The Last Days

ARMAGEDDON: THE END OF DAYS:

Is the world about to END? Has the Anti-Christ risen? Is Jesus coming back as we speak? Let's discuss that:

I was raised in a religious cult called The Watchtower & Tract Society, but is better known as "Jehovah's Witnesses." Much like the majority of other Christian denominations, JW is essentially a doomsday cult; as we are all very strictly trained that we are living in the "last days" and should look for certain signs that the "great tribulation" is upon us. I was devout when I was a child, so the signs and prophecies I was trained to look for have stuck with me throughout my life. With the state of the world as it is, I am finding myself pointing out prophecy that seems to be coming to fruition in current events. For example, the Euphrates river drying up, Magog and Persia (Russia and Iran) teaming up for war with Israel, or the destruction of Damascus, to name a few seemingly prophetic events that have taken place this last year.
There is a level of anxiety that comes naturally with the mentally and emotionally abusive religious practices of brainwashing cosmic fear into a child. It sticks with me to this day, and I have been doing my best to cope with the heightened anxiety. That said, I remember after I was shunned from my family and congregation as a teenager, I had a mentor figure explain to me that the history of our religious group is not accurately taught to us as members. He encouraged me to research the Watchtower & Tract society on my own. What I found in doing as such convinced me of what a joke that cult really is. One of the biggest issues I had with them, historically speaking, is their consistent false prophecy of Armageddon throughout their existence, ad the inability to admit their mistakes when it has happened. They just cover it up, and continue to claim they are teaching the "TRUTH" to the congregation. Here, let me show you what I mean. >>>

Armageddon According to Jehovah's Witnesses:

The Watchtower Tract society was found by Charles Taze Russel on February 16, 1881. Prior to their official formation, during their early years, their founder adopted the belief that Jesus presence had been on earth since 1874. This meant that the annointed ones (The 144,000) were already in the process of gathering the "Small Flock" and "Large Flock" to inhabit the new Kingdom on earth and in heaven. The gathering time for the anointed (the Harvest) was predicted to extend until 1878, when the saints and chosen anointed flock would shed their mortal from amd transcend to heaven as spiritual beings who sit at the right hand of God. In 1878, when nothing supernatural happened, Russel changed the date to 1881 in the autumn.

• (incorporated December 15, 1884; 139 years ago)

In 1881, when the second coming of Christ again had not come to fruition, it became a bit of a crisis for Jehovah's Witnesses. Russel changed the date again to 1914. This was quite a wait for many of the members, so he corrected their attitudes by creating a doctrine that after 1881, anyone who passed away would be instantly transformed into a spirit being, This is the "death is a blessing" teaching that he used to console the troubled followers who began to doubt the validity of the organizations prophetic ability.

October of 1914 was a significant date in my upbringing and indoctrination, so I was rather surprised to read that it was another unsuccessful prophetic date for Armageddon. I was taught that Jesus began his 1000 year reign in heaven at this time, and as far as I know this is still taught to JW members to this day. I was not taught, however, that the reason this date is believed to be when Jesus took the throne was directly resulting from another botched prediction. The date was pushed back to 1918, and the reason given was to allow time to harvest the 144,000. When that date came and went it was pushed to 1925, and another slew of excuses and reasoning was preached. As late as 1932 the elders were STILL insisting that the date would be there within a generations time,

In 1966 the Watchtower society again published a date of when the Holy War would for sure break out: 1975. I'm sure you can already guess how that one turned out as well. After that point, the doctrine of the end time that I was taught began to be used, which was essentially that no man should try and predict a date for the second coming. We were instead to watch for the signs, being that Jehovah's Witnesses are Christion Zionists, a lot of attention was to be paid to Israel in particular. What gets me about the entire thing is that the congregation continued to grow in numbers and power through all these botched prophecies. The bible says "beware of false prophets" so how could anyone justify a sect that has wrongfully and dishonestly prophesied so many times since their founding? To my families benefit, we weren't told a date during our indoctrination, but we were constantly told to be vigilant as the last days were upon us. I left the cult over 20 years ago, so it seems they still do not have a grasp on their doomsday doctrines.

What About Other Christian Sects?

My personal experience with Jehovah's Witnesses aside, have there been other inaccurate doomsday predictions? Just exactly HOW LONG have we been living in the "Last Days?"

The idea of the world ending in a fiery cataclysm has gripped the human imagination for centuries. In Christianity, the concept of the End Times, often intertwined with Armageddon, has held a particular fascination, with predictions of an imminent apocalypse echoing throughout the religion's two-thousand-year history.

This article delves into the enduring allure of Christian doomsday predictions, exploring their roots in biblical prophecies, their remarkable adaptability in the face of failed predictions, and their profound impact on the cultural, psychological, and theological landscape of Christianity.

Rooted in Scripture:

The seeds of the Christian Doomsday doctrine lie in the New Testament, where Jesus himself speaks of the End Times in the Gospels. Passages like Matthew 24:6-8, describing wars, famines, and earthquakes as harbingers of the end, fueled early Christian communities' anticipation of Christ's imminent return and the establishment of the Kingdom of God.

The Old Testament also contributes to the End Times narrative, with prophets like Ezekiel, Daniel, and Isaiah offering glimpses of events like the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple, the destruction of Damascus, and the drying up of the Euphrates river. These vivid descriptions provided fertile ground for later interpretations and predictions.

A History of Missed Deadlines:

Despite a continuous stream of doomsday pronouncements, from early church fathers to medieval mystics and even modern televangelists, the world has stubbornly refused to end on schedule. From the fall of the Roman Empire to the Black Death and beyond, each significant historical event has been interpreted by some as a sign of the approaching apocalypse, only to be followed by the inevitable disappointment.

Adaptability and Endurance:

This pattern of failed predictions begs the question: why do these beliefs persist? Part of the answer lies in the inherent flexibility of apocalyptic prophecies. Biblical passages can be reinterpreted and applied to new contexts, allowing believers to adapt their understanding of the End Times to fit the ever-changing world around them.

Furthermore, the fear of the unknown and the human desire for meaning and purpose in the face of suffering contribute to the allure of the apocalypse. The notion of a final judgment and a divine resolution to earthly woes offers comfort and hope, even if it comes wrapped in the guise of destruction.

Beyond Theology:

The doomsday doctrine's influence extends beyond the realm of pure theology. It has played a significant role in shaping Christian culture, influencing art, literature, and even political movements. The anticipation of the End Times can also serve as a powerful tool for religious leaders, fostering a sense of community and purpose among their followers.

Conclusion:

The Christian Doomsday doctrine, with its deep roots in scripture and its remarkable adaptability, has proven remarkably resilient over the centuries. Its enduring presence serves as a testament to the power of apocalyptic narratives to capture the human imagination and grapple with fundamental questions about life, death, and the meaning of existence.

As we look back on this long history of predictions and disappointments, it is worth pondering the lasting impact of such beliefs on the individual and collective Christian experience. While the world may not have ended as promised countless times before, the allure of the apocalypse continues to hold sway, reminding us of the enduring human fascination with the unknown and the ever-present tension between hope and fear.