Will Witness ever stop trying to guess the date of the end?

by free2beme 14 Replies latest jw friends

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  free2beme

  I remember pre-1975 and was a kid at the time. My mother was baptized in 1975 an cried thinking she got in just at the last second. Her friend did not even start her kids in school that year, thinking there was no need to. After it passed and years later when I left. My mom actually claims to this day, that she never felt that way and acts like her friends reason for starting the kids late, was unrelated. I remember it though, like the back of my hand and know that the reason she changed her story is because she wants to support the thought that Witnesses did not say 1975 was the end.

  Now, the other day in one of my mothers rare mentioning of the religion. Remember I am openly Pagan with my family and do not show any interest to the Witnesses. My mother stated, "you know 2035 is the mark of 120 years years since Jesus took his power." Well I thought it was interesting, but doing the math quick in my head, I thought that would be 2034 if 1914 was the date she was basing it off. Either way, I did not want to pursue it. Well the discussion went, you know Noah preached for 120 years before the flood came? I thought, interesting, but Noah is based on other regional stories that actually show it to be nothing more then another case of Myth. Well as the discussion went on, I realized something, my mother is saying 2035 is the end? Well, I thought, interesting and asked her what she was saying. She stated that no one knows the hour, but there is a lot of interest in that date. That sounds so familiar, and yet I can not help but wonder about all the wrong math used to get to 1914 and how they probably will be the only religion thinking that, since they are math challenged. So maybe it will work to recruit more people, after all from a sales standpoint, 1975 was a wonderful sales closer. If something works, you really should try it again. I would be 65 in 2035, my mother would most likely be dead, so from my believe standpoint (now, not a a Witness). She will actually see 2035, and the Witness view of it, right the next time around from her existence at that time.

  So, anyone else been shown this 2035 date?
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  Elsewhere

  *** Watchtower 2003 December 15 pp.14-19 Our Watchfulness Takes On Greater Urgency ***

  Our Watchfulness Takes On Greater Urgency

  "Keep on the watch, therefore, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming."—MATTHEW 24:42.

  "ABOVE all other things, the twentieth century was shaped by war," says author Bill Emmott. While admitting that all periods of human history have felt the weight of wars and violence, he adds: "The twentieth century did not differ in kind, it differed in degree. It was the first century to feature a truly world-spanning conflict . . . And, as if to emphasize the point, it featured not just one such worldwide conflict, but two."

  2 Wars that involve 'nation against nation and kingdom against kingdom' were foretold by Jesus Christ. However, they are just one aspect of 'the sign of Christ's presence and of the conclusion of the system of things.' In this great prophecy, Jesus also mentioned famines, pestilences, and earthquakes. (Matthew 24:3, 7, 8; Luke 21:6, 7, 10, 11) In many respects, such calamities have increased in scope and severity. The badness of man is abundant, as seen in his attitude toward God and fellowman. Moral breakdown and increase in crime and violence are evident. Men have become lovers of money rather than lovers of God, obsessed with pleasure. All this testifies that we are living in "critical times."—2 Timothy 3:1-5.

  3 How do you view the worsening trend in human affairs? Many are indifferent, even callous, to distressing events of the day. The world's influential and intellectual men do not discern the meaning of "the signs of the times"; neither have religious leaders given proper guidance in this matter. (Matthew 16:1-3) But Jesus admonished his followers: "Keep on the watch, therefore, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming." (Matthew 24:42) Jesus here encourages us not only to be watchful but to "keep on the watch." To keep on the watch, we must remain alert and vigilant. This requires more than simply acknowledging that we are living in the last days, more than recognizing that times are hard. We must have firm conviction that "the end of all things has drawn close." (1 Peter 4:7) Only then will our watchfulness take on a sense of urgency. Hence, the question that we must reflect on is: 'What will help us to strengthen our conviction that the end is near?'

  4 Consider the conditions prevailing during the time preceding a one-of-a-kind event in human history—the great Deluge of Noah's day. People were so bad that Jehovah "felt hurt at his heart." He declared: "I am going to wipe men whom I have created off the surface of the ground." (Genesis 6:6, 7) And he did just that. Drawing a parallel between then and now, Jesus said: "Just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be."—Matthew 24:37.

  5 It is reasonable to assume that Jehovah feels about the present world as he felt about the pre-Flood world. Since he brought an end to the ungodly world of Noah's day, he will certainly destroy the wicked world of today. Having a clear understanding of the parallel between that time and our day should fortify our conviction that the end of the present world is near. What, then, are the similarities? There are at least five. The first is that a warning of coming destruction is given in no uncertain terms.

  Warned of "Things Not Yet Beheld"

  6 In Noah's day, Jehovah declared: "My spirit shall not act toward man indefinitely in that he is also flesh. Accordingly his days shall amount to a hundred and twenty years." (Genesis 6:3) The issuance of this divine decree in 2490 B.C.E. marked the beginning of the end for that ungodly world. Just think what that meant for those then living! Only 120 years more and Jehovah would bring "the deluge of waters upon the earth to bring to ruin all flesh in which the force of life is active from under the heavens."—Genesis 6:17.

  7 Noah received the warning of the upcoming catastrophe decades in advance, and he wisely used the time to prepare for survival. "After being given divine warning of things not yet beheld," says the apostle Paul, "[Noah] showed godly fear and constructed an ark for the saving of his household." (Hebrews 11:7) What about us? Some 90 years have passed since the last days of this system of things began in 1914. We are certainly in "the time of the end." (Daniel 12:4) How should we respond to warnings we have been given? "He that does the will of God remains forever," states the Bible. (1 John 2:17) Now is therefore the time to do Jehovah's will with a keen sense of urgency.

  8 In modern times, sincere students of the Bible have learned from the inspired Scriptures that this system is doomed to destruction. Do we believe this? Notice what Jesus Christ clearly stated: "There will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world's beginning until now, no, nor will occur again." (Matthew 24:21) Jesus also said that he would come as God's appointed Judge and would separate people as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. Those found unworthy would "depart into everlasting cutting-off, but the righteous ones into everlasting life."—Matthew 25:31-33, 46.

  9 Jehovah has kept these warnings in front of his people by means of timely reminders through the spiritual food provided by "the faithful and discreet slave." (Matthew 24:45-47) Moreover, every nation, tribe, tongue, and people are called upon to "fear God and give him glory, because the hour of the judgment by him has arrived." (Revelation 14:6, 7) An integral part of the Kingdom message preached earth wide by Jehovah's Witnesses is the warning that God's Kingdom will soon remove human rulership. (Daniel 2:44) This warning is not to be taken lightly. Almighty God always keeps his word. (Isaiah 55:10, 11) He did in Noah's day, and he will in our day.—2 Peter 3:3-7.

  [...]

  "Keep on the Watch"

  21 Although the Flood seems remote from our day, it clearly provides a warning that we must not ignore. (Romans 15:4) The similarities between Noah's day and our day should make us increasingly aware of the significance of what is happening and alert us to the thieflike coming of Jesus to execute judgment upon the wicked.

  22 Today, Jesus Christ is directing a tremendous spiritual building work. For the security and survival of true worshipers, an arklike spiritual paradise exists. (2 Corinthians 12:3, 4) To be preserved through the great tribulation, we must remain in that paradise. Surrounding the domain of the spiritual paradise is Satan's world, ready to assimilate any who have become spiritually drowsy. It is imperative that we "keep on the watch" and prove ourselves ready for Jehovah's day.—Matthew 24:42, 44.

  [Emphasis Added]
• 

  Elsewhere

  I remember pre-1975 and was a kid at the time. My mother was baptized in 1975 an cried thinking she got in just at the last second. Her friend did not even start her kids in school that year, thinking there was no need to. After it passed and years later when I left. My mom actually claims to this day, that she never felt that way and acts like her friends reason for starting the kids late, was unrelated. I remember it though, like the back of my hand and know that the reason she changed her story is because she wants to support the thought that Witnesses did not say 1975 was the end.

  
  

  
  You need to have her write down her thoughts and opinions on the matter of 2035 and have her sign and date it. Ensure she states things in an explicit manner... no maybes, probables, perhaps, etc...

  I bet she won't be willing to do this.
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  unclebruce

  G'day free2Bme,

  I think the Society plays this game on several fronts. Several years ago my Elder father-in-law told me that "we are no longer in the business of setting dates".

  On the other hand many said the same thing arround 1975 (even scoffing at the ones who built their hopes up and fell way over the 1925 date).

  So from what you've said I see the same old pattern emerging. Just can't help themselves can they. 2035 is slyly tethered out there as a teaser for those who need it - but it could come much sooner than that of course! I see several theocratic warfare strategies at play here - carrot & stick, plausable deniability - a touch of cognative dissonance never hurt keeping the dumbs in line either.

  unc
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  JH

  2035 is very far away. I guess that I can miss a few more meetings.

  She stated that no one knows the hour, but there is a lot of interest in that date.

  I'm sure those born in 1914, who were told that they would never die, will be so enthusiastic about this good news..... Afterall, they will be only 120 years old or so.
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  serendipity

  At WT study at the KH, using that 2003 WT, the conductor made the point: "The society is NOT saying the end will come in 2034." Back then, I thought: They are suggesting the possibility.
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  free2beme

  The people are desperate for a date. After all, dates give meaning to what appears to be a lot of wasted time.
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  Elsewhere

  I can guarantee you that the WTS will do absolutely NOTHING to discourage JWs from speculating on this date. Apocalyptic religions NEED an end date to survive... without one they cannot survive.

  When nothing happens in 2034 the WTS will then say: Hey, we never actually said the end would be in 2034... that was just people speculating on their own.

  And the cycle will begin again. (Assuming much of anything is left of the WTS by 2034)
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  greendawn

  It's easy to casually juggle numbers around on the basis of apparently important dates and calculations, that is numerology which is really the same as astrology and the adventist groups including the JWs have been doing this since the early 19th century without any success in their predictions. They have no real logical basis it's all in their imagination.
  
  But they will carry on setting or implying dates to maintain the carrot at the end of the stick.
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  free2beme

  The thing is Witnesses generally work off the idea, that was happened in the bible is reflected in modern times with them. They get this from Revelations mainly, if memory serves me right. I would bet they just got so used to doing that, that it seemed natural to apply everything. Although, from my reading and memory of the Bible, I do not remember any verses that say God had them teaching wrong information and then corrected them. Not that they might not have gone off on Pagan paths, at times. It was not because the Law was not pure, it was because they wanted to add on to it. I think this is something the Witnesses ignore so much, that they are wrong every day in their teachings and believe they are heading towards correction. Yet belief must accept all that is here today, and not speculate on what will be taught tomorrow to change that. The Witnesses know dates work, they know how to subtly get them out too.