The Watch Tower and the Last Days

 

In their Watchtower No 2, 2021, we read:

'The Bible describes the time period just before the end as “the last days.” (2 Peter 3:3, 4) Second Timothy 3:1-5 states that the last days would be marked by a steep moral decline. (See the box “ Just Before the End of the World.”) Do you see people who exhibit selfish, greedy, fierce, and unloving traits today? This too is evidence that we are living very near the end of the world.’

They go on to ask, ‘How long will the last days be? According to the Bible, only “a short period of time.” Then, God will destroy “those ruining the earth.—Revelation 11:15-18, footnote; 12:12.'

This teaching keeps Jehovah's Witnesses tied to the organisation for fear today might be the day. We've all heard their leaders speak on this, especially Anthony Morris, who seems to take particular glee in describing the end and its suffering. Bleak seems to suit the man's character and demeanour.

It seems we should know what the Bible says on this issue so we can free our JW friends from the hold this gives the organisation. When are the last days? What hope can we offer our JW friends? How can we help dispel their fears?

Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t stand alone in emphasising the urgency of the last days. From William Miller in 1844 to Harold Camping of recent memory, and many before and since, people have been confidently brought to the point of disappointment and disillusionment in expectation of Christ’s second advent. See this article for a summary account of just some failed ‘last days’ prophecies from 500AD to the present day.

Such prophecies usually highlight current political, social, meteorological upheavals: ‘see the state of the world? The end is very near now.’ Certainly, today we are seeing political and social unrest, a global pandemic, global warming, mass migration, and the threat of war. People can’t be blamed for speculating about these times. So, are these ‘the last days?’

Already/Not Yet

We are familiar with the idea salvation has three tenses:

1. We have been saved in the sense we are saved from the penalty of sin because Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty.

2. We are being saved from the power of sin because, at Pentecost, Jesus gave the Spirit to enable us to daily conquer sin through repentance and a closer walk with him.

3. We will be saved from the presence of sin when Jesus returns to finally establish his kingdom in those who love him.

In the same way, we live in the tension of the already and not yet of the last days. The book of Hebrews tells us, ‘...in these last days [God] has spoken to us by his Son…’ Heb.1:2

Peter writes, ‘He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.’ 1 Peter 1:20

These are the last days, the days between Jesus’ first and second advent. This is known in scholarly terms as ‘Apocalyptic Dualism’ meaning Jesus has two advents. In the first he established the New Covenant, in the second he will establish his Kingdom, the new heavens and new earth of Rev.21:22. We are in the last days, and have been since Jesus’ ascension in Acts 1, speaking of which, before his ascent Jesus told his disciples:

‘It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses...to the end of the earth.’ Acts 1:7,8

The Beginning of Birth Pains

In Mark’s gospel we find Jesus clearly addressing the question of the last days. Referring to the temple, he said, ‘Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.’ Mark 1:2 Later he tells his disciples:

‘You will hear about wars. You will also hear people talking about future wars. Don’t be alarmed. Those things must happen. But the end still isn’t here. Nation will fight against nation. Kingdom will fight against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in many places. People will go hungry. All of those things are the beginning of birth pains.’ Mark 13:7

‘At that time someone may say to you, ‘Look! Here is the Christ!’ Or, ‘Look! There he is!’ Do not believe it. False Christs and false prophets will appear. They will do signs and miracles. They will try to fool God’s chosen people if possible. Keep watch! I have told you everything ahead of time.’ Mark 13:21-23

These are the events of the last days:

1. The initiation of a world-wide missionary effort

2. Signs of the old order falling, starting with the destruction of the temple

3. Wars and rumours of wars

4. False prophets and false Christs

When Paul instructs his young son in the faith Timothy to, ‘Continue in what you have heard and have firmly believed,’ 2 Tim.3:14 he is writing about ‘the last days,’ 2 Tim.3:1-10 warning him present steadfastness was essential in Timothy’s time, not at some future time.

The last days describes a continuum. The apostles were at the beginning of that continuum, Timothy was on the continuum, the early church, the Reformers, were on that continuum and so are we; but we don’t know where in relation to Christ’s second advent. We do know it is closer today than in Timothy’s day, than in the 17^th century.

The Readiness is All

We can learn a lot about our role in anticipation of the second advent by looking at the first. While others had ether compromised with the Roman authorities or plotted revolution, faithful Simeon, ’was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel…’ Luke 2:25 faithful Anna was ‘worshipping, fasting and praying every day’ as she served faithfully in the temple Luke 2:36-38.

We are commissioned both to go and tell (Acts 1:7) and to watch and wait (Mt.25:1-13.)

Shakespeare’s play about the Danish prince ends with a duel. When Hamlet’s friend Horatio urges him to call off the impending duel with Laertes if he has a bad feeling about it, Hamlet dismisses the idea:

"Not a whit, we defy augury. There’s a special providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, ’tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be now; if it be not now, yet it will come. The readiness is all.’

We defy augury...the readiness is all.

As we speak to Jehovah's Witnesses we should point out the folly of augury, omens, date setting, and draw their attention to Acts 1:7. We need to show we have a grasp of last things insofar as we are telling the good news, watching, and waiting. If the readiness is all we simply need to be ready, confident we are saved, we are being saved, and we will be saved.