The news was talking about war, the world was in turmoil, gas prices were high, the economy was weak and Witnesses were saying this is the end. It sounds like today, doesn't it? Well it isn't, it is actually what was happening in 1990 when the last Gulf War happened. I was in a congregation that was saying, "it could happen any day now." I went to a assembly and people were walking around with big smiles, thinking this was it. We were calling our inactive relatives and telling them to return to the meetings, the end is in site. We had higher attendance then normal, which meant we had 10 people at the book study and not 6. Basically, we thought this was a sign of the end. Yet what happened?
Well the 90's started, the 90's ended and look where we are today. We are at the beginning of another war and sure enough the Witnesses are doing and saying the same thing. This is their pattern. If trouble happens in the world, they sit there hoping this is the final battle. They want this to be the end! So they mention it, use it to scare people and they preach it door-to-door. Two years later, they forget about it and move onto something else.
So if any are out there and find themselves buying into this CRAP of thinking this is a sign of the end and getting a little scared with modern events. Don't feel bad, ten years ago there were people doing the same thing as you. Who knows, but ten years from now there might be someone doing the same with the next major event.
Just thought I would mention this, as I had a conversation with a Witnesses recently and their words sounded just like it was 1990 all over again.
... I figure though, if anything does happen. I will just do a death bed repentance, pray to Jesus, Jehovah and even hold a book of Mormons for good measure, and slide in under the wire. Otherwise, I am still holding to the idea that the Witnesses are full of it.