What is the latest prediction from the Jehovah's Witnesses about the time of the end?

Answer 1

We do not know exactly when the end of this system will occur. See Matthew 24:36. However, according to the signs spoken about the last days in The Bible, we feel it must be coming soon.

Another Answer: Jehovah's Witnesses have taken a more open ended approach rather than trying to completely decipher complex Biblical prophecies pinpointing a specific time period. They teach that these are the last days but do not give any date or specific time frame for the end.

They try to apply this scripture at Habakkuk 2:3 - "For the vision is yet for its appointed time, and it is rushing toward its end, and it will not lie. Even if it should delay, keep in expectation of it! For it will without fail come true. It will not be late!"

Answer From an ex-JW The end of the world prediction is tied in to the beginning of the end days, that JWs believe started in 1914. The key scripture that is very often used, is Matthew 24:34 : "I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened." So the end of the world comes within one generation starting from 1914. (Of course, one must understand that a generation is a period of time, but a group of people.)

Currently JWs teach that by using the word 'generation' Jesus "evidently meant that the lives of the anointed who were on hand when the sign began to become evident in 1914 would overlap with the lives of other anointed ones who would see the start of the great tribulation" (Watchtower April 15, 2010, page 10).

So the "generation" is a group of people who live at least partially with another group of people who were alive in 1914. Assuming a lifetime of 80 years, with an overlapping of 5 years, we get to a span of 155 years, give or take. So the current prediction is, that the end of the world will come before 2069.

Another Answer:

Jehovah's Witnesses know that the God of the Bible, the Creator of all things has set a time when he will rid this earth of all the bad things that blight life today. From the biggest thing to the smallest thing, everything that makes life miserable will be done away with.

Although that seems a bit far-fetched, we do have precedents of things that have happened before recorded in the Bible, and in these events there was a warning given before the calamity came. So those affected could decide what action they would take.

The situation today is no different. But why is it that events now are an indicator that we are living in a time period that leads to an end to the system and when will it happen?

Jesus Christ spoke of events that were going to happen in the future. He spoke about wars, earthquakes, food shortages and other life-changing events. But there was nothing new in what he spoke about because for as long as people can remember (as history can accurately testify) there have been many wars, earthquakes and the rest for as far back as you care to go. But, what sets the time period we are in at the moment is the sheer scale of these events, their frequency and the extent they have in affecting not just a small area, but how they affect the whole earth.

The warning is going out, people are listening and making their choices known. Even former Witnesses know the end is coming. Why? Because they realise the God of the Bible, the Creator of all things is Jehovah. Anyone can pick up a Bible, read say the account of Noah and the Ark and see that when God determines to do something, he does it. The promise made at Genesis 3:15 is only half accomplished. This is the first prophecy in the Bible, and sets the theme really for the rest of the scriptures.

We don't know the day, although some have tried to guess what it may be. That specific date - only God knows.

The scriptures say it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of God especially if a person has made a decision not to heed the warning and take the necessary action

.

=====================THOMAS_ANSWERS============= My fellow witnesses above referenced the warnings given of the last days by Christ Jesus as above from the Bibles own interpretation!

2 PROPHECIES THAT ARE NOT OF OUR OWN INTERPRETATION ARE STATED--They are with their own interpretation. We do apply prophecy with time periods

1. Jesus took his throne as foretold in 1914(Revelation 12:10) ". . ."NOW HAVE COME ( my caps ) to pass the salvation and the power and the Kingdom of our God and the AUTHORITY of his Christ, because the accuser of our brothers has been hurled down, who accuses them day and night before our God. . ." 2. Satan was thrown out of the heavens as stated! (Revelation 12:12) "12 On this account be glad, you heavens and you who reside in them! Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing that he has a short period of time."" ***

ce chap. 18 p. 227 The Bible-Is It Really Inspired by God? ***

1914-The Turning Point in History 30 "From the human standpoint, the world troubles and global wars foretold in the Bible were far from the thinking of the pre-1914 world. German statesman Konrad Adenauer said: "Thoughts and pictures come to my mind, . . . thoughts from the years before 1914 when there was real peace, quiet and security on this earth-a time when we didn't know fear. . . . Security and quiet have disappeared from the lives of men since 1914."25 People living before 1914 thought that the future "would get better and better," reported British statesman Harold Macmillan.26 The book 1913: America Between Two Worldsnotes: "Secretary of State Bryan said [in 1913] that 'conditions promising world peace were never more favorable than now.'"27

NOTE PLEASE WHAT WAS STATED FROM A SECULAR AUTHORITY: 32 "Decades before that date, there was an organization of people who were making known the significance of 1914. The New York World of August 30, 1914, explains: "The terrific war outbreak in Europe has fulfilled an extraordinary prophecy. For a quarter of a century past, through preachers and through press, the 'International Bible Students' [Jehovah's Witnesses] . . . have been proclaiming to the world that the Day of Wrath prophesied in the Bible would dawn in 1914. 'Look out for 1914!' has been the cry of the . . . evangelists."29

We still stay with what took place in 1914 & we are indeed in the powerful "presence" of Christ Jesus & the beginning of the last days!

Answer 2

One Answer:

The year 2012 Mayan prophecy ... but we don't need to fear it.

Another thought:

Scripturally, the signs have never changed. There are several given to help us recognize the 'last days' just before God steps in to bring about his Kingdom rule(Matthew 24:14).

When we see them ALL, 'know that he is near at the door'.(Matthew 24:32-33)

Matthew 24:3-14 tells us what conditions will be like

2Timothy 3:1-5 tells us what people would be like in the "last days".(2Peter 3:3, 4)

1Timothy 4:1, Acts 20:29, 30 and 2Thessolonians 2:1-3 tell about the apostasy and the spiritual condition of people in the 'last days'.(2Peter 2:1, 2)

Answer 3

The bible does not give a date but when being asked a similar question Jesus stated "And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; AND THEN the end will come."

Jehovah's Witnesses are presently witnessing (preaching) in every nation on earth so they believe the end of this system is imminent.

ALSO the bible give its readers information to identify, if not the actual date, the period of time leading up to the end. This period is called in the bible "the last days".

Jesus explained that this period is marked by the following features which according to bible prophecy, would steadily increase in severity until the end of the entire system.

** increase in wars and global conflicts

** increase in global hunger & food shortages

** increase in the spread of deadly diseases

** marked earthquakes

** increase in crime and social problems (such as familial violence, pedophilia, etc)

Although such things have afflicted mankind since the beginning of history, historians point out that there was something drastically different about the 20th Century; The 20th Century saw an INCREASE in these things in WHEN COMPARED TO PREVIOUS CENTURIES. No one event by itself proves that we are in the last days but when the entire sign is in evident on a global scale it is significant, especially when preceded by a date fixed by bible chronology (1914).

Jehovah's Witnesses used to believe that the world (i.e. all non followers of Jehovah) would end before the generation of people that were alive in the year 1914 had passed away. [Generation 1]

However, since April 15th 2010, the belief is that the world (non followers of Jehovah) will end before the generation [Generation 2] of people that knew some of those who were of the generation that were alive in the year 1914, passes away.

The Watchtower explains it,

Watchtower 10 4/15 p. 10 par. 14 Holy Spirit's Role in the Outworking of Jehovah's Purpose

''How, then, are we to understand Jesus' words about "this generation"? He evidently meant that the lives of the anointed who were on hand when the sign began to become evident in 1914 [Generation 1] would overlap with the lives of other anointed ones [Generation 2] who would see the start of the great tribulation.''

For example, if someone was born in 1990 and their life overlapped with someone still alive that was born in 1914, then the end would come before that person born in 1990 passed away. All the things that Jesus foretold, would take place over at least two overlapping generations.

Answer 4

Yes, Jehovah's Witnesses are well known for publicising their belief that the present world system will end and that a new system of rulership, under Jesus, is imminent. They view this as interpreting existing Bible prophecies rather than announcing independent predictions. They have never predicted the destruction of all life on earth.

The accuracies of these "predictions" have had varying degrees of accuracy, and adjustments of understanding have been made over the years, notably in relation to 1914, 1925 and speculations connected to 1975.

According to George D. Chryssides, senior lecturer and Head of Religious Studies, Birmingham University UK:

"Contrary to popular belief, the Watch Tower Society has not repeatedly set dates for the world's end, found its expectations disappointed, rescheduled the eschatological timetable, and repeated this sequence each time expectations have been frustrated."

Answer 5

They have never predicted the end of the world, ask any Jehovah Witness and they will say the same thing. I hope this helps you with whatever you needed this answer for.

The 'Watchtower' organization, the cults leadership, have on many occasions predicted the end of the world. 1914 WAS A FAILED PROPHECY. 1975 was the most recent false date. The documentation is available to anyone who wishes to find it. As with most cults, the newer recruits have been told that the New York based cult did not choose any date, however it is hard to deny the evidence which is available on numerous web sites. Those who publish the 'false prophecy ' dates of 1914 and 1975 are never sued. The reason is obvious. A court of law would produce too much damaging witnesses and evidence.

Answer 6

Zero times. Jehovah's Witnesses have never predicted the end. In fact we don't even believe in the world coming to an end. We do, however, believe in a time when all the people who've done wicked things will be destroyed in Armageddon. But even then we have never predicted when that day will be because the Bible specifically says no human will ever know that exact day or hour. All we know is that we are very close. It could be in minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, or years. We will never know. Hence, we have never claimed to know or give a date. We simply do not know.

Answer 7

It depends what we would mean by 'the end'; 1) the end of the planet, or 2) the end of all 'evil doers'.

1) If we mean 'the end of the earth' - the Bible clearly assures mankind, that's not going to happen; not from asteroids; not from pollution; not from nuclear annihilation. Ecclesiastes 1:4 assures that the earth 'abides forever'.

Proverbs 10:30states that the righteous will 'NEVER BE REMOVED'.

Proverbs 2:21, 22state that: "the upright" will "inhabit the earth" they will be "left in it". It continues that only "the wicked from the earth are cut off".

Any Bible verses that speak of the earth being destroyed by fire - - MUST have a 'figurative' meaning; NOT a literal destruction of this planet of human habitation. What kind of God would create this beautiful earth; make all the promises of Paradise on earth; and then up-&-allow it to disintegrate into a charred burnt mess? After all, Psalm 37:11states that 'the meek" shall 'inherit the earth". And we're pretty sure Jehovah didn't mean a burnt out old planet; but instead a global Paradise earth.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe those words. Therefore such an 'end' will NEVER happen.

2) But if we are referring to 'the end of all evil doers'; if we are referring to the Biblical Great Tribulation (comprised of 3 distinct aspects) culminating in Armageddon - - How close Jehovah's Witnesses feel we are to that end?

All we can say is that you couldn't get to a calendar fast enough before it hits.

While no ones knows the day or hour; not even Jehovah's own people; Jehovah's Witnesses can guarantee that that 'day or hour' is upon us - - it is but minutes away, if not 'seconds'.

For Jehovah's Witnesses, this is not a DOOMSDAY view. This Bible event is a WELCOMED event. It fulfils God's promise that all 'evil doers will be cut off'. What a blessing that will be. How many problems that will solve right here on earth.

This explains too the urgency with which Jehovah's people view their door-step ministry. They want to help as many as possible to draw close to Jehovah God; and meet with his righteous requirements.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the 'end of this system' will come within the lifetime of the people alive today who also knew people who were alive in the year 1914.

This is based on the belief that Jesus was foretelling the end of this system in Matthew 24:34 and would come within a certain 'generation'.

The most up to date definition of the word 'generation' is defined in the Watchtower 5th April 2010 page 9, which says,

''How, then, are we to understand Jesus' words about "this generation"? He evidently meant that the lives of the anointed who were on hand when the sign began to become evident in 1914 would overlap with the lives of other anointed ones who would see the start of the great tribulation. That generation had a beginning, and it surely will have an end. The fulfillment of the various features of the sign clearly indicate that the tribulation must be near.''

As to what will happen to everyone at this time of the end, the Watchtower 1st Sept 1989 page 7 says,

''Only Jehovah's Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the "great crowd," as a united organization under the protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system dominated by Satan the Devil.''

Answer 8

Andrew Holden (Jehovah’s Witnesses: Portrait of a Contemporary Religious Movement) says the years 1874, 1914, 1918, 1925 and 1975 were all defined by Jehovah's Witnesses as times for the Second Coming of Christ. Witnesses expected the invisible return of Christ in 1874, a date which was later revised to 1914, the original date for Argameddon. Holden says the destruction of Christendom was predicted for 1918, and Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were predicted to return in 1925. Another year in which Argameddon was predicted was 1975, as a result of which some made a conscious decision not to have more children or to cancel voluntary pension premiums or life assurance policies.

Holden tells us "Watch Tower literature persistently claims that the Armageddon will come within the generation of those who were alive in 1914, when Christ returned invisibly to establish Jehovah’s Kingdom."

The Watchtower, Oct. 15, 1980, p. 31, says 'If the wicked system of this world survived until the turn of the century (the year 2000), which is highly improbable in view of world trends and the fulfillment of Bible prophecy, there would still be survivors of the World War I generation. However, the fact that their number is dwindling is one more indication that "the conclusion of the system of things" is moving fast toward its end. '

Well we are long past the turn of the century, and still no end in sight. Witnesses look for evidence that the many prophecies have been partially fulfilled, rather than that they were failures. Meanwhile, the organisation is reluctant to make new prophecies tied to a specific date.