Hello! I was told by a friend that your church is always coming up with a year that armeggedon will begin, is this true. just wondering.
2006-12-15 06:29:50 · 4 answers · asked by Jesus junkie 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Not really.
The prophecies are all in the Bible. We study the prophecies along with the rest of the bible, and sometimes we have reached erroneous conclusions.
We have NEVER said the end will come at a certain date. Our statements have always been something along the lines of "Scriptural evidence seems to show" that it MAY BE at a certain time. This is accompanied by a statement that says we will have to wait to see for sure.
That has been true since the 1880's onward.
We are well aware that the Jesus said only Jehovah knows the day and hour.
Our dedication to God is not based upon some supposed date, but we are dedicated to him forever.
While it is true we should not give in to speculation, and sometimes have premature expectations, we are in good company.
Jehovah even knew this would happen. He warned in Habakkuk 2:3:
"For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it keeps panting on to the end, and it will not tell a lie. Even if it should delay, keep in expectation of it; for it will without fail come true. It will not be late."
We do not claim to be inspired prophets. We have made mistakes. Like the apostles of Jesus Christ, we have at times had some wrong expectations.—Luke 19:11; Acts 1:6.
The Scriptures provide time elements related to Christ’s presence, and Jehovah’s Witnesses have studied these with keen interest. (Luke 21:24; Dan. 4:10-17) Jesus also described a many-featured sign that would tie in with the fulfillment of time prophecies to identify the generation that would live to see the end of Satan’s wicked system of things. (Luke 21:7-36) Jehovah’s Witnesses have pointed to evidence in fulfillment of this sign. It is true that the Witnesses have made mistakes in their understanding of what would occur at the end of certain time periods, but they have not made the mistake of losing faith or ceasing to be watchful as to fulfillment of Jehovah’s purposes. They have continued to keep to the fore in their thinking the counsel given by Jesus: “Keep on the watch, therefore, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.”—Matt. 24:42.
Matters on which corrections of viewpoint have been needed have been relatively minor when compared with the vital Bible truths that they have discerned and publicized. Among these are the following: Jehovah is the only true God. Jesus Christ is not part of a Trinitarian godhead but is the only-begotten Son of God. Redemption from sin is possible only through faith in Christ’s ransom sacrifice. The holy spirit is not a person but is Jehovah’s active force, and its fruitage must be evident in the lives of true worshipers. The human soul is not immortal, as the ancient pagans claimed; it dies, and the hope for future life is in the resurrection. God’s permission of wickedness has been because of the issue of universal sovereignty. God’s Kingdom is the only hope for mankind. Since 1914 we have been living in the last days of the global wicked system of things. Only 144,000 faithful Christians will be kings and priests with Christ in heaven, whereas the rest of obedient mankind will receive eternal life on a paradise earth.
Another factor to consider regarding the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses is this: Have these truly uplifted people morally? Are those who adhere to these teachings outstanding in their communities because of their honesty? Is their family life beneficially influenced by applying these teachings? Jesus said that his disciples would be readily identified because of having love among themselves. (John 13:35) Is this quality outstanding among Jehovah’s Witnesses? We let the facts speak for themselves.
2006-12-15 06:32:38 · answer #1 · answered by Abdijah 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Jehovah's Witnesses are students of the bible, students of history, and students of current events. From time to time, their publications have noted some specific confluence of circumstances and wondered "aloud" if there was significance to it. Never have the Witnesses propounded a date certain for Armageddon, and only anti-Witnesses pretend otherwise.
Despite the lying slander of their more deceitful critics, Jehovah's Witnesses have always humbly taught that they are *NOT* infallible and *NOT* inspired by God. They do not "prophesy", and in modern times they never have.
For more than 125 years, Jehovah's Witnesses have consistently rejected the definition of "prophet" insisted upon by anti-Witness activists.
Jehovah's Witnesses apply the term "prophet" only in a very limited sense to themselves as a religion, not to individuals. The Scriptures indicate that whenever Jehovah purposes to execute judgment upon a people, he always makes arrangment for a 'prophet's work' as a warning. Their self-description as a "prophet" (in this limited sense) does not indicate special inspired knowledge or foreknowledge, but their willingness to perform Christ's assigned warning work in our day leading up to Armageddon.
What group is working harder than Jehovah's Witnesses to preach God's message globally (as Noah did before the Deluge)?
(Amos 3:7) For the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will not do a thing unless he has revealed his confidential matter to his servants the prophets.
(2 Peter 2:5) Noah, a preacher of righteousness...
(Matthew 24:14) And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/19990715/article_02.htm
2006-12-15 08:19:30 · answer #2 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Back in the day they had theories- but not anymore. As we become more perceptive of bible understanding - which takes time, the Bible is long and has lots of hard to understand parts and prophesies - we realize it will be, as Jesus said "as a thief in the night" - and that no-one knows the hour or day, except God himself. Many religions try to pinpoint a day or time, but nothing has happened yet - so don't count on it coming when anyone thinks it will - like Y2K, etc... The Bible does, however, prophesy what the world would be like before Armageddon - and according to the Bible, we are living "in the last days"...
2006-12-15 06:44:08 · answer #3 · answered by CHRISTINA 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
not true.
2006-12-15 07:28:53 · answer #4 · answered by chollo03 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋