What The Org Teaches: #2 THE GREAT TRIBULATION

by The Searcher 13 Replies latest watchtower bible

  • The Searcher
    The Searcher

    Every single Bible Student/Jehovah's Witness who has ever lived, has been indoctrinated to believe that a catastrophic great tribulation would very soon engulf the entire earth, causing untold death & destruction.

    This spurious teaching is drummed into every J.W.'s head and used by them as a major recruitment tool.

    #2 THE GREAT TRIBULATION

    What the Org says:

    w95 2/15 p. 14 par. 6 - "While Jerusalem’s destruction in 70 C.E. did indeed bring "great tribulation" on that religious city, the major fulfillment of Jesus’ words is yet to be realized."

    it-2 p. 1127 Tribulation - "However, since the prophecy at Matthew 24:4-22 clearly has a dual fulfillment.......might the "tribulation" referred to at Matthew 24:29 and Mark 13:24 be the "tribulation" during the second and final fulfillment of what was foretold at Matthew 24:21? Viewed in the light of the Bible as a whole, this seems most likely. Do the terms used in the Greek text allow for such a view? Definitely."

    The Org insists that the great tribulation which Jesus mentioned at Matthew 24:21- "for then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again" - is the same one spoken of at Revelation 7:14 - "These are the ones that come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood".

    But What Does the Bible Really Teach?

    The NWT/RNWT deceptively cross-references Revelation 7:14 with Matthew 24:21 and Mark 13:19 in order to "prove" their false teaching that a cataclysmic tribulation is soon going to hit the earth. The deception is based on the fact that the phrase "great tribulation" appears in each of those verses. However, the "great tribulation" which is recorded at Acts 7:11 is not cross-referenced with the other verses. Why not? Because it is patently clear that it is speaking of a very different great tribulation.

    Likewise, the great tribulation spoken of at Revelation 7:14 cannot possibly be the same one Jesus spoke of at Matthew 24:21 - for two blindingly obvious reasons:

    a) The great tribulation which is spoken of at Revelation 7:14 is contextually a clear reference to the same great tribulation mentioned five chapters previously at Revelation 2:22 - a tribulation which Christ himself would instigate against those who were corrupting the congregations, and one which the Org apparently avoids discussing. The angel was describing a future tribulation. He was not discussing one which had occurred almost 30 years previously between 66 - 70 CE.

    b) Regarding the Matthew 24:21 great tribulation, Jesus said "....no, nor will occur again".

    How can something which was never to be repeated, have a "greater fulfillment" in the future?

    Repetitition for emphasis: it was never to be repeated!!!!!!

  • GoneAwol
    GoneAwol

    Ahhhh.. normal service is resumed. Searchers back! Good post, hadnt thought of it like that. How was the break?

  • stuckinarut2
    stuckinarut2

    That's a great point!

    So even if it only meant the 1st century application, that comment of "never occur again" makes sense!

    Nice thread!

  • The Searcher
    The Searcher

    @ goneawol - thanks, nice to be back. Had to deal with one of life's problems (non-religious one!!) and after 6 months it concluded successfully at the weekend. (no, I wasn't doing 6 months in San Quentin!)

    I sincerely hope that lurkers and people studying with JW's will examine the info on this site and seriously question what they've been told is "Bible truth."

  • Introvert 2
    Introvert 2

    There are many ways to interpret the end times of the Bible, this study is called Eschatology. The WT uses a Futurist and Idealist method. Most interpretations are a mixture of the three types to a certain degree, here is a good Wiki article :

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eschatology

    Hope this helps

  • The Searcher
    The Searcher

    @ introvert2 - Yes, numerous denominations believe the end is coming "soon", but the Org combines scriptures which have no connection, in order to appear as if they have the true interpretation of something which many people desire to know.

  • Magnum
    Magnum

    The Searcher is back!!! Thanks for this post. I just read it and am going to save the material so I can go back and consider it more deeply.

  • EyesOpenHeartBroken
    EyesOpenHeartBroken

    Thanks for this. Very nicely put together. I'll be filing this away for a rainy day.

  • prologos
    prologos

    searcher, glad you have not given up proving the wt wrong, using the book they are supposed to basing their beliefs by. so, don't give up. but arguably the things that befell coventry, hiroshima, stalingrad, tokyo, nagasaki, dresden, Auschwitz would stack up well, or rather higher, against what happened to jerusalem, so even jesus' story is kind of lame if considered as the one time ever epitome of disasters.

  • smiddy
    smiddy

    Good points The searcher and prologos , it just goes to prove the old saying, " The Bible is like a musical instument , you can play any old tune on it you like" .

    smiddy

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