Who will survive Armageddon? What does the WT teach?

by GoingGoingGone 19 Replies latest watchtower bible

• 

  GoingGoingGone

  I made a comment to my 15 year old son last night about the arrogance of the JW teaching that all non-JWs will be destroyed at Armageddon. He responded that I am mistaken, that the JWs teach that Jehovah reads hearts, even of those who are being preached to today. In other words, no one is 'written off' like that, and btw he hates it when I take a teaching I don't like and exaggerate it like that.....

  His reaction surprised me, both because I'm not used to him defending the JWs, but also because he is still attending meetings (my husband makes the kids go), and so maybe I am remembering incorrectly. I have tried looking up specific information on Quotes' site, and on the WT library CD, but have limited time today and haven't found what I'm looking for. Since teenagers tend to have the attention span of a flea, I'd love to give him an answer to this before he completely loses interest in the topic.

  Sooooo..... does anyone know what the JW teaching on this subject is? Preferably, what's in print?

  Thank you in advance!!!

  GGG
• 

  littlerockguy

  *** Watchtower 1989 September 1 p. 19 Remaining Organized for Survival Into the Millennium ***

  7 Only Jehovah's Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the "great crowd," as a united organization under the protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system dominated by Satan the Devil.
• 

  Balsam

  Going going gone,

  Your son sounds like my son when I left and he at 14 was living with his JW Dad. It is hard, I had to learn never to talk about the JW's to him. We talked of everything else. Your son is mistaken, but he probably was not around when it was emphasized that all unbelievers will have their lives ended. My son sort of heard what he wanted too and would defend it at all costs. Pointing out his mistakes is a good way to alienate him though. It took 2 years from my son to leave and it was the stupid things the Elders did that finally made him open his eyes. Good luck with him becareful with him he is fragile.

  Balsam
• 

  in a new york bethel minute

  
  the last chapter of the "live forever" book says this:

  14

  Do not conclude that there are different roads, or ways, that you can follow to gain life in God’s new system. There is only one. There was just the one ark that survived the Flood, not a number of boats. And there will be only one organization—God’s visible organization—that will survive the fast-approaching "great tribulation." It is simply not true that all religions lead to the same goal. (Matthew 7:21-23; 24:21) You must be part of Jehovah’s organization, doing God’s will, in order to receive his blessing of everlasting life.—Psalm 133:1-3

  i have to label a few of my JW friends as apostate because they say that it's the heart condition of the person... when, according to the religion they belong to and promote, that simply is not true.

  bethel
• 

  carla

  Thanks for supplying the quotes. So, technically couldn't a jw be df'd or at least marked for teaching that jah will not destroy us evil non jw's? My husband has said similar things that it is not true that all non jw's will be destroyed. How is it possible they seem to know so little of their own literature?
• 

  heathen

  7 Only Jehovah's Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the "great crowd," as a united organization under the protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system dominated by Satan the Devil.

  I'd have to say the bible makes it sound like the 144k or "anointed" as the WTBTS call them, all die as martyrs prior to the incoming kingdom . The only ones mentioned in revelation as being survivors are the great crowd . I was pretty verbal about my belief that the 144k are all dead when the kingdom arrives but the WTBTS and local members all seemed to disagree and were very eager to try and force their belief on me .They are the first fruits of the kingdom because as the apsotle Paul states those that are living shall not precede those that have died . I might as well as smack my head against the wall as talk to those idiots . It's what the society says about the bible that matters it's not what the bible says . I never thought they were involved with the occult either but now I'm certain they are .
• 

  blondie

  *** w89 1/15 p. 20 How Baptism Can Save Us ***

  In ancient times, slaves were often marked on the forehead. By the preaching work today, the antitypical ‘man clothed in linen’—the remnant of Jesus’ anointed followers—is ‘marking’ those who will survive the end of this system. In this work the anointed are assisted by their associates, the "other sheep." (Ezekiel 9:1-7; John 10:16) And what is the "mark"? It is the evidence that we are dedicated to Jehovah and are Jesus’ baptized disciples who have a Christlike personality.

  21 Especially now is it vital that we have the "mark" and retain it, for we are deep into "the time of the end." (Daniel 12:4) To be saved we must ‘endure to the end’ of our present life or of this system. (Matthew 24:13) Only if we thus remain faithful as witnesses of Jehovah will baptism save us.

  *** Knowledge chap. 18 p. 180 Make It Your Aim to Serve God Forever ***

  A dedicated, baptized person faithfully endeavoring to follow Jesus is special to God. Jehovah examines all the billions of human hearts and knows how rare such individuals are. He considers them to be treasures, "desirable things." (Haggai 2:7) Bible prophecies show that God views such ones as marked to survive the execution of his judgment soon to come upon this wicked system of things. (Ezekiel 9:1-6; Malachi 3:16, 18) Are you "rightly disposed for everlasting life"? (Acts 13:48) Is it your earnest desire to be marked as one serving God? Dedication and baptism are part of that mark, and they are essential for survival.
• 

  heathen

  Only if we thus remain faithful as witnesses of Jehovah will baptism save us.

  Of course we know they mean faithful to the WTBTS , no matter how screwed up they are .
• 

  garybuss

  They actually teach both.
  #1. Only active baptized Witnesses will be saved.
  #2. They don't know who will be saved. It's up to Jehovah. Others besides active baptized Witnesses may be saved.
  Teaching #1 is mostly limited to contexts where the audience will be mostly active baptized Witnesses.
  Teaching #2 is mostly used in recruiting contexts and by apologists.
  They believe #1 but they will teach and recite #2. I've seen it countless times. It's a terrible topic to discuss with a Witness. A believing Witness can hold two conflicting beliefs in their mind at the same time (on multiple subjects) and believe them both.
  My personal policy is to never talk about religion or Witnessism with a believing Jehovah's Witness, especially a relative.
  
  
• 

  heathen

  #2. They don't know who will be saved. It's up to Jehovah. Others besides active baptized Witnesses may be saved.

  I'm sure they used this one alot more when they were members of the UN and played nice with other religions according to the UN rules .