The question I proffer is, what would be the effects of global catastrophes be on the sect, and religion in general. If we began to have increasingly devastating earthquakes, melting of the polar ice regions (which is caused by volcanic activity, not global warming), resulting in the destruction of coastal cities, and so forth, would this cause people who have left the faith to return to it?
By the way, in point of the Armageddon doctrine held by the WTBTS, as we see the recent military activity in Iraq, and the call by fanatical Muslims for a restored caliphate, the JWs had better rethink their position. The “beast” in the book of Revelation (also known in the Old Testament as Gog, the Assyrian, and fundamental Christianity as “the Antichrist”) rises up in the Middle East and ultimately brings its entire military power against Jerusalem. This is biblical eschatology. The JWs, however, have embraced the replacement theology by which they have replaced Jerusalem and Judah with themselves; yet how can they explain what’s taking place? Judah has returned, Israel has been reestablished, and now the Muslim powers are calling for a return of the caliphate, laying the ground for biblical Armageddon (not JW Armageddon, which is embarrassingly unbiblical).
Jesus returns when the “beast” attacks Jerusalem and is on the point of succeeding. With imminent destruction facing the Jews, the Messiah appears in Heaven and destroys the beast and all but a sixth of his military forces. The kingdom that “was, is not, and will be again” is, I think, the Muslim Caliphate. But prophecy also states that the world will experience many natural disasters and destruction, called by many the “Tribulation.” So when this happens, will people return to religion? The scriptures say no, but that men will “curse God and die,” but those who were once religious is another matter. I believe the Society also is suffering from a lack of faith in its legitimacy. After all, it has no claim to apostolic authority. Most people who leave the faith do not feel there is an alternative, and many end up rejecting all religion.
If these destructions happen, will the WTBTS see a revival? What effect would these devastations have on you? Would you see any religious significance or would you write it off as the earth going through natural changes?
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