end of the world? or not?

Question

I had JW's on my door step today, gave me a booklet.... basically said, the end is coming, look for the signs and you will see it. i told the JW to leave. what are the signs for the end of the world? except for liars coming to my door!?

Answer 1

In hindsight, most of humankind can see the historic upheaval that began with World War I. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that mankind in general has seen a wide range of specific signs since 1914, and that anyone can perceive these as significant without even opening a bible.

Yet the bible DOES comment upon it! Jesus foretold this specific collection of signs as evidence that his "presence" or so-called 'second coming' had arrived. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that "presence" to be Jesus' presence as the King of God's Kingdom.

(Matthew 24:3) disciples approached [Jesus] privately, saying: "Tell us, When will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence

(Luke 21:7,24) Teacher, when will these things actually be, and what will be the sign when these things are destined to occur?


Amazingly, since the 1870's, Jehovah's Witnesses had recognized 1914 as a significant year according to the chronology indicated in bible prophecy. Decades before 1914, Witnesses noted that Jesus' discussion of his second "coming", or second "presence" specifically mentions "the appointed times of the nations", which Jehovah's Witnesses believe to be a centuries-long period of relative godlessness when God's rulership through the Davidic kingship was interrupted (the line of hereditary kings beginning with King David of Israel). Jehovah's Witnesses recognize that the Davidic kingship ended in 607 BCE when Jerusalem fell to Babylon, and would begin again during the fulfillment of the composite "sign" of Matthew 24 and Luke 21.

(Luke 21:24) Jerusalem [or 'Davidic kingship'] will be trampled on by the nations, until the appointed times of the nations are fulfilled.


How long would "the appointed times of the nations" last? Daniel chapter 4 contains a prophecy in which God's rulership, through the Davidic kings is represented by a "tree". That tree is kept down for "seven times", which seems to be seven periods of 360 "days" (See Rev 12:6,14). So Daniel 4:15 seems to be referring to 2520 "days" when God's governmental rulership would not be seen.

(Daniel 4:11-17) The tree grew up and became strong, and its very height finally reached the heavens, and it was visible to the extremity of the whole earth. ...14 He ["a holy one"] was calling out loudly, and this is what he was saying: "CHOP the tree down... 15 However, LEAVE its rootstock itself in the earth... let seven times pass over it. 17 ...that people living may know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind and that to the one whom he wants to, he gives it and he sets up over it even the lowliest one of mankind.


But in history, 2520 days is not a significant amount of time. Jehovah's Witnesses look to Scriptures such as Num 14:34 and Ez 4:6 and re-examine the history using 2520 YEARS instead. From 607 BCE to 1914 CE is 2520 years; so many significant things happened that year, and World War I was only one part!.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/dg/index.htm?article=article_09.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_10.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/pr/index.htm?article=article_07.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_02.htm

Answer 2

I happen to believe that at some time in the future God will visit the earth in judgment, when all the jokes about "The end of the world is nigh!" will no longer be funny. I'm not a JW. And even if I am wrong, that will not make me out to be a liar, any more than the JWs are liars. We might all be mistaken, but when people sincerely hold to a belief that they have checked out for themselves, they should not be called liars.

The unfortunate thing about the JWs "take" on the signs of Christ's 2nd return (which is what we're talking about, actually) is that their leaders have been rather selective in their analysis of events because their theology declares that Christ returned invisibly in 1914, casting Satan and his demons out of heaven, and that's why things have got infinitely worse. They do not admit that the world's worst earthquakes (especially in terms of lives lost) occurred long, long before 1914; they don't mention the plagues that almost wiped Europeans off the map; or the far greater extent of the political power and interference of religions pre-1914 than post-1914. You asked what the signs are. I suggest you look out for the increasing of lawlessness, godlessness, natural affection, and a time when men's hearts fail them for fear of what's coming on the inhabited earth. Statistics can be skewed to say anything but God's Holy Spirit convinces / convicts and guides believers into all truth. 99% of all JWs admit they do not have the anointing of the Holy Spirit so if they haven't got hold of the truth, that's the reason. Let's pray that situation is reversed, before it's too late.

Answer 3

Firstly do not call someone a liar because he believes differently. If you can prove he is lying then great, till then no need to be rude. Keep in mind, Jesus taught of the end coming several thousand years ago. Noah preached the end was coming for centuries while building the Arc. Few listened till it was to late. The Bible tells of many signs, most of which have already occured.

Answer 4

Relax! JW's have been falsely claiming that the world is going to end for almost 100 years now. They keep changing the dates and I think the next one is around 2030. They also falsely claim that they, and only they, have the truth. It's a shame, really, how they have been misled.

Answer 5

As you say, what are the signs of the end of the world?

If you can't see any signs, why worry?

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Matthew 24/36-39.

JWs may be liars but Jesus Christ certainly not.

Answer 6

Good question. Jesus's disciples asked something very similar.
Here is what he said to them.

Tell us, when shall these things be? and what [shall be] the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Mat 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

Mat 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

Mat 24:8 All these [are] the beginning of sorrows.


And then there's a whole lot more, but you can look that up for yourself.

Answer 7

I wouldn't worry too much about the world. I suspect it will be here for a good long time. The end of the human race is likely to happen much sooner but as there is little you could do to prevent it if it was to occur, probably best not worry too much about that either.

Answer 8

All the wars breaking out, no peace on earth, the strange weather, umm... pretty much everything bad in the media. The signs are all over the place but you just have to pay attention to them.

Answer 9

The last time a jw came to my door i pointed down the street and said you have just missed him and closed my door,i have not been bothered by them since.

Answer 10

There are so many prophecies of the end of the world, who are we supposed to believe? With atomic energy about it could happen tomorrow. We can't live our lives in fear, it will happen if and when it is time for it to happen.