Bang: People already came and told others to repent. The dubs came and said how Christendom is all evil and wrong so people say stuff like "No organised religion is ok" - the legacy of the dubs is a distrust of all the other 'Ninevites' that people know.
I agree in part to what you're saying, but want to point out that according to Christ's own words all who choose to follow in Jesus Christ's footsteps, living good lives the best they can, may preach the gospel of salvation in whatever manner they choose. The gospel of salvation is, of course, through Christ's sacrificial death. His death vindicated Jehovah's universal sovereignty over all that exists throughout the fabric of space and time, shined light upon the perfect fairness of God's laws, and atoned for mankind's condition. That condition is a genetic and spiritual disease called "sin" that ultimately ends in death. In order for humans to gain immortality as an integral part of God's universal family, the most holy sacrifice possible was given.
Christ had free will and could have sided with Satan and his armies of rogue angels to attempt to destroy God, and transform the universe into an evil and godless wasteland ruled by gods. In giving "birth" to Christ aeons ago Jehovah knew that his Son would ultimately have to choose between darkness and light, between evil and good. Satan's failure to win Christ over to his side finally occurred when Christ announced the glorious completion of his mission on Earth:
"When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." (John 19:30)
From that moment onward, Satan and his demons were as prisoners on death row awaiting divine execution. The concept of the Devil ruling over a place of torment that many churches call "Hell" is obviously one of Satan's fondest wet dreams during his final millenniums on Earth, because there was no real place Satan would spend eternity. He would cease to exist upon his death.
Keeping all this in perspective, then, anyone on Earth who has taken it upon themselves to read the Bible and follow Christ and looks forward to everlasting life in the kingdom of God should share this hope with others. If you knew a cure for cancer was coming in 10 years and you were around cancer patients wouldn't you share your knowledge of the coming cure with them? They just might hang on long enough to receive the cure.
Many people in the world believe that life and existence is meaningless, and they have nothing to look forward to in the future. Those who know the true meaning of existence and look forward to endless days of meaningful life should not keep their light under a bushel. Jehovah's Witnesses have seen the light along with other Christians, even if through a veil of twisted reasoning from well-intentioned but confused elderly men who shepherd them. The back of a recent Watchtower even affirmed that salvation is only through Jesus Christ. Like many religious organizations Jehovah's Witnesses have a long road ahead in long overdue reforms.
It is natural in a spiritual war, with evil shrouding the Earth, to distrust the motives of others. Distrust of others is a survival instinct, and those who are wise will require others to earn their trust.
Bang: As for Youknow, the only similarity I noticed is that he'd hate the idea that 'God repented'.
God has felt regrets many times, just as a parent regrets having to punish a child. Yes, I'm sure that You Know would, after the dust settled in the post-Armageddon age, become a recluse in his estate. However, let's remember that he is a casualty of a spiritual warfare mentality that each and every person must deal with in order to survive the onslaught of evil in this world. Unfortunately some like You Know lack balance and become like crazed war veterans that imagine artillery exploding all around them where there is none.
TheOldHippie: I remember a talk delivered by a CO some years ago, where he also reasoned that using Niniveh as an example, God could choose to call Armageddon off. If people repented and it was all called off, the other parts of the Bible (Revelation etc.) would merely be warnings, telling what would have happened, had people not repented.
Thanks for confirming that. Although many Jehovah's Witnesses might come across as harsh in their views of the fate of non-JWs, I think this is a defense mechanism. Many are squeamish about death, and many are literally fearful of being around dead bodies. In war zones where bodies are strewn everywhere, some are so squeamish and afraid of these bodies they go into a stupor and state of shock, and become frozen in fear. This is a natural human reaction. Therefore, if one accepts the possibility that the world at large will not repent -- and by repent I mean turn to righteousness as opposed to becoming baptized JWs which is not an option for many righteous people -- then one must accept the possibility of being surrounded by corpses. Although Jehovah will likely cause these corpses to disappear into non-existence perhaps using the mechanism that caused Christ's body to disappear after his death, many people still tend to fear the worst case scenario (such as having to bury those corpses themselves). To cope with this fear, people will try to harden themselves.
However, I have a strong sense that most JWs (including those on the GB) dearly wish that their preaching work would make a difference in getting people to turn toward God. Jesus asks us to preach because we love our neighbor, and thus we want our neighbor to live even if he/she never becomes one of JWs. We want God to spare everyone, and we preach to people not to save their literal lives but to give them a spiritual hope that will add to the quality of their existence. Afterall, God does want everyone to enjoy life now, as well as in the countless aeons to come.
Derrick
