The amateur speculations of Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses

by logansrun 25 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  logansrun

  Friends,
  
  There's a trend among us that I find disturbing, if not humerous. That is the gullibility we sometimes have in believing that the Society is close to putting out a "new date" for Armageddon. The alarmist threads surrounding the rather benign comments about the 120 year period of Noah's day as pointing to 2034 for the end of the system is but one example. As much as we might secretly wish for the Society to make another prediction just to eventually say "I told you so", this is NOT going to happen. Consider:

  The Society has a record of failure in prophecy that is notorious to just about everyone except Jehovah's Witnesses. As I see it, there have been only four Big Blunders when it comes to the Society's millenial madness; 1914,1925,1975 and the more nebulous "this generation." All these periods have been met with failure and the Society has had to use the Revisionist Department to spin the situation before it got out of control. Do you honestly believe the GB want another failure on their hands?

  There is really no pressing reason why the Watchtower would come out with a new date, especially one that is three decades away (2034). The vast majority of JW's are locked in this religion and are not going to leave. With the war on terror and the apprehensive times we are living in, there is enough fear-mongering to keep the rank-and-file in line without an allusion to a precise date. There still is impressive growth going on in underdeveloped parts of the world to give the appearance of "incredible growth." In short, the Society is coasting along. Why fix what ain't broke?

  Finally, the days of "deep thinking" are over at Bethel. With the death of Fred Franz the society lost the "mastermind" behind much of it's quirky prophetic nuttiness. Look at all the publications that have come out over the last decade or so; it's all re-hashed material from the "glory days." Nothing too deep, too big or too exciting. Just what is needed to keep coasting along.

  The Society will continue to trumpet it's apocalyptic message ad nauseum. But to expect them to come out with a new date is, I believe, wishful thinking.

  Yours in Buddha,

  Bradley
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  Nathan Natas

  I respectfully disagree.

  The leadership of the WTS are pathological prophets - an apocalypticist without a date is like a day without sunshine.

  Time will tell.
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  drwtsn32

  I don't believe they are above setting another date, but I do agree that 2034 is too far out there for them to push it.
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  ThiChi

  I agree with NN. Dates are their bread and butter..... It gives the WT control of those who believe. Keep putting the date just far enough ahead in time so that we must follow the directions of the slave to survive....Pure genius. The WT does not need the whole world's conversion. Only enough "useful Idiots", Three to five million, is just enough to keep the cash flowing and their world going....
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  avishai

  Logan, the fact that we're even discussing the date 2034, means that they already have! They did'nt come right out and say it'll end in '75 either. They just subtly insinuate it.
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  Odrade

  I agree Bradley. What has started out as an observation in a Watchtower (2034/120 years) is being taken very seriously by some ex-jws. I have yet to hear a practicing witness take note of that date with anything more than passing interest though. By throwing it around, we lose credibility, especially if we do so with someone who may be "fence-sitting." Imagine if they were to go back to a JW and say "Is this true?" The JW could in good conscience and complete confidence say that the "apostates" are twisting the truth and telling lies again. And maybe it's true.

  The WTS certainly does have a long rich history of manipulating dates and "end times" in efforts to force adherents to maintain that sense of urgency and do more. But naming another specific date... especially one so far in advance, and so clearly... I don't believe they would do that. And by the repeated reference to it around here--sometimes very seriously-- we lose a great deal of credibility. Besides, the last time they really put a date out there, it was less than a decade out--near enough to change a lifestyle. This 2034 date, if they were to use it, is so far away, think of all the people who would now have time to go to college, raise a family and retire. No, this one would potentially backfire on them, and for that reason alone I think it's more of an observation than a new "date." At least for now.

  Thanks for bringing this up, it has been bothering me. I think quite a few ex-jws have latched onto this 2034 thing, and while it's of interest, (and possibly good joke material,) it's not particularly useful yet.

  Odrade
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  Leolaia

  On the Quotes site there is speculation on how 2005 is a WT speculation, and I can't figure out how that was determined from the very vague statements. Maybe one should extend a small measure of recognition to prophetic speculations that are based on statements given by those at the top, but are only constituted into real speculations by those at the local level, say local elders and overseers. That is how the 1984 speculation was, in my memory. I count that as a real speculation, if nothing else because it was talked a lot by Witnesses in their congregations -- tho not as a top-level speculation. So, outside of the ex-JW community, are there elders and POs who have turned the 2034 thing into a real date that they are talking about? Or is it just ex-JWs wanting to make more of the top-level statements than they really say?
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  scotsman

  While we are discussing 2034, none of my JW family or friends are.
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  blondie

  It's too early. The WTS didn't start discussing 1975 until 9 years before in 1966. It was a 50 year gap between 1925 and 1975. So based on that if anything is mentioned it wouldn't be until 2025 (50 years after and 9 years before).

  I think it is interesting that on another thread is was mentioned that the main talk at the convention will be contrasting Noah's time with this time. Hmmmm......

  I don't think JWs are mentioning 2034 as a date now. They are being told that the time is NOW, SOON, VERY SOON NOW.

  Blondie
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  Poztate

  This may just be an amateur speculation on my part but would not the one hundred'th anniversary of Jesus's third coming (33,1874,1914) be an appropriate time for him to fully complete the setting up of his kingdom. I should think so. I hereby confidently predict 2014 as the final end to this "wicked system of things?"

  This would also allow a full 900 years to complete the 1000 year reign of Christ.Would any Wt lurker here please feel free to pass on this thought to the lawyers GB who are responsible for all new light. Remember the motto "We shall have no new light before it's time"