Was Jesus here saying that the appearance of wars, famine and earthquakes should be taken as evidence that his parousi'a had begun? or is it not the case that the emphasis of his words in verse 4 through 8 are that his followers should not overreact to the appearance of such signs. They should not pay heed to those who say at this point "The due time has approached".
Here's a technical note for you, Cofty. Wars and reports of wars should be taken separately from the other signs. The generation that would see these signs during his parousia would begin with "nation against nation and kingdom against kingdom." Thus "wars and reports of wars" is in contrast to "nation against nation and kingdom against kingdom." What Christ was saying was to ignore the regular small-time wars that would happen throughout generations prior to the generation of the second coming. But when you see "nation against nation and kingdom against kingdom" then is when that generation would begin -- that is, when a WORLD WAR takes place. Thus that generation would begin with a world war. After that world war, then the other signs would also take place. So regular wars were to be ignored, but not the other signs that occur after a world war takes place. In your statement, you are not distinguishing "reports of wars" meaning usual conflicts between individual nations from "nation against nation and kingdom" which is a reference to a conflict involving multiple nations. Thus the disciples were told not to take note when they hear of regular wars here and there, but to take note when there is a world war, after which the other signs would take place.
Thus the very first sign of that last generation would be a world war and that's why we can begin the last generation of 80 years in 1914.
Now I'll just note this for the record in regards to the chronology. Secular history dates the fall of Jerusalem in 587 BCE and fall of Babylon in 539 BCE. The WTS loosely follows the Bible that introduces a 70-year period of desolation of the land to pay back its sabbaths which they date from the fall of Jerusalem to the return of the Jews from Babylon in 537 BCE. They quote from Josephus regarding this 70-year period, only Josephus dates those 70 years of servitude from the last deportation in year 23 of Nebuchadnezzar II. Josephus' reference is consistent with the Bible's reference to when these 70 years takes place. So the Bible and secular history (except for Josephus) are in conflict. The Bible's NB Period is some 26 years longer than reflected in the secular records. So you have some options here as far as the "7 times" prophecy. Based on the above, the 2nd coming is dated in either 1914 or 1934.
But others, like Martin Anstey interpret the "70 weeks" prophecy as being fulfilled in the 1st of Cyrus. This prophecy begins when the "word goes forth to rebuild Jerusalem" which links to the reference to Cyrus rebuilding Jerusalem and the temple. If that's the case, then 455 BCE should date the 1st of Cyrus. Martin Anstey reached this conclusion which means he believed that the Persian Period was thus 82 years too long, since the 1st of Cyrus should be dated to 455 BCE rather than 537 BCE. Now is that what the Bible truly represents? Was Martin Anstey correct? Maybe, maybe not. But there is no way to harmonize the Bible's timeline for this period with that of secular history, so you have to make a choice. But in passing, if you date the 1st of Cyrus to 455 BCE as Anstey does, then calculate 70 years back to the last deportation, as Josephus requires, then year 23 of Nebuchadnezzar II would fall in 525 BCE and his 19th year in 529 BCE. That means you have another potential date for the 2nd coming based strictly on the Bible in 1992.
Those are the options: 1914, 1934 or 1992. However, when we contrast those dates with the events, only 1992 works. Why? Because the messiah doesn't appear until after the State of Israel is set up and not until after the "great tribulation." The great tribulation is a reference to a one-time event that never happened before nor would happen again with the focus on Daniel's people, the holy ones. Daniel talks about "dashing the holy ones to pieces" during this great tribulation (Daniel 12:7)
"And as soon as there will have been a finishing of the dashing of the power of the holy people to pieces, all these things will come to their finish.”
In other words, the "great tribulation" was part of the punishment of the Jews for leaving God's covenant. They were to suffer exile and while in exile be subject to persecution during the "appointed times of the nations," which would climax in this one-time event of the great tribulation, after which all this would end and they would be restored to their homeland and God's favor.
Now Armageddon is not going to kill of any righteous people. Armageddon is not going to kill off any "chosen ones" in the kingdom. So these "chosen ones" who are going to be killed is not a reference to faithful Christians but to the natural Jews. It is the natural Jews who are almost completely exterminated during this "great tribulation" requiring the days to be cut short so that at least a remnant of them are saved. This one-time event just before the Jews are restored to their homeland was the HOLOCAUST. Even so, it is not until after this great tribulation takes place as one of the critical signs of this last generation that the messiah appears. You don't see the "sign of the son of man" appearing until after the great tribulation. Further, he is said to be "near at the doors" when the fig tree starts to grow tender, that is, when the State of Israel is newly established. Based on that, neither 1914 nor 1934 can be considered the date of the 2nd coming.
But now, we get a break in the chronology due to the VAT4956. This text has two lines (lines 3 and 14) that do not match 568 BCE for year 37 of Nebuchadnezzar II. These mismatches have always been noted by scholars, but never compared until recently. When compared, the lunar positions in both lines match the same lunar cycle occurring in 511 BCE, suggesting that 511 BCE was the original year 37 of Nebuchadnezzar II. If so, then year 19 falls in 529 BCE, which would, in turn, date the 2nd coming in 1992 but also confirm that 455 BCE must have been the original year for the 1st of Cyrus.
Meaning what? Meaning if you follow the chronology of the signs and date the 2nd coming near the end of that generation and definitely after the great tribulation and the new State of Israel being set up, then you have to fix the ancient popular timeline. Except now, because of the VAT4956, you don't have any options to pick and choose dates based on various interpretations of scripture. The WTS has always said that when there is a conflict between secular and the Bible, they choose the Bible. I agree with that as well. But the secular date for year 37 of Nebuchadnezzar II that must be compared with the bible's timeline is now 511 BCE, not 568 BCE; the VAT4956 confirms 568 BCE is the revised date. So for a second there is a little concern that the Bible might contradict this superior secular reference to the dating of the Neo-Babylonian Period, but just for a moment. That's because when the 1st of Cyrus is dated to 455 BCE, then year 23 of Neb2 falls in 525 BCE, which in turn means year 37 falls in 511 BCE as the VAT4956 confirms.
So when you do the hard work and get real about the facts, the Bible prophecies work out. 1992 occurs before the end of that generation of 1914 ending in 1994. So when you have the right interpretation and the right facts of ancient history, then the Bible is fulfilled precisely. The 2nd coming comes near the very end of the parousia just as the dignitary in a procession arrives last; that's the point of reference for Christ's parousia. The last generation begins with a world war and ends with the 2nd coming, that's the basics. In the meantime you have a great tribulation, which was the Holocaust and the "end of the gentile times" allowing the new State of Israel to be set up. All that occurs just as the Bible prophesied.
Cofty, you've gone to the trouble to distinguish what's in the Bible and what the WTS teaches. So finish your research. Determine if the Bible is true or not when correctly interpreted. Be just as critical of secular sources as you are of the WTS.
Regards