This is incredible news, and it makes me sick to think how they're ignoring this problem. Our seniors have done so much for us, now we're to abandon them because the JWs believe Armageddon is right around the corner. It is, but it isn't. World events are quickly taking us to the last great battle of our time, but Gog, the Beast, Antichrist, whatever you want to call him, has not manifested himself. The temple has not been built by the Jews (Rev. 11), the tribulation has not even begun, nor have the two prophets been called who will use God's power to stay the enemy's hand. Many things need to take place before the return of the Savior/Jehovah (see Zechariah 12-14, Ezekiel 37-38).
And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
The Jehovah's Witness exegesis experts, not liking things like the above, simply ignore it! A child could explain this prophecy because it tells us who, what, why and where. Just not when. And what's really ironic is that this is the great battle of Armageddon that the JWs claim to be waiting for. Jesus wasn't crucified in New York, London, Rome, Athens or Paducah! He was crucified in Jerusalem.
Back in the early 70s, I recall the JWs were expecting Armageddon to happen at any moment. There may be a bit of perverse justice in that many of the JWs at the time weren't lifting a finger for their futures or their childrens' futures. Now they're the seniors who have few, if anyone at all, to care for them. And even if their kids wanted to, they're too busy flipping burgers at McDonald's because their parents and grandparents didn't provide for their educations. What goes around comes around. Ask any Witness today to explain Armageddon and none of them has a clue. I have an entire Watchtower entitled ARMAGEDDON!! on the cover, and I didn't know any more about it after I read it than before. Yahweh gave us prophecies so we would know the times and the seasons, and when his coming was nigh. But the folks making the horrendous decisions about the future will soon enough find themselves senior citizens with no one to take care of them.
And who will they blame?