I helped a couple brothers out on some roofing work some weeks ago, and at one point we took a break and were shooting the breeze. The one brother is recently reinstated, and was telling me about his efforts at personal study. He emphasized that he wants to be prepared when whats coming, comes, and that its obvious that something is about to happen and that if we're not in harmony with Jehovah, than we're done. The other brother as if on queue, said its obvious that 1st Tim and Matt 24 are being fulfilled today. There's a side of me that agrees with them, cuz things are pretty effed up right about now, however, the cynical side of me is saying things have been effed for quite a while, and an argument could be made that things are a lot better in this day and age than some of the ages I've read about or seen on Nat Geo or the Hist Channel.
JWs hoping this day and age is the end, reminds me of Paul's letter to the congregation in Corinth where he hypothetically muses that the resurrection isn't true, and if thats the case those Christians who believed in it were of most men to be pitied as they dedicated their lives to a futile hope and task. In that sense, you can almost say that those who really do believe it, are worthy of respect if not admiration for at least holding onto the hope they have, and maintaining their faith sticking it out until the end of their lives, even if we view it as a mistaken outlook.