Waiting...

JH

What must go through the minds of older Jehovah Witnesses, who believed that they would never die and now face the reality that they will die of old age? Being told since a century that

that the end is near just made them keep on producing without questioning. But as they grow old and can't follow anymore, many start questioning the teachings of that organization. And how about the younger generation of witnesses, who see their older brothers and sisters aging and falling sick one after the other without the end coming to the rescue of these old people. Thats why the younger witnesses don't have the zeal of the older ones, because they see the deceptions of others who gave all they had and reaped nothing at all. Not living to see the end must take away the joy of these people and those around them. How long can that religion survive if they don't deliver in their expectations?

Edited by - JH on 6 December 2002 20:59:44

Mary

It's really sad to see.......I was talking to a sister in my Hall the other day - she just turned 85. She said "I thought Armageddon would be here long before now, but I don't think I'll live to see it." It's heartbreaking to witness this, because so many of them believed with all their hearts that this WAS Jehovah's Organization and they were all assured that they would never grow old in this System of Things.

I know that many of them, without actually saying it, feel totally and utterly betrayed by the Governing Body members, because it was THEY who promised "life without end" to them. However, they're too old to feel they want to start another religion now, and if they left, it would be as though they've wasted 50, 60 or 70 years of their lives and who wants to think THAT at that point in your life?

My parents are over 70 years of age now, and I have to face the fact that one day, they'll be gone. I find this very difficult some times because of course when I was younger, I never thought I'd have to face that possibility..........whether there's a future resurrection here on earth, or if there's life after death, it's still hard for Witnesses to face death head on.

czarofmischief

Just talked to my mom about this the other day - she has grown old in the service, and she said that she doesn't think she'll live to see Armageddon.

The GB DID betray them, with their insane devotion to "preaching, prediction, and prophecy" over sheperding the flock.

A whole generation went crazy and did something incredible - and just because it didn't work out like they thought doesn't make it all bad or malicious in intent. I mean, the 60's didn't bring utopia, but the Civil Rights Act helped a few folks, and that's better than nothing, right? And the JW's HAVE helped many people escape from the modern slavery system of drugs, alcohol abuse, and gave them a sense of purpose, misbegotten as it was.

CZAR

Navigator

I know very few JW's my age who have made any financial provision for their old age. They didn't need to because amagedon was coming, or so they thought. Now they will be a burden on their children, if they have any, or the state. I haven't heard any plans for the GB to come to their aid.

QCA1

Hi to everyone

I wrote this poem ages ago and it is actually called Waiting.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE THE SEED WAS SOWN OF TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE WORLD WE'VE KNOWN.

THEY SAID BE PATIENT GODS KINGDOM WILL COME AND HE'LL GIVE IT TO US HIS FAITHFUL ONES.

SOON THEY SAID IN 1914 I'VE NEGLECTED SO MUCH SINCE MY EARLY TEENS.

I'VE WAITED AND WAITED MY LIFE HAS PASSED BY I'VE KNOCKED ON DOORS AND WALKED A THOUSAND MILES.

I'VE SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS FAR AND WIDE,OH HOW MY HEART ACHES DEEP DOWN INSIDE.

NOW I AM OLD AND SO ALONE NO CHILDREN TO LOVE AND CALL MY OWN.

TO BUSY WAS I WITH MY OWN SALVATION CERTAIN OF MY DESTINATION.

I'M STILL AWAKE BUT SO TIRED AM I LOOKING OUT FROM THE WATCHTOWER TOWARDS THE SKY.

WAITING FOR ARMAGGEDON AND WAITING TO DIE.

waiting

"Waiting......" whew! thought I was going to get a thrashin' this early in the morning!

As for the subject matter? I think the "faithful witness' " only canned response is "Well, we didn't join for a time period." True, but they did join because they felt that the WT had The Truth - and non of their time period predictions have come true.

Even the WT major teaching on "This Generation" had to be changed.

The "Faithful & Discreet Slave Class" - of which ALL the Governing Body is/was part of that Anointed Class had to be changed because they are dying off quickly now......and The Anointed Class was "sealed" some decades ago by the same GB teachings.

An interesting comment made by an elder who stepped down around 92, who is a friend of mine. He said it was because of health problems - and he told me what his CO told him, "You'll be out of The Truth within a year." Why? "Because you won't have Jehovah's Blessing anymore."

The brother felt bad - and told me, "You know, that's been 5 years ago, and I'm still hanging around. But when they got us all to take on the trouble of being elders....they told us it would be only for a short time. Lots of us are just tired. I just got too tired."

Paraphrased, btw - but I never forgot what he said - according to him, he & others he knew never wanted to be elders with all that extra work. They took it on at the WT's urging "for a short time period."

These men took on being an elder back in the 70's. A loooooong 35 years ago - and many of the good men are just plained tired.

waiting

Billygoat

There is a part of me that mourns for my parents. Not because I don't get to share their lives anymore, but because I know they will never LIVE a life of happiness and freedom out from under the control of that stupid cult. If my parents could escape from the Watchtower I would gladly give up ANY relationship possibilities with them. I'd just be so happy they were OUT!

*sigh*

larc

When I first read this thread, I had to leave it for awhile because it gave me a feeling of sadness over members of my own family. When my mother became sick about 20 years ago, her pension was so small she could barely get by. Before she died she had to sell her house and move into a small apartment. If she had lived any longer, she would have been destitute. My JW sister and her husband are in their late 50's. They have saved nothing for retirement. Her husband hates his job, but he will be unable to quit until the day he dies. How sad indeed.

Waiting...

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