Hello again,
Here is Part Two.
Armageddon.. and the ...' time of the end '
Part II - from 1952 to 1982 -
1952*
*** w52 2/1 80-1 Jehovah's Theocratic Organization Today ***
THE FOLLY OF SPECULATING
13 There are some who seem to dote on speculations. They love to be the talking center of little groups, voicing their theories on how or when this or that is going to happen. They may not be deliberately rebellious about what the slave provides, but if they can offer only what the slave has already supplied they do not stand out.
How can they shine personally if they merely reflect what all others of Jehovah?s witnesses are reflecting? So they seek for something more sensational, for some ?new light? to dazzle unwary listeners. As they feed the open-mouthed listeners their line of new theories, the listeners by their rapt attention feed the ego of the speculators. When someone else begins to do the talking and occupies the spotlight, the speculator loses interest in the conversing group and drifts on.
These speculating ones may acknowledge that some of their past theories were wrong, but they do not show they have learned the lesson from these mistakes by refraining from bringing forth new theories. Their longing to be viewed as an independent and deep thinker is stronger than their desire to be theocratic.
14 Some of the speculating ones are more rebellious than others, disagreeing dogmatically with the discreet slave's provisions, exalting themselves above the Lord's established channel.
They argue that the theocratic organization has not always been right, and that they once had ideas the organization rejected but now teaches, and thus imply that their present theories will likewise be accepted in time.
They never mention the numerous speculations they have advanced in the past that were never adopted. That would spoil their campaign to get their present ideas gobbled up.
What their conceit blinds them to is that the visible theocratic
organization has never claimed infallibility, that it knows the
message will be continually purified by the elimination of erroneous
ideas, that it expects new truths to become manifest as more prophecies are fulfilled, that gradually the light will shine more
and more until the perfect day, and that the clarifications will come
through the discreet slave and not self-exalting speculators. (Prov. 4:18; Isa. 6:5-7; Mal. 3:1-3)
It is a continuous process, for the slave is ?to keep giving them their measure of food supplies at the proper time?. (Luke 12:42, NW)
Doubtless some do have ideas that are not published until later; to do so earlier may have been premature, may not have been 'at the proper time'. Wait upon the Lord."
1953*
"The facts of modern history prove we are in the "day of God the Almighty" and his war is near."
and:
"That means that Armageddon is so near at hand it will strike the generation now living."
(from the booklet:" AFTER ARMAGEDDON - GOD'S NEW WORLD published in the year 1953 pages 7, 29 )
INCLUDEPICTURE "http://www.strictlygenteel.co.uk/booklets/bookletimages/afterarmageddoncover.jpg" \* MERGEFORMATINET
The Fascinating Speech
found in the pages of this booklet was delivered by the president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society at the public meeting of the eight-day New World Society Assembly of Jehovah's Witnesses in Yankee Stadium, New York city, New York, U. S. A., Sunday afternoon, July 26, 1953. The enormous turnout of people overflowed from the Yankee Stadium into nearby overflow tents, which were filled with 25,240 persons, and 40 miles away at the assembly Trailer City another record crowd of 49,027 listened by direct wire communication with Yankee Stadium, making a total attendance of 165,829. At the same time, the lecture was broadcast over radio station WBBR to an unnumbered invisible audience.
From the way this tremendous crowd of people from ninety-six different lands enjoyed this speech we are sure that all readers with hearts yearning for what is right, pure and good will enjoy it too, with great personal enrichment and comfort and with wise counsel for the future. So with keen pleasure we publish it herewith.
— THE PUBLISHERS
WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY
PUBLISHERS
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Inc.
International Bible Students Association
Brooklyn, New York, U. S. A.
Made in the United States of America
AFTER ARMAGEDDON - GOD'S NEW WORLD
ARMAGEDDON will be the worst thing ever to hit the earth within the history of man. God's new world will be the best thing ever to come to distressed mankind and will never pass away. For us to know that the best immediately follows the worst gives us courage to consider the subject of our discussion. We cannot have the new world without first Armageddon, So if we have yet to endure Armageddon, it will be better for us to face it with understanding, in the hope of surviving and entering into a new world of God's making, a world altogether different from the one mankind has known now for thousands of years, to its sorrow. Armageddon will prove a great blessing in disguise. Our proper concern is how we may prepare that we may not be irreparably hurt by it but may endure it and live to enjoy the grand new things of God's world of righteousness.
At critical times men in public office and prominent in world affairs have spoken of Armageddon as something that can be avoided by the skillful efforts of men. Because of the background of the name "Armageddon" some men have taken it to mean a decisive conflict and they have used the word in a way to fit a certain occasion. In the campaign year of 1912 the Boston Globe quoted the
4
aforetime American president Theodore Roosevelt as saying: "With unflinching heart and undimmed eye, we stand at Armageddon and we battle for the Lord."
...
necessity for that war in due time and he foretold its coming.
7
That war is therefore unavoidable. The facts of modern history prove we are in the "day of God the Almighty" and his war is near.
This war or battle takes its name from the symbolic place where it is to be fought, "the place that is called in Hebrew Har-Magedon," or, "Armageddon." The name means "Mountain of Megiddo." The name "Megiddo" is understood to mean the "place of the assembly of troops." The name "Megiddo" is historic. It named an ancient city on the plain of Esdraelon in Palestine and about fifty-five miles north of Jerusalem. Strongly fortified, Megiddo commanded an important pass from the north into the plain, and nearly all notices of it in the Holy Bible are connected with military transactions. Not that the war of all wars is to be fought out at the literal location of ancient Megiddo, but that the war of that great day of God the Almighty will have consequences like those of ancient battles at Megiddo, for then Almighty God fought to prove his sovereignty over the earth and to rescue his people upon whom his name "Jehovah" was called.
...
29
as if they had never existed. The Devil and his demons will be released for a little while from the abyss of imprisonment in order to be used in this test and will also be annihilated in second death as wicked beyond correction.
Those passing the test in perfect loyalty from the heart will be justified by the Supreme Judge to an endless happy life. Where? In an unfading paradise on earth. (Revelation 20:7-15, NW) Thus the glorious climax will be a world absolutely clean, righteous and God-fearing, in both its new earth and its new heavens. To the omnipotent, all-wise, all-righteous and all-loving God is this amazing result to be attributed through Jesus Christ, as it is written: "And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be any more. The former things have passed away." (Revelation 21:3, 4, NW) Rightly the saved world will adore him evermore.
ACTION NOW BEFORE ARMAGEDDON!
Just a while ago we said that the vast majority of the subjects of the new world's King will be people restored to life on earth by the resurrection of the dead. Why only the "vast majority," and not all? Because there is a great crowd of people of good will today living who will survive the world catastrophe of Armageddon and enter the world of new heavens and new earth without going down into the grave or ever afterward having the need to die and cease to exist. That means that Armageddon is so near at hand it will strike the generation now living.
When giving the prophecy that mentions Armageddon Jesus said he would come to this
30
universal war like a thief: "Look! I am. coming as a thief. Happy is the one that stays awake." (Revelation 16:15, NW)
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
1953*
From the book , approved by the WTBS Inc.- :
Jehovah's Witnesses The New World Society' written by
Marley Cole - (1955 Vantage Press Inc. New York - Libray of Congress Catalog Card Number 54-12633)
Chapter one, page 3, the Jehovah's Witnesses Convention
" Sunday , July 26th, 1953 'the Yankee Stadium, in the
Bronx, New York. ', now the description of the event on
page 5 , The New World Society Assembles :
'Thunderous hand clapping filled the stadium. Mr. Knorr, whois president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, international directive agency of Jehovah?s witnesses, waited while an attendant adjusted his microphone. He looked out toward asmany of the 165,829 people as he could from the stage.
He commenced to speak , and his words were carried simultaneously to another invisible audience over the Witnesses' own 5,000watt radio station WBBR.? Other wires transmitted his message to tape-recording technicians, who recorded it for replaying on a mass scale to no tellling how many more people associated with the 14,000 congregations of Jehovah?s witnesses scattered among 150 countries, in the day and the years to come.
'Armageddon,' Knorr was saying ? is no mere stormy conflict between two political parties within a nation??
Wrapping all the world and its nations up together as Armageddon's target, Knorr 's voice warned dramatically . ? Armageddon is what the sacred Scriptures of divine prophecy call it, 'the war of the great day of God the Almighty.' the war in which the Creator of heaven and earth will face all his foes and will fight as he did in the days of old. God the Almighty foresaw thenecessity for that war in due time and he foretold its coming. That war is unavoidable."
His audience sensed his approaching climax. " The facts of modern history prove we are in ' the day of God the Almighty' and his war is very near."
Again a resounding peal of hand clapping filled the air. No shouting, no hooting, no whistling, but a vibrant sensitive response to every word.
And every word pointed to Armageddon as ringing down the curtain on this present living generation".
*** w53 10/15 p. 623 'The Watchtower'a Bible Study Aid
"To properly study The Watchtower we must approach it with the right heart attitude. While we are commanded, ?Make sure of all things; hold fast to what is right,? let us not overlook the fact that we are also admonished, ?Do not treat prophesyings with contempt.? (1 Thess. 5:20, 21, NW) Having found, time and again, that The Watchtower adheres faithfully to God?s Word, we have no grounds for approaching a study of it with suspicion, but rather we should approach it with a sincere desire to understand what God has provided for us through its pages, ever ready to ?accept with mildness the implanting of the word which is able to save [our] souls.??Jas. 1:21, NW.
1953*"After almost six thousand years of human sorrow, suffering and death, at last permanent relief is near at hand and will be realized within this generation."
(from the book: 'New Heavens And A New Earth' publ. 1953; page 7)
0000000000
1955*
"...without hesitation, World conquest by God's kingdom SOON!"
and :
"...that soon it will meet all the foes at Armageddon
and:
".. the Kingdom's presence and of its world conquest at Armageddon as being soon.
... for the deliverance that we see getting near for us
(from the booklet : ' WORLD CONQUEST SOON -by GOD'S KINGDOM' pub. year 1955 pages 28-30 )
INCLUDEPICTURE "http://www.strictlygenteel.co.uk/booklets/bookletimages/conquestcover.jpg" \* MERGEFORMATINET
PUBLISHERS
WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY, INC.
INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
Brooklyn, New York, U. S. A,
Abbreviations of translations of God's Word
quoted or cited herein
AS - American Standard Version, by the American Committee of Revision
CB -The Holy Bible, translated by the Catholic Biblical Association of America
NW - New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
RS - Revised Standard Version, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America
Any quotation not followed by any specific abbreviation is from the Authorized or King James Version.
Made in the United States of America
WORLD CONQUEST SOON -by GOD'S KINGDOM
NO ONE likes to be conquered, for that means subjection to an enemy. But you would like to see your enemies conquered by your friends,' for that means freedom and relief to you. World con-quest by our enemies is a thing we dread; it seems to be the greatest evil, for it appears to leave us with no hope of deliverance from any quarter. But world conquest could also be by those who love us and have our interests at heart. That would be a thing to be welcomed, for it would denote the overthrow and taking away of all our foes. It would mean a change of world for us, for our good. Which conquest do all of us face? Which conquest is unavoidable, bound to come? Since A.D.1914 the movement of conditions and events in the earth indicates that sooner or later some form of centralized rule of our globe will come, yes, has to come. Men are divided on the question of whether they want such a rule or not. Those who want such a world rule disagree as to what form it should have.
...
In less than fifty years since 1914 we have had all these things, except now Armageddon itself; and Jesus said of the generation that experiences all these things, as we ourselves have: "Likewise also you, when you see all these things, know that he is near at the doors. Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur." (Matthew 24: 33, 34, NW) To show that we should rejoice rather than give way to anguish and fear with the world, he said: "As these things start to occur, raise yourselves erect and lift your heads up, because your deliverance is getting near. ... when you see these things occurring, know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I say to you, This generation will by no means pass away until all things occur." (Luke 21:28, 31, 32, NW) We have every reason, therefore, to say without hesitation, World conquest by God's kingdom SOON! As one of the most striking evidences that God's kingdom was brought to birth in the heavens in 1914 and that soon it will meet all the foes at Armageddon and conquer, we have fulfilled already in 160 nations and territories Jesus' prophecy concerning the "time of the end": "This
29
good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for the purpose of a witness to all the nations, and then the accomplished end will come." (Matthew 24:14, NW) The published and well-known facts prove that it is Jehovah's witnesses whom he is using thus to preach the newborn Kingdom to all nations for a witness, for which reason they are undeniably His witnesses. This fact proves they are "all sons of light and sons of day" and know for a certainty the "times and the seasons" and will not be overtaken suddenly with the doomed world by the day of Armageddon's outbreak. Let all, friend or foe, who observe Jehovah's witnesses fulfilling the prophecy regarding the Kingdom preaching, know that this, too, is one of the most telling evidences of the Kingdom's presence and of its world conquest at Armageddon as being soon. Yes, "soon," not to spare civilization from havoc by heading off a new world war with atomic weapons - for Armageddon will be far more terrible than atomic world war - but because it is God's time, and the evidences do not lie. What, then, will world conquest by God's kingdom soon mean to you? Your sudden destruction? It will, if at Armageddon you are found on the side now being warned of coming destruction, this world, including Christendom. Or will it mean your deliverance? It will, if you are then found on the side of the world conquerors, Jehovah God and his reigning King Jesus Christ. That is where the New World society of Jehovah's witnesses have taken their stand, determined to stay there faithfully till Armageddon, and not only till but also through Armageddon! "Through Armaged-
30
don"? Yes, for the deliverance that we see getting near for us means being eyewitnesses of the end of Armageddon with world conquest by God's triumphant kingdom and thus surviving Armageddon into God's new world. By taking your stand with his New World society now, you may survive Armageddon into God's new world. But there is more to it than that. God's kingdom will not halt its conquests with merely the destruction of the Devil's old world. It will go on to further conquests by undoing all the evil effects, of Satan the Devil's wickedness practiced upon the human race. It will conquer the bad conditions of the earth upon which Armageddon survivors must live, one third of which earth lies desert today, with further ruin being caused by this world's ruinous policies toward the earth. It will transform this entire earth into a perfect paradise for mankind's eternal home and nourishment. It will wipe out from the minds, features and bodies of the obedient Armageddon survivors all the traces of the sin and its degradation that Satan introduced among us by our first parents Adam and Eve. The Kingdom will stop at nothing, no, not at death itself. Death and the greedy grave must yield to the triumphant Kingdom. God's Word guarantees it, with this prophecy concerning the King Jesus Christ: "He must rule as king until God has put all enemies under his feet. As the last enemy, death is to be destroyed. For God 'subjected all things under his feet'." (1 Corinthians 15: 25-27, NW) That means the resurrection of the dead. That means the wiping out of the graveyards by the returning to life of those whose
31
names appear on the gravestones. It means the offering to these of the opportunities for the rescued race of mankind, under the blessed kingdom of God by Christ, to gain perfect human life evermore in the earthly paradise by unbreakable allegiance to that government of salvation. Yes, it means not merely the survival of Armageddon by the New World society, but that the "great crowd" of these now living may never die! By continued faithfulness and integrity to God and Christ the Armageddon survivors may survive forever on earth! - Revelation 21:1-4; John 11: 25, 26; 8:51. This is what "world conquest soon - by God's kingdom" may mean to you. May your wise, God-directed course from now on let it mean that to you.
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
1956*
'The Watchtower', February 1st, 1956, page 88
Cautious as Serpents Among Wolves
45 We dare not lie against God?s Word, adding to it or taking away from it, reading into it what it does not say and denying, passing over or explaining away what it does truthfully say.
?Every word of God is tried: . . . Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.? (Prov. 30:5, 6, AS)
We may not tell untruths in his name, for that puts God in the light of a liar. ?Let God be found true, though every man be found a liar.? (Rom. 3:4, NW)
In Jeremiah?s day the false prophets prophesied lies in Jehovah?s name and lied against his purpose, foretelling in his name what he had not foretold.
Therefore Jehovah was against them. He executed judgment against them at Jerusalem?s destruction in 607 B.C. (Jer. 23:25; 27:15)
Religious liars like them today cannot escape a like judgment but will meet a like end at Armageddon."
1958*
*w 1958 8/1 464 Calling the Members of the Kingdom of Heaven ***
If any of the remnant now in attendance at the room for the wedding ceremonies fall out for failure to keep on the wedding garment, others will be brought in by the King to take their places. Seeing that we are now in the closing years of this present system of things, that process may be about completed.
*** w58 10/15 p. 637 par. 44 Public Address: God’s Kingdom Rules—Is the World’s End Near? ***
44 This generation of humankind is nearing its normal end. Jesus prophesied that this generation, which saw the Gentile times end amid World War I and the beginning of world sorrows, would also see the end of those sorrows in the world’s destruction at Armageddon: “This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.” (Matt. 24:34, 35; Rev. 16:14, 16) We know not the day or hour, but the world’s end is near.
1960*
* w60 7/15 441 Staying Awake with the "Faithful and Discreet Slave"
Again we see a 'river' of water of truth being channeled to the earth out from Jehovah?s spiritual temple. The waters begin to flow through the channel of the ?slave? class from their restoration in 1919.
Note the ?river? here is described as going eastward, in the direction of greater light, apparently signifying that the Society?s publications of truth would be progressing in the light of truth as the years advanced after 1919.
*w60 7/15 442 Staying Awake with the "Faithful and Discreet Slave" ***
KEEPING AWAKE
13 The question may next be asked, ?How can one stay awake with this fast-moving ?faithful and discreet slave? class??
The members of this anointed group are years ahead in maturity, Biblical knowledge, theocratic experience and vision of Jehovah's purpose and divine will.
There are several things one can do to stay awake and abreast. First, one should keep up with the ?food at the proper time? supplied through God's proved channel and published by the Watch Tower Society.
page 443
The divine will flows to us only theocratically through God's provided leadership of the 'faithful and discreet slave.?
'The Watchtower' October 1st, 1960 page 608
"A sense of urgency"
"Time is fast running out. We may not be slothful nor may we procrastinate if we would keep clean from the blood of all men.
Truly,woe is us if we do not take advantage of every opportunity to warn allwe can. Let us give the warning with earnestness and intensity, yes,with a sense of urgency as though this were our last time to warn ourhearers. Who knows how soon this actually will be the case?"
1961*
*** w61 6/1 p. 336 par. 9 Loving Use of What We Are Given ***
9 Regular gathering together in congregation meetings must be enforced. Individuals ought to discipline themselves to attend congregation gatherings and should encourage one another, especially in these evil days as we come near the end of Satan’s wicked system of things.
1964*
w64 9/15 574 - Kneel down before reading the Watchtower
In contrast to the attitude of these elective elders was that of an elderly couple with whom I stayed on the outskirts of Richmond, Virginia.
The brother went down to get the mail before breakfast, and when we had breakfast he said, "Brother Riemer, I got a new Watchtower this morning, and do you know the first thing that Ma and I do when we get that Tower?
We kneel down before we take the wrapper off and ask Jehovah to make us worthy to see what the message is that Jehovah has for us. Now, before we take the wrapper off, will you kneel down and pray with us?"
How different that elective elder was from this humble couple who appreciated Jehovah's organization!
1966*
'The Watchtower', April 1. 1966, page 195-6.
?Franz went on to explain that the remarks of the speaker were
perfectly sane, for God?s Word foresaw the end of World War II, andfollowing it a postwar peace that would not last. ?Now, here we are,'Franz continued, 'in the twenty-first year of this peace since WorldWar II, and the prediction is that this peace will not last. . . .
It should fill you with a sense of urgency,? Franz told the students, ?to realize that the sands in the hourglass up above are running out, and the time is coming to a close for this work that has to be done before this peace ends.?
* Life Everlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God '(book) 1966 pp. 26-30
The time is fast drawing near for the reality that was foreshadowed by the Jubilee of liberty to be proclaimed throughout the earth to all mankind... Most certainly the near future would be the most appropriate time for it. God's own written Word indicates that it is the appointed time for it... In this twentieth century an independent study has been carried on that does not blindly follow some traditional chronological calculations of Christendom, and the published timetable resulting from this independent study gives the date of man's creation as 4026 B.C.E. So six thousand years of man's existence on earth will soon be up, yes, within this generation.. Since the time of Ussher intensive study of Bible chronology has been carried on. In this twentieth century an independent study has been carried on that does not blindly follow some traditional chronological calculations of Christendom, and the published timetable resulting from this independent study gives the date of man's creation as 4026 B.C.E. According to this trustworthy Bible chronology six thousand years from man's creation will end in 1975, and the seventh period of a thousand years of human history will begin in the fall of 1975 C.E. So six thousand years of man's existence on earth will soon be up, yes, within this generation. Jehovah God is timeless, as it is written in Psalm 90:1, 2: "O Jehovah, you yourself have proved to be a real dwelling for us during generation after generation. Before the mountains themselves were born, or you proceeded to bring forth as with labor pains the earth and the productive land, even from time indefinite to time indefinite you are God." So from the standpoint of Jehovah God these passing six thousand years of man's existence are but as six days of twenty-four hours, for this same psalm (verses 3, 4) goes on to say: "You make mortal man go back to crushed matter, and you say: `Go back, you sons of men.' For a thousand years are in your eyes but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch during the night." So in not many years within our own generation we are reaching what Jehovah God could view as the seventh day of man's existence. How appropriate it would be for Jehovah God to make of this coming seventh period of a thousand years a sabbath period of rest and release, a great Jubilee sabbath for the proclaiming of liberty throughout the earth to all its inhabitants! This would be most timely for mankind. It would also be most fitting on God's part, for, remember, mankind has yet ahead of it what the last book of the Holy Bible speaks of as the reign of Jesus Christ over earth for a thousand years, the millennial reign of Christ. Prophetically Jesus Christ, when on earth nineteen centuries ago, said concerning himself: "For Lord of the sabbath is what the Son of man is." (Matthew 12: 8). It would not be by mere chance or accident but would be according to the loving purpose of Jehovah God for the reign of Jesus Christ, the 'Lord of the Sabbath,' to run parallel with the seventh "
* Awake! October 8 1966 pp.19-20
'How Much Longer Will It Be?'
6,000 Years Completed in 1975 ? In what year, then, would the first 6,000 years of man's existence and also the first 6,000 years of God's rest day come to an end? The year 1975? Hence, the fact that we are nearing the end of the first 6,000 years of man's existence is of great significance. Does God's rest day parallel the time man has been on earth since his creation? Apparently so. From the most reliable investigations of Bible chronology, harmonizing with many accepted dates of secular history, we find that Adam was created in the autumn of the year 4026 B.C.E. Sometime in that same year Eve could well have been created, directly after which God's rest day commenced ? There is another chronological indication that we are rapidly nearing the closing time for this wicked system of things. It is the fact that shortly, according to reliable Bible chronology, 6,000 years of human history will come to an end.. After six thousand years of toil and bondage to sin, sickness, death and Satan, mankind is due to enjoy a rest and is in dire need of a rest. (Heb. 4:1-11) Hence, the fact that we are nearing the end of the first 6,000 years of man's existence is of great significance.. In what year, then, would the first 6,000 years of man's existence and also the first 6,000 years of God's rest day come to an end? The year 1975. This is worthy of notice, particularly in view of the fact that the 'last days' began in 1914, and that the physical facts of our day in fulfillment of prophecy mark this as the last generation of this wicked world. So we can expect the immediate future to be filled with thrilling events for those who rest their faith in God and his promises. It means that within relatively few years we will witness the fulfillment of the remaining prophecies that have to do with the 'time of the end.'
'The Watchtower ' 1966 October 15th p.631
Rejoicing over "God's Sons of Liberty" Spiritual Feast
THE YEAR 1975
At the Baltimore assembly Brother Franz in his closing remarks made some interesting comments regarding the year 1975. He began casually by saying, "Just before I got on the platform a young man came to me and said, 'Say, what does this 1975 mean? Does it mean this, that or any other thing?'" In part, Brother Franz went on to say: 'You have noticed the chart [on pages 31-35 in the book Life Everlasting-in Freedom of the Sons of God]. It shows that 6,000 years of human experience will end in 1975, about nine years from now. What does that mean?
Does it mean that God's rest day began 4026 B.C.E.? It could have.
The Life Everlasting book does not say it did not. The book merely presents the chronology. You can accept it or reject it. If that is the case, what does that mean to us? [He went into some length showing the feasibility of the 4026 B.C.E. date as being the beginning of God's rest day.]
'What about the year 1975? What is it going to mean, dear friends?' asked Brother Franz. 'Does it mean that Armageddon is going to be finished, with Satan bound, by 1975?
It could!
It could! All things are possible with God.
Does it mean that Babylon the Great is going to go down by 1975? It could.
Does it mean that the attack of Gog of Magog is going to be made on Jehovah's witnesses to wipe them out, then Gog himself will be put out of action? It could.
But we are not saying.
All things are possible with God. But we are not saying.
And don't any of you be specific in saying anything that is going to happen between now and 1975.
But the big point of it all is this, dear friends: Time is short. Time is running out, no question about that.
'When we were approaching the end of the Gentile Times in 1914, there was no sign that the Gentile Times were going to end. Conditions on earth gave us no hint of what was to come, even as late as June of that year. Then suddenly there was a murder. World War I broke out. You know the rest. Famines, earthquakes and pestilences followed, as Jesus foretold would happen.
'But what do we have today as we approach 1975? Conditions have not been peaceful. We've been having world wars, famines, earthquakes, pestilences and we have these conditions still as we approach 1975. Do these things mean something? These things mean that we're in the "time of the end." And the end has to come sometime. Jesus said: "As these things start to occur, raise yourselves erect and lift your heads up, because your deliverance is getting near." (Luke 21:28) So we know that as we come to 1975 our deliverance is that much nearer.'
"Let us make the most of the time and get in all the good hard work to Jehovah while the opportunity affords," he urged."
... “The new book compels us to realize that Armageddon is, in fact, very close indeed
(from the w. 10/15 1966 pages 628-629)
*** w66 10/15 628-9 Rejoicing over "God's Sons of Liberty" Spiritual Feast ***
To give aid today in this critical time to prospective sons of God,” announced President Knorr, “a new book in English, entitled ‘Life Everlasting—in Freedom of the Sons of God,’ has been published.” At all assembly points where it was released, the book was received enthusiastically. Crowds gathered around stands and soon supplies of the book were depleted. Immediately its contents were examined. It did not take the brothers very long to find the chart beginning on page 31, showing that 6,000 years of man’s existence end in 1975. Discussion of 1975 overshadowed about everything else. “The new book compels us to realize that Armageddon is, in fact, very close indeed,” said a conventioner. Surely it was one of the outstanding blessings to be carried home!
“Liberty is to know Christian truth,” the eager audiences at a number of the assemblies heard F. W. Franz, the Watch Tower Society’s vice-president, say in his discourse “Liberty-giving Worship and Freedom of Worship.” “It is those who worship the one living and true God Jehovah through his Son Jesus Christ that are set free. Jehovah’s witnesses strive to keep the liberty that their practice of pure worship gives to them,” declared Franz.
OOOOO
1967*
'The Watchtower ' 1967 May 1st p.262 Where Are We According to God's Timetable?
THE END OF 6,000 YEARS
In examining these Scriptural facts, something else also captures our attention
. According to Bible chronology, we are already over fifty-two years into the wicked system of things' "time of the end."
That time began in the autumn of 1914 C.E., at the termination of the "appointed times of the nations," and it is already far advanced.
Jesus said that "this generation" that saw the beginning of this time period in 1914 would also see its end.
The generation that was old enough to view those events with understanding in 1914 is no longer young.
It no longer has many years to run.
Already many of its members have died. But Jesus showed that there would still be members of "this generation" alive at the time of the passing away of this wicked system of things in both heaven and earth. (Luke 21:32, 33)
How much longer will it be, then, before God takes action to destroy the wicked and usher in the blessings of his Kingdom rule?
Interestingly, the autumn of the year 1975 marks the end of 6,000 years of human experience. This is ascertainable from reliable chronology preserved in the Bible itself. What will that year mean for humankind? Will it be the time when God executes the wicked and starts off the thousand-year reign of his Son Jesus Christ?
It very well could, but we will have to wait to see.
Yet of this we can be certain: the generation that Jesus said would witness those events is nearing its close. The time is close at hand. On God's "timetable" we are in the closing days of a wicked system of things that will soon be gone forever. A glorious new order is immediately before us. This is, therefore, good reason for Christians everywhere to rejoice. Yes, they rejoice because fulfillment of their prayers for the kingdom of God is now at hand.-Luke 21:28.
Therefore, keep in mind the admonition of the Lord Jesus when speaking of our day: "Keep awake, then, all the time making supplication that you may succeed in escaping all these things that are destined to occur, and in standing before the Son of man." (Luke 21:36) The prophecy is sure; the time is short."
1968*
*** w68 5/1 pp. 272-273 Making Wise Use of the Remaining Time ***
7 The immediate future is certain to be filled with climactic events, for this old system is nearing its complete end.
Within a few years at most the final parts of Bible prophecy relative to these ‘last days’ will undergo fulfillment, resulting in the liberation of surviving mankind into Christ?s glorious 1,000-year reign. What difficult days, but, at the same time, what grand days are just ahead!
8 Does this mean that the year 1975 will bring the battle of Armageddon? No one can say with certainty what any particular year will bring. Jesus said: ?Concerning that day or the hour nobody knows.? (Mark 13:32)
Sufficient is it for God?s servants to know for a certainty that, for this system under Satan, time is running out rapidly.
How foolish a person would be not to be awake and alert to the limited time remaining, to the earthshaking events soon to take place, and to the need to work out one?s salvation!
. -'The Watchtower ' August 15th, 1968 pages 499-501 -
"This is, therefore, no time to be indifferent and complacent. This is not the time to be toying with the words of Jesus that 'concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father.'
To the contrary, it is a time when one should be keenly aware that the end of this system of things is rapidly coming to its violent end. "
*w 1968 8/15/1968 pages 499-501
This is, therefore, no time to be indifferent and complacent. This is not the time to be toying with the words of Jesus that 'concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father.' To the contrary, it is a time when one should be keenly aware that the end of this system of things is rapidly coming to its violent end. ".
Awake! October 8 1968 pp. 14-15 ***
6,000 Years Nearing Completion [?] The fact that fifty-four years of the period called the 'last days' have already gone by is highly significant. It means that only a few years, at most, remain before the corrupt system of things dominating the earth is destroyed by God. Today, many years later, we may ask, What does the phrase 'the immediate future' mean? How many years are 'a few years at most'? [?] According to reliable Bible chronology, Adam and Eve were created in 4026 B.C.E.. There is another way that helps confirm the fact that we are living in the final few years of this 'time of the end.' (Dan. 12:9)
From the book
« Truth that Leads to eternal life » published in 1968
by the WTBS Inc.
*** tr 94-5 11 The Last Days of This Wicked System of Things
THE Bible speaks of the time in which we are living as the ?last days? or the ?time of the end.? (2 Timothy 3:1; Daniel 11:40) The facts show that this is a limited period that has a definite beginning and a definite end. It began in 1914 when Jesus Christ was enthroned as king in the heavens.
It will end when God destroys this present wicked system of things. What a relief it will be when the organizations and persons that cheat and oppress, and all who endanger the security of their fellowmen, are gone!
2 How soon will that be? God?s own Son, Jesus Christ, gives the answer.
After drawing attention to the many things that mark the period from 1914 onward as the ?time of the end,? Jesus said: ?This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.? (Matthew 24:34)
Which generation did he mean?
3 Jesus had just referred to persons who would ?see all these things.? ?These things? are the events that have taken place since 1914 and those yet to occur down to the end of this wicked system. (Matthew 24:33)
Persons born even as much as fifty years ago could not see ' all these things.? They came on the scene after the foretold events were already under way.
But there are people still living who were alive in 1914 and saw what was happening then and who were old enough that they still remember those events.
This generation is getting up in years now.
A great number of them have already passed away in death. Yet Jesus very pointedly said: ?This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.? Some of them will still be alive to see the end of this wicked system.
This means that only a short time is left before the end comes! (Psalm 90:10 [89:10, Dy])
So now is the time to take urgent action if you do not want to be swept away with this wicked system.
1969*
*** Awake! 1969 May 22 page 15
If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things. Why not? Because all the evidence in fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years. Of the generation that observed the beginning of the ‘last days’ in 1914, Jesus foretold: ‘This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.’ Therefore, as a young person, you will never fulfill any career that this system offers. If you are in high school and thinking about a college education, it means at least four, perhaps even six or eight more years to graduate into a specialized career. But where will this system of things be by that time? It will be well on the way towards its finish, if not actually gone! This is why parents who base their lives on God’s prophetic Word find it much more practical to direct their young ones into trades that do not require such long periods of additional schooling… True, those who do not understand where we are in the stream of time from God’s viewpoint will call this impractical. But which is really practical: preparing yourself for a position in this world that soon will pass away? or working toward surviving this system’s end and enjoying eternal life in God’s righteous new order?
'The Watchtower', June 1. 1969, page 347.
?They Are Acting on What They Are Learning
But when they were told about the new six-month Bible-study
arrangement, they were visibly touched. Now for the first time a real sense of urgency struck them. They could not bear the thought of having all connections with Jehovah?s people severed.
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
1970*
'The Watchtower ' , February 15th 1970, page 121.
?What so amazed the onlookers??
It was the sense of urgency that motivates them.
That sense of urgency stems from the knowledge, gleaned from the Bible, that soon now, not many years hence, Jehovah?s judgment against a wicked system of things on earth will be executed.?
*** w70 5/1 p. 267 Keep Close in Mind ?The Conclusion of the System of Things? ***
HOW DO WE KNOW?
9 But you may ask, How do we know these things will really come, that there actually will be a conclusion to this system of things? There are quite a number of proofs. Several events are recorded in history when earlier systems of things came to their end, those events being prophetic of our time. We also have Jesus? testimony and that of other inspired writers regarding the conclusion of this system. Bible chronology indicates the rapid approach of the end for this old system under the god of this world, Satan.
*** w70 5/1 p. 275 An Ingathering Affecting All Mankind ***
The present Christian system will continue until the last member of Christ?s spiritual body completes his earthly course sometime after Armageddon.
By that time Satan?s present wicked system of things will have been replaced by Jehovah?s new system, his new heavens and new earth in which righteousness will dwell.
*** w70 5/1 p. 273 An Ingathering Affecting All Mankind ***
How close we may exactly be to the end of the present divisive system of things cannot be predicted, as Jesus reported that even he did not know the day or the hour at the time of his earthly ministry. (Matt. 24:36)
However, Bible chronology which indicates that Adam was created in the fall of the year 4026 B.C.E. would bring us down to the year 1975 C.E. as the date marking 6,000 years of human history with yet 1,000 years to come for Christ?s Kingdom rule.
So whatever the date for the end of this system, it is clear that the time left is reduced, with only approximately six years left until the end of 6,000 years of human history. (1 Cor. 7:29)
This corroborates the understanding of Jesus? words that the generation alive in 1914 with the outbreak of World War I would not pass away until the end comes.
Only a short time, then, remains for persons who love righteousness to show God that they want to be in his ?ark? of protection and live to see the blessings of the new system of things.?Matt. 24:34-42.
*** w70 5/1 pp. 276-277 An Ingathering Affecting All Mankind ***
NEED FOR ACTION NOW
16 The time is very short now for further preaching and teaching of God?s kingdom among the political nations. So it is important for us now to show that we are no part of the present system of things but that we are living for the new system and the blessings it will bring. If we want to live through this ?time of the end? on the nations to enjoy Jehovah?s righteous new system under Christ the King, then there is no time to be lost.
Remember that not only the Bible but also world leaders have attested to the urgency of the times in which we live.
The few remaining years of this generation do not give much time during which we can show Jehovah we truly want to be pleasing to him so that we will be privileged to enjoy life at his hand in the new system of things.
We need to schedule our affairs to show him what really is first in our lives. We need to study his Word to keep our faith strong, to get to the Kingdom Hall to enjoy the meetings that have been prepared by the ?faithful and discreet slave? class, and to share the truth with others, especially now as we ?behold the day drawing near.? Are you willing to do this??Heb. 10:25.
*** w70 4/15 pp. 245-246 Questions That People Ask About Jehovah’s Witnesses ***
Jehovah’s witnesses want people to know that God is going to bring an end to wicked conditions in the earth and replace them with righteousness by means of his perfect, heavenly Kingdom government. The time for that to happen is very near; it is to occur in this generation.
*** km 6/70 p. 1 Why Not Before Now? ***
Why Not Before Now?
1 Why has not the “great tribulation” come before now? Is it because the world is not bad enough? No! Is it because Jehovah is slow? No, rather, he is most patient. (2 Pet. 3:9) He knows the day and hour and will not postpone it. (Matt. 24:36) Why, then, has the “great tribulation” not come before now? Because Jehovah, in setting the time for it to break, has foreseen the need for time in which to preach the good news “in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations.” “Then the end will come.” (Matt. 24:14) That day and hour is near!
1971*
*From the book "The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah"-How? * (published in 1971) *** kj 216-7 12 "Until He Comes Who Has the Legal Right" **
JEHOVAH' SWORD' AGAINST ALL THOSE OF FLESH '
9 Shortly, within our twentieth century, the 'battle in the day of Jehovah' will begin against the modern antitype of Jerusalem, Christendom. The ancient ?soil of Israel? pictures the realm in which Christendom has operated. It pictures the standing and relationship that Christendom has claimed to occupy with God by means of his ?new covenant? of which Jesus Christ is the mediator. Now is no time for anyone in Christendom to rely on any righteousness on the basis of his own merits and to boast of his own self-righteousness."
*w 1971 9/15 570-1 God Wisely Selects Earth's Rulers ***
Bible prophecy foretold that Christ would take Kingdom power while the worldly nations were still active. (Ps. 2:1-6; 110:1, 2) On taking Kingdom power, he would give early attention to those of the 144,000 who had died. Then he would proceed to gather together all his prospective Kingdom associates on earth, called a 'remnant,' for testing and final approval. (1 Thess. 4:16, 17; Rev. 12:10, 17) World conditions in fulfillment of prophecy indicate that we are in the closing days of this gathering, called the "harvest." With its completion and the destruction of the present wicked system and its administration, Christ and his associate kings and priests will begin the thousand-year reign for the blessing of mankind.-Matt. 13:37-40; Rev. 11:18; 19:19-21; 20:1-4, 6.
1973*
'The Watchtower' , July 1st 1973, page 405.
'There is need to participate in that work with a sense of urgency, too, for the end of this wicked system of things is drawing near.
The time is short. The harvest is great and the workers are few.?
*g 1973 11/8 p. 6 Why You Should Be Concerned ***
Why? Because in so many areas human failure is not just a 'passing phase. It is direct evidence in fulfillment of Bible prophecy showing that we are living in the closing years of this wicked system of things. Long ago the Bible foretold of our generation that "wicked men and impostors will advance from bad to worse, misleading and being misled." (2 Tim. 3:13)
1974*
*** km 5/74 p. 3 How Are You Using Your Life? ***
Yes, the end of this system is so very near! Is that not reason to increase our activity?
In this regard we can learn something from a runner who puts on a final burst of speed near the finish of a race.
Look at Jesus, who apparently stepped up his activity during his final days on earth. In fact, over 27 percent of the material in the Gospels is devoted to just the last week of Jesus? earthly ministry!?Matt. 21:1?27:50; Mark 11:1?15:37; Luke 19:29?23:46; John 11:55?19:30.
By carefully and prayerfully examining our own circumstances, we also may find that we can spend more time and energy in preaching during this final period before the present system ends. Many of our brothers and sisters are doing just that. This is evident from the rapidly increasing number of pioneers.
Yes, since the summer of 1973 there have been new peaks in pioneers every month. Now there are 20,394 regular and special pioneers in the United States, an all-time peak. That is 5,190 more than there were in February 1973! A 34-percent increase! Does that not warm our hearts?
Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world?s end.?1 John 2:17.
'The Watchtower' , October 15th 1974, page 631.
?They feel a sense of urgency as they talk to people, for they look upon the short time remaining for this system of things as a time of Jehovah?s exercise of patience, knowing that he does not desire the death of anyone.?
*** w74 10/15 p. 635 Growing in Appreciation for the ?Divine Purpose? ***
The publications of Jehovah?s witnesses have shown that, according to Bible chronology, it appears that 6,000 years of man?s existence will be completed in the mid-1970?s.
But these publications have never said that the world?s end would come then.
Nevertheless, there has been considerable individual speculation on the matter.
So the assembly presentation ?Why We Have Not Been Told ?That Day and Hour?? was very timely.
It emphasized that we do not know the exact time when God will bring the end.
All we know is that the end will come within the generation that sees fulfilled on it the sign that Jesus Christ said would then be in evidence. (See Matthew chapters 24, 25.) All indications are that the fulfillment of this sign began in 1914.
So we can be confident that the end is near; we do not have the slightest doubt that God will bring it about, the speaker stressed. But we have to wait and see exactly when, in the meantime keeping busy in God?s service.
*** w74 12/15 pp. 764-765
Benefits and Rewards from Being Spiritually Secure ***
29 On Sunday afternoon, July 26, 1931, at the international convention of the I.B.S.A. in Columbus, Ohio, there came the heartfelt adoption of the Resolution in favor of embracing the New Name, Jehovah?s witnesses. Thereafter this Resolution was adopted by congregations around the world that thenceforth identified their religious organization as Jehovah?s witnesses. To advertise the divine name still further, on March 1, 1939, some months before World War II broke out, the official magazine of the Witnesses came forth with the new legend, ?The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah?s Kingdom.? And now, as the critical year of 1975 enters, it may well be asked: Has the Most High God of prophecy made a name for himself? The answer is self-evident, Yes! By whom? Not by Christendom or by Jewry, but by Jehovah?s Christian witnesses!
Page 766
36 Only from the end of the year 1928 was the prospect opened up to the spiritual understanding of the anointed remnant of the ?Israel of God? to survive the ?war of the great day of God the Almighty? at Har?Magedon and enter here on earth into Jehovah?s righteous new order. (See The Watch Tower under date of December 15, 1928, page 376, paragraphs 35, 36.)
And now, as the year 1975 opens up, some thousands of the anointed remnant, still alive on this earth, look ahead to realizing that joyful prospect. The increasing ?great crowd? of their sheeplike companions look forward with them to entering the New Order without interruption of life.?
1982*
From the book ‘You can live forever..’ published by the WTBS Inc, in 1982 :
*** pe 154 18 "The End of the World" Is at Hand! ***
8 After drawing attention to the many things that have marked the period from 1914 onward, Jesus said: ?This generation will by no means pass away until all these things [including the end of this system] occur.? (Matthew 24:34, 14) Which generation did Jesus mean? He meant the generation of people who were living in 1914.
Those persons yet remaining of that generation are now very old.
However, some of them will still be alive to see the end of this wicked system. So of this we can be certain:
Shortly now there will be a sudden end to all wickedness and wicked people at Armageddon.
******************************************End of part Two ****************************************
Greetings,
J.C.MacHislopp
P.S. I have to add that the Word version looks much better, but as I wrote to the
Administrator of this forum it is refused.