Keep on the watch - for what?
Tuesday, November 30, 2010 at 1:02PM 
“Keep on the watch.” That is what Jesus exhorted all of his followers to do. But keep on the watch for what? What do Jehovah’s Witnesses expect to occur?
According to the teachings of the Watchtower virtually all aspects of the sign of Christ’s presence have already been fulfilled. Here is an excerpt from the October 1st, 2005, Watchtower Magazine, which itself was taken from the Keep on the Watch! brochure published the year before:
“As we keep on the watch, what can we expect? The book of Revelation outlines progressive steps in the fulfillment of God’s purpose. Acting on what it says is vital if we are to prove ourselves ready. The prophecy vividly describes events that would occur in “the Lord’s day,” which began when Christ was enthroned in heaven in 1914. Revelation alerts us to an angel who has been entrusted with “everlasting good news to declare.” He proclaims in a loud voice: “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of the judgment by him has arrived.” That “hour” of judgment is a brief period; it includes both the pronouncement and the execution of the judgments that are depicted in that prophecy. We are now living in that period.”
Obviously “the hour of the judgment by him” is a brief period, as the Watchtower states. But how reasonable is it that a century (since 1914) ought to be considered a short period of time, comparable to an hour? It is not reasonable at all.
The same article goes on to state that the hour of judgment will conclude with the destruction of Babylon the Great, as described in the 17th and 18th chapters of Revelation. According to the Watchtower’s interpretation the scarlet-colored beast that will devour the religious harlot symbolizes the United Nations. Essentially, Jehovah’s Witnesses have come to expect that the next major event on the prophetic slate will be the sudden destruction of all organized religion around the globe by the United Nations. Although not explicitly stated in this particular article, it is implied that Jehovah’s Witnesses are to keep on the watch for the developments leading up to this momentous event.
This is not to suggest that the Watchtower’s interpretation of the symbolisms of the harlot and the beast are in error. The point is, when Jesus exhorted his followers to “keep on the watch” is this what he had in mind?
According to Jesus international wars, food shortages, pandemics and earthquakes will mark the thief-like arrival of the Son of man. As a prelude to those events Jesus said ‘you will hear of wars and rumors of wars…but the end is not yet.’ But none of these things hold much meaning for Jehovah’s Witnesses since they have been led to believe that Jesus’ words were fulfilled generations ago.
But considering the current world situation, how likely is it that the United Nations will suddenly initiate a campaign to eradicate religion? For one thing, the UN does not have that kind of power or authority. Can you imagine, for example, patriotic, fundamentalists Christians sitting back allowing blue-helmeted foreigners to come onto American soil and shut down their churches? Impossible! It could not happen – at least not in the political system’s present form. First must come the collapse of the present system and from its ashes a totalitarian world government, which Jehovah will then prod into carrying out his mandate.
Meanwhile, the world is facing complete economic ruin, war, even nuclear war, food shortages beyond anything experienced in recent centuries and pandemics with the potential to be far more lethal than the Spanish Influenza of 1919.
Reader Comments (25)
Hi Robert,
it is obvious that the WTO has its time markers confused to say the least, do they also have the "thief like arrival" analogy distorted?
my understanding of scripture indicates that Christ returns once and is then present forevermore
how do we harmonise a thief like arrival with Matt 25 v 31-46 which seems to portray an audible visual event resulting in action being taken?
how do you see these verses being fulfilled,what sort of time period does scripture indicate for this event, or is this purley symbolic scripture, or are we being shown a real future judgment?
kindest regards
elihu
It is my feeling that the "short period of time", Hour of Judgement, 3 1/2 years, etc. probably all refer to the same event and time frame.
When the 8th King takes over, Satan is probably also cast from Heaven around that time, and all prophecies come to a very quick fulfillment and conclusion. So many things will be happening that it will probably make your head swim
So the 8th King is only ruling for 3 1/2 years before Jehovah brings it all to an end.
al anon ::
Many events to take place B4 the 8th King arrives, check out Rev, 13 , is given 42 months to conquer th remnant,
who will b preaching a 'special message' throughout the gt. tribulation, thats HOW they come to the attn of the
Wild Beast eh ?
Just looking at some videos on You tube re the date "May 21, 2011"
the reasib why 3 1/2 yrs doesnt 'gel' wih some, there's too much to happen yey.... & the there is the
domino effect of Banks crashing in several countries, which is bringing the aussie dollar back down, it was 'par
with the US dollar over a week ago, after a rise from 81c in June, 2010 having lost 10c in 1 week....since then
been radical to say the lease........somethings gonna give soon.....one major bank is tottering, folks are worried.
Looking at the E.U. & bible prophecy , the finale is the 10 UNIONS , giving the power to the WILD BEAST for (1) hour
that maybe the HOUR of JUDGMENT because it will involve the "mark of the beast" will it not ????
PROXY can you come in now ?? thanks, am over my head here .........cheers LOL
al anon ::
Many events to take place B4 the 8th King arrives, check out Rev, 13 , is given 42 months to conquer th remnant,
who will b preaching a 'special message' throughout the gt. tribulation, thats HOW they come to the attn of the
Wild Beast eh ?
Just looking at some videos on You tube re the date "May 21, 2011"
the reasib why 3 1/2 yrs doesnt 'gel' wih some, there's too much to happen yey.... & the there is the
domino effect of Banks crashing in several countries, which is bringing the aussie dollar back down, it was 'par
with the US dollar over a week ago, after a rise from 81c in June, 2010 having lost 10c in 1 week....since then
been radical to say the lease........somethings gonna give soon.....one major bank is tottering, folks are worried.
Looking at the E.U. & bible prophecy , the finale is the 10 UNIONS , giving the power to the WILD BEAST for (1) hour
that maybe the HOUR of JUDGMENT because it will involve the "mark of the beast" will it not ????
PROXY can you come in now ?? thanks, am over my head here .........cheers LOL
Daniel 11:25 says “And he will arouse his power and his heart against the king of the south with a great military force; and the king of the south, for his part, will excite himself for the war with an exceedingly great and mighty military force. And he will not stand, because they will scheme out against him schemes.
My feeling is that this is WW1, and around that time (1914) Jesus was enthroned as King, Was Satan cast out of Heaven then, maybe maybe not. The Bible says that Jehovah will ensure His purpose takes place, by putting it into the hearts of the PTB to turn against BTG, etc.
While I am unsure when Satan actually will be cast out (he may already be), I am certain he has been causing problems forever, and it is also quite possible he has been the one who wants the earth to be destroyed in some nucleor destruction.
Do I contradict myself, yes, because there are to many unknowns, but I do know the time is short, and the time periods all seem to point to 3 1/2 years when the 8th King rises.
al anon,
would you like to pay attention to God's will ?
I mean.. in His words :" This is My beloved Son; Listen to him ! "
HOW ?
-- By believing His teaching (of Christ) and making His teaching the BASIS for your further Biblical research !
In order to find when has Jesus take the power in Heavens, ( and when Satan's power was limited regarding "Heavens" ) ,
I am inviting you to read a research on that matter entitled
"The Kingdom of God - when in Heaven ? -- according to Jesus' teaching
and it is on e-W "BOARD" , at the bottom of the list of messages.
I hope you will find it .
If you will realise its importance , then we will can discuss further on the subject.
rus v.
E-watchman
Some glitz in computing comment, repeated itself :: could you please delete
the repeat comments thanks, cheers
Its intresting to note that the watchtower says they are now waiting for the finale that is the attack on babylon the great but they also say that the final king of the north rises to do away with many at the end but they have never been very clear as to the time frame of the king of the north or his identity for that matter and how this fits in with the end of babylon the great.Anybody got any thoughts on this?
The NT urges Christians to wait for the real revelation, or coming, of Christ, to take place immediately after the END of the great tribulation against Christianity, at the START of His parousia (Gr. 'coming and SUBSEQUENT presence') -
His personal and bodily [spirit body] appearance in the air to gather together and catch away (Gr. 'harpazo,' Lat. 'rapture') God's chosen ones to share in His fight against the beast and all those having its mark on their foreheads.
Yes, every eye will see Him coming on the clouds of heaven, in glorious, glistening display, just like at His transfiguration, so that all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in grief and lamentation at the realization that their NWO was but a fake of the real kingdom, then about to start and take action against them with extreme prejudice.
PROXY:::
The scripture in Rev 2:26, 27 & the artists impression of Jesus, surrounded by His Bros (with crowns on) smashing
the nations in the Revelation Climax book, was the first moment became convinced that the Anointed would NOT
go over to the New System, as the WT publications 'flip-flop' over the previous decades....some would, some no
We know that there are many discrepencies througout the book, but you know, most of the 'pictures' tell the truth
e.g. Jesus has the "Key of David" another 'light-bulb moment' to OPEN & SHUT the door to God's Kingdom....
Not the WT.....then in 1988, 89 was dealing with disturbing 'realities' about the Organisation that held lives in their
'flipping hands'
So skip the printed words & 'read' the pictures,,,, you will learn al lot LOL
Its very likely that Jesus Christ will b 'with us' from now on, to guide us through the 'darkest night' of this world,
The Father & Son must surely be giving full attention now to the millions who profess to "KNOW" them, and
have compassion for those showing courage & who are meditating on His Word, to ask for more FAITH, in
these turbulent times we are facing just ahead......may you have His PEACE .....cheers
the life of my loved ones
Well, based on the article and all available information, perhaps everyone should consider "survival preparations" and dig in for the long-haul. To each their own!
Re :: JESUS' Parousia
According to the "signs" that are happening now, as mentioned above, the "thief-like arrival of the son of man"
must be here, and if you compare it to when Jesus arrives "in His glory & all the angels with Him" every eye will
see him t & the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in lamentation...etc totatally different scenarios so that
means "different time period" ??? anyone got any "light" on the subject, , just feel that we NEED His presence
NOW of course, He did say He would b with us till the end......so why the "thief like " presence ??
NOW of course, He did say He would b with us till the end......so why the "thief like " presence
hi Elena Maree
imo there is no thief like presence just a thief like arrival,
the WTO have misinterpreted the analogy that Christ gave to his followers to enable them to recognise that his return is imminent, these signs are NOT an indication that he is present.
its suits the WTO to have an invisible presence of Christ, however when he arrives all will know not just a few, he will gather his annointed, the righteous will recognise them as the true sons of the kingdom and the eighth king will gather the nations to fight against the one who sits on the throne and the lamb
Hello & thanks to ELIHU ::
Firstly, do y'll know that G.B. member JOHN BARR the ole faithful from the "Rutherford era" has PASSED away ??
see Freeminds.org & click onto top r.h. corner "net soup" for comments re the event::::::
Elihu, its puzzling, but when typing my comments, do not separate words into the lines that come up here,
so "feel that we NEED His presence NOW" is how it went, , , yes, do acknowledge its His "thief-like ARRIVAL
& He was talking to the Anointed, ::: some, the ones still in the B-org, will not b expecting to do anything (after
Bab. the gt is destroyed, they will float aound waiting for Christ to arrive with power & glory with His angels
to separate the sheep from the goats.....which the Remnant are supposed to have done (2 witneses) for the
duration of the rule of the 8th King, 1260 days (Rev 12) or 42 months (Rev 13)
But they were not taught t THAT "truth"....blindsided again...... without enough OIL in their LAMPS to light
their way to the 'Marriage feast'
My question is , HOW will they avoid the "mark of the Beast" when the Gt. Tribulation is still a MYSTERY to
7,000,000 still in a comatosed state,,,waiting for their Watchtower IDOL to speak to them......Freddy's gone,
Teddy's gone (the Boss) and the oldest serving member of the G.B. is hardline Ger. Losch (1994)
The "sands of the HOURGLASS is running out" for "these are the days of our Lives".....they're glued to
their favourite "soap opera" waiting for the "new light"..... BTW...there is NO WAY .....the numbers have
been "FUDGED" since Knorrs time.....betcha !! 7million bible studies !!! LOL
apologies Elena Maree
i merely cut and pasted your last point in your comment, it was not my intention to portray your comment in a different light as to your intention.
however i am not sure i understand your comment, so i will stick to my comments and all i would say about the presence teaching is this
Christ left the earth to reside with his Father until the appointed time that only His Father knows, so rather than a date Christ spoke to HIs disciples about markers for them to recognise that he was about to return
again the WTO teaches these markers as an indication of an "Invisible presence" which is followed by a revealing
if they are correct in their understanding then Christ must be present now, if they are incorrect then they are in for a big surprise when he does appear
and logically he must arrive before he can be present.
further, a small point to consider here is this, would the disciples even have the knowledge to even ask such a question with regard to an"invisible presence" or is it more reasonable that they were asking about their masters return?
The “hour of judgment" (Rev 14:7) spoken in Revelation will be a period of 1335 days. No doubt this is the time period Jesus had in mind when he said “for then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again.” (Matthew 24:21) Concerning this time period Daniel wrote:
“Happy is the one who is keeping in expectation and who arrives at the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days!” (Daniel 12:12)
Since Christ predicted that there will be a great tribulation, it follows that Michael will stand up at the commencement of this time of global distress. (Daniel 12:1) The “hour of test” will be characterized by a time of trouble unlike any mankind has ever experienced, when the beast that comes out of the abyss will conquer the holy ones. (Rev 13)
Reasonably, this time period does not fit into the Watchtower’s 1914 schematic or the time period during the First World War when a mere handful of Watchtower officers were sentenced to imprisonment on false charges.
THANX to 'Stone'
Interesting that you give us the scriptural proof of the 1335 days, but then the Rev. 12 & 13 only give us 1260 days for the Gt Trib.. & imo the 2 witnesses, will serve out their time, until the end for the Beast will conquer them (message?)
after 42 mths does "Beast" then get "the chop" ??
It has to do with the "new-look United nations" empowered by the anitchrist, the POPE, ...The Vatican is the power
behind the U.N. albeit unpublicised, but we know about "church & state" one cant do (it) without the other....
Proxy said that when Jesus comes to gather the Holy Ones it is to do battle with the Dragon, Wild Beast then
Ahmageddon:::: but in there between is the "Marriage of the Lamb" because they will be crowned when the
Kingdom takes place PRIOR to God's War ??? how am I doing Stone ?
Its all been a mystery for such a long time,,, being in the B-Org....& heavily distracted (on their treadmill)
Good to have the spiritual insight into these prophecies, & the sequence of events,,,,,all will agree,,,,cheers
Hello, its nearly December 25 what should we do, celebrate Christmas or not?
Hello to y'all,
Especially a big hi five to all the contributors on these forums,,its really peculiar, & so true that at this time
of the year, we ALL do feel a spirit of PEACE &GOODWILL for all our fellowmen,,,,,,
Its probably because the rest of the world who DO NOT KNOW the True GOD maybe feel they ought to KNOW HIM ??
Over there in the USA its wintertime,,,,never had a "white Christ mas" are y'll all digging in for the winter,,,or is that
"digging OUT of your front doors......
Because its "that season again" I'm feeling really optomistic about the future, that is the next 6 months......&
would like to express an invitation to anyone of you "God-botherers" as Proxy puts it (uggg) to think about
taking a flight "downunder to OZLAND" the aussie dollar is still almost parity with the US dollar, so you
wont lose, but do not delay after January it could get tricky.......
No there's no free accommodation, altho have been seriously thinking for about 15yrs now, someone should
start a "JW commune" but, now it would be an "ex-JW commune"....the reality is, & will remain
the US of A. will soon b the Nth American Union, & the opportunity to freely fly around the world may be
restricted....it can happen overniight ....Australia will be a safe territory,,,we have ex-Prime Minister Mr. Kevin
Rudd who is now our Minister,, in a very favourable position, apart from the "carbon tax King" not at Copenhagen
maybe in Mexico,,,he has a seat in the United Nations.....He's also besties, with Hilary (C).....she paid us a visit
to announce a US Military Base in Townsville, where i was born......
So any takers, my hospitality is limited to arranging accommodation etc but have been working in the Tourist
Industry & am well heeled, even if the financial crash of 2008 usurped my savings somewhat....
Back to scriptural matters......reading Rev. chpts 7-13 (whew) very revealing, & maybe find someone to
discuss with,,,,its Friday 10th December & forgot to say its gonna be a loooooong HOT Summer,,with storms
& steamy nights....forget cyclones predicted...its just floods in 4 states of aussieland, and people have LOST
everything,,,,,they n eed our prayers,,,,,,thanks y'll and think about that trip,,,,,am only a phone call away...
cheers .... a special hello to KIM
Since about last year i feel that the spirit of god has truly helped me to discern the word properly.I was a bit lost for a time when i stopped going to watchtower meetings and it took a good year or more to figure out what to do.But one thing i was aware of and know is accurate is that the watchtower spends far to much time waiting on the words of ...well the watchtower rather than looking to jehovahs words.So towards the end of last year i began starting to go through the scriptures intensly and in depth bit by bit starting with the greek scriptures and now im on the hebrew scriptures at the point of proverbs and not far from finishing,I feel suddenly things are clearer for me doing this than if i had attended watchtower meetings, an intresting scripture i noticed recently in proverbs ch10 verse 15- The rich mans wealth is his strong city :The destruction of the poor is their poverty.What i got from that is that rich men might have strong cities but when the destruction of the poor comes its the rich mans poverty [ there could be 2 meanings to this though] but i noticed at this time in the world that the rich [mostly government] are certainly kicking down the poor and surely when their destruction comes so will this system fall too anyway.
I do not know exactly where in the Prophetic timeline the Image of the Babylonian Whore, being devoured by the scarlet, many-headed beast fits in to the picture. However, the following trends seems to me apparent.
-Atheism (of the Darwinian-Naturalist kind) is gaining ground in all the major intellectual circles of the world. (Not by its reasonableness) but by demagogy and imposition, and is the leading intellectual force in the dismantling of traditional religion
-China, already an atheistic nation (by force) is increasingly successful, and increasingly suppresses all religious or opposing activity within its domain.
-Christianity in Europe is dying a slow death.
-The Islamic Ulama is feverishly holding fast to its power over the masses, it is the only "normal" religion that is gaining in Influence worldwide, they increasingly provoke the secular world to attack it, and unless the secularize will meet violent extermination.
-India and Pakistan might go Nuclear against each other which would conceivably deal a fu
-The US is at present an Ultra-religious anomaly, but this will change, perhaps as a consequence of a major all out military face-off with Islam, where conceivably they will exhaust each other in a fight to the death.
The US will win such a confrontation, but the "Religious Right" will be discredited, and Darwinism will increasingly prevail due to its slightly greater rationality.
rther blow to Hinduism, if not the powerty and increasing secularisation of the masses does it on a longer term.
Now it might be several centuries before all the religious systems of the world collapse, but they WILL collapse. Perhaps with the exception of Darwinism which will foster a climate of "every man for himselt" and struggle to survive as the world populations continue to explode and earths resources are being plundered. and abused. Darwinism looks to me like the perfect "Religion" during a "Great Tribulation" to make it a time of extreme suffering. The current scene is not sustainable and starvation/deprivation will set in eventually. (I will not speculate on HOW soon)
Hi there JACE
Thanks for taking the time to tell us about your personal experience,,,its not an easy time, or decision to make, but
you will have much CONSOLATION and great insights (spiritual) on these forums,,,,,,hope you can adjust, & make
some "worldly" friends,,,,,,there's an enormous lot of "good people" outside the B-org, who truely love GOD & Jesus,
the only religions who pose a problem, are the pentecostals, the Jesus worshipers, because they dont accept
that there is an ALMIGHTY God, who stood alone at one time, & created His "only begotton SON.
Do you have friends who are "having doubts about the WTB&TS ?? what helped me enormously with the ex-JW sites
was the beautiful genuine lovers of YHWH who had served the apostate organisation without knowing "what was
wrong" couldn't "look to the left or rigjht" just stay on the 'treadmill' till "the end" & then just a 'walk in the park'
to the PARADISE (bells started to ring, & they just kept getting louder, didnt they?)
Learning about the people who are controlling the lives of the suggest number of 7,000,000, the ones who are
"tacking their way, to heaven" the flipping floppers,,,the FALSE PROPHETs.....who cannot HIDE from God any
longer,,,,,after the anger subsides (after all 30-40 years devoted to the 'treadmill' of their designs) when
it all sinks in finally, you feel a rush of fresh air, in your lungs, (some of us were holding our breath, for a long
long time).....and you can start to b ecome truly 'alive' ,,,,,
Most of the folks suffer from Post traumatic stress disorder, and thats OK... just remember that the "devil you
know about is better than the phantom one, lurking in the background of your everyday life ...!!!...
Well The watchtower lets Scripture interpret Scripture, I don't see any other article doing that. Just for the record Jesus TRUE followers would be an object of hatred. So pretty much everyone hates the Jehovah Witness. So far they show they are Jesus Followers. Why don't people every try to understand what they are saying and doing instead of Judging them right away. Sad world today
John 15:18-20 (New King James Version)18- “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19- If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20- Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
The UN will do exactly what the bible says and remove religion and I will tell you why!!? Because God himself will put it in there hearts to do it!. W/e you may think God wants it to happen no matter what. You can't stop it.
Revelation 17:15-17 New King James Version---15) Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. 16) And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17) For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.
Hi Roger,
After Babylon the gt FALLS // ther may be a perios of time B4 she is destroyed,,,,,,have you any thoughts on this ??
Yes of course God has to use the powers of this new world order, to destroy the "Harlot" who rides on its back
= "church & state" as history has prevailed through the ages.
We know that their ultimate plan of control has to EXCLUDE the "church" that 'great city' the VATICAN where the
antichrist sits on his throne,....they're always the b ig power behind the Governments, because the Harlot sits on
many waters (peoples of the nations they rule)
Its ALL about 'control' which is really = WITCHCRAFT .....are you listenening WTB& TS = G.B. aka faithless & discredit
enslavenly ones..........yes you know WHO you are,,,,trawling this website & all the other "apostate" sites of SATAN's
INTERNET ?????? hello to y'all over there in your "Ivory Tower" keep listening, the walls are coming down, so
get ready to run for your lives upstate New York to catch your private helicopter to your "new establishment" in Canada
Sorry Roger, for my digression,,,,couldn't help myself,,,,,they are the watchers" even the "hybrids" you know the aliens
who know even your thoughts.......cheers