Being honest, the thought of Armageddon does mess with my mind occasionally. Growing up JW, I've been through two different time frames of studying the Revelation book at the book study. I've been in expectation of the event happening as long as I can remember. I'm sort of sick of waiting for it. I feel like if its gonna come, so be it. If not, I dont' want to keep discussing it, especially when those jackasses in Bethel had to revise half the book because they got new light. (translation, it wasn't the truth the first time because they had to change it) I've been researching Revelation lately, mainly focusing on the time frame that produced the writing, and what secular researcher's thoughts are. The secular historists aren't biased. They take information, analyse it, and say, here it is, this is what we think. They don't have an axe to grind. Its hard to love God or Christ when you fear them based on being in expectation of Armageddon. I'm increasingly coming to the conclusion that what was written in Revelation had absolutely nothing to do with us now, but everything to do with Rome and Jerusalem.
Fundamentalists, and yes that includes the WT, have an agenda built upon control through fear. They always talk about love, but its bull crap. Alot of the motivating force behind JWs is fear. I'll give you an example that I finally caught today. Debator who is someone I've defended on here occasionally, but after today I've come to view her in a new light. If she truly loves Jehovah and Jesus, she wouldn't be on this forum as she would accept the recomendation from the GB via their literature which is quite explicit in avoiding apostates in person and online. She disregards that, and comes here anyway. The only reason I can think of why she does it, is because she's scared. She doubts the very beliefs she spouts on here. I believe she comes on here to reassure herself much like I did at times while lurking. Debating in itself doesn't bother me, but notice how she goes about it. Through insults, condescending posts, and completely ignoring any points that she can't argue against. We find it peculiar, but her behavior here is what fear causes you to do. Its kind of like owning a pit bull and if you ever owned one, you'll know occasionally they test you. Fear keeps them in check, but it causes them to try you occasionally too. If she wasn't fearful, and had complete confidence in all of the WT doctrines, and its leaders, she wouldn't be here. The fear of Armageddon keeps her within the WT's grasp, but at the same time, the fear of being duped by the WT causes her to post here. Thats how fear operates, it undermines faith, which I'm under the impression she has very little.
Its hard to love God or Christ when you fear them based on being in expectation of Armageddon. I'm increasingly coming to the conclusion that what was written in Revelation had absolutely nothing to do with us now, but everything to do with Rome and Jerusalem. I'm still working it all out, but researching it for myself has been like confronting a bully for the first time and seeing him blink. Its good to examine things for yourself and work your faith out instead of relying on the false promises of men who have a history of questionable prophecies. Its good to look fear in the eyes and excuse my language but its good to tell fear, "F$#$ you!"