Doomsday cults like the Jehovah’s Witnesses are at the height of their power when things are going wrong in the world.
The news on February 24th, 2022, that Russia was invading Ukraine, must have had Watchtower leaders rubbing their hands in glee. Not because they take any pleasure in warfare and bloodshed, but rather because it gives them the chance to again convince the faithful that Biblical prophecy is coming true, and the long-awaited Armageddon is at the door.
JW.org wasted no time in posting an article with the question: How might this military conflict affect the world?[1] They continue by quoting the secretary-general of the United Nations, António Guterres:
“The price in human suffering, destruction and damage to European and global security is too high to contemplate.”
It is remarkable, though commonplace, to find The Watchtower quoting, as a supporting source, a group they would usually denounce. They believe that the United Nations is the scarlet-coloured beast of Revelation 17.
Rumours of Wars
Jesus Christ foretold a time when “nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.” (Matthew 24:7) Read the article “What Is the Sign of ‘the Last Days,’ or ‘End Times’?” to see how the Bible shows that wars today fulfill Jesus’ prophecy.
Jehovah’s Witnesses will often pull bible verses out of their context to support their errant theology. Matthew 24:7, partially quoted above proves the point. Here is the immediate context of that verse. Matthew 24:3-8:
As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
It should be noted that the first thing Jesus warns his disciples is that people will seek to lead them astray. Throughout church history there have been many who have lead people astray through failed end time predictions. During its history, the Watchtower Society have been such a group. Sadly, it continues to be so today. In its ‘failed’ wake, are left disappointed, disillusioned, and damaged individuals.
The signs (particularly wars) that the Watchtower use to instil fear, not hope, in their adherents have been around for the past two-thousand years. There has been a plethora of false Christs, of wars, famines and earthquakes. Jesus tells his disciples: ‘See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.
Jesus indicates that the things he mentions will happen, but none of these are a specific sign that He is about to return, so the disciples needn’t be alarmed.
No Hope
Jehovah’s Witnesses have been sounding the alarm that the end is near for 150 years and have, on several occasions, set dates, but all to no avail. This organisation clearly does not have Jehovah’s support, for why would Jehovah give His backing to a false prophet? Rather than offering their followers any real hope they continue to destroy countless lives.
Armageddon is at hand, so where do you stand before Jehovah? Have you been faithful to him by being obedient to all the directives of the Faithful and Discreet Slave? How many letters have you written and posted during the coronavirus pandemic? Have you done enough? Will you survive the impending calamity and find yourself on paradise earth?
Fear, not hope, is the order of the day amongst rank-and-file Jehovah’s Witnesses. They never know whether they have done enough to please Jehovah, so there is no assurance of salvation, and very little joy, within this group.
Chains that bind
It is not only those who remain within the organisation that are bound by fear, those who leave continue to suffer. I recently spoke to a woman journeying out of this group and, though she has made huge progress and no longer associates or believes their teachings, she still suffers from nightmares.
‘What if they are right?’ is a question she asks herself anytime she watches the news. ‘Maybe Armageddon is just around the corner, and I will be annihilated.’ So ingrained in the mind of the Jehovah’s Witnesses is the ‘Armageddon’ teaching, that the locks can remain years after people have left.
How different it is for those of us who have come into a relationship with God through Jesus. We have been fully set free. The news of war and rumours of war, though disturbing, does not change our relationship with God. We can rest in Him.
The Apostle Paul, writing to the church at Rome, said these fantastic words:
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31-39)
We are secure!
Jesus our Peace
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27)
JW.org informs us that there are more 129,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses living in the Ukraine, but the question is: Do they have peace amidst the conflict? Sadly, I think not because they do not know, and have not put their hope in the Prince of Peace – Jesus.
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