come to destroy his enemies “at an hour that [we] do not think likely.”—Luke 12:40. -
cantleave
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w082/15p.25par.17Christ’sPresence—WhatDoesItMeantoYou?***
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Our understanding of the meaning of Christ’s presence helps to intensify our feelings of urgency. We know that Jesus is already present and has been reigning invisibly as King in heaven since 1914. Soon he will come to destroy the wicked and bring about vast changes to this entire globe. We should therefore be more determined than ever to take an active part in the work that Jesus foretold when he said: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then theend [te′los] will come.”—Matt. 24:14.