As long as anyone can remember, the world has been relatively stable and secure. According to the Watchtower, though, the four horsemen of the Apocalypse have brought widespread war, famine, and disease epidemics. But is it true? The truth is most people have never experienced war or hunger. The apocalyptic message of Jehovah’s Witnesses does not ring true.
Here is a question to consider: Jesus said he was coming as a thief in the night. Will his sudden, unexpected coming mark the conclusion of the period known as the last days, or will it be the beginning of the end?
I assure you, it is the latter. With full scriptural support, I can confidently say that these are not the last days, but from all appearances, the time of the end is about to begin. Of course, the primary requirement is that we be honest in our reasoning and assessment of the facts at hand.
As all of Jehovah’s Witnesses know, the Watchtower teaches that the Lord’s day began in 1914. That exact expression, “the Lord’s day,” only appears in the opening words of John’s revelation. However, Paul used similar terms. For example, in 1 Corinthians 5:5, the apostle wrote concerning “the day of the Lord.”
If we are reasonable, we will conclude that the Lord’s day and the day of the Lord are the same thing. How about a similar phrase, such as “the day of Jesus Christ”? Would anyone be so unreasoning as to conclude that the day of Jesus Christ is not the same as the Lord’s day or the day of the Lord? Here is another related expression: “Christ’s day.” Again, is there anyone so unreasoning that they dare to claim Christ’s day is not the same as the Lord’s day?
Surely, all sensible people accept the obvious truth that all of the above expressions are simply different ways of saying the same thing. And since that is true, let us honestly examine the context in which these various expressions appear so that we may definitely determine if the Lord’s day has begun or not.
In his letter to the Philippians, Paul used three variations of the expression. First, he wrote: “For I am confident of this very thing, that the one who started a good work in you will bring it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (1:6)
Evidently, all of those first-century Christians expected Jesus to return in their lifetimes. Although the Lord did not return, they at least understood that his return would be the end of Christianity, marking its completion and the accomplishment of God’s purpose. Obviously, Christianity did not reach its accomplished conclusion in 1914.
Just a few verses on Paul made a similar statement: “And this is what I continue praying, that your love may abound still more and more with accurate knowledge and full discernment; that you may make sure of the more important things, so that you may be flawless and not stumbling others up to the day of Christ…” (1:9-10)
In the verse above, Paul clearly viewed the day of Christ as the final judgment. Since we have (hopefully) already established in our minds that “the day of Christ” is the same as “the Lord’s day,” is it sensible to suppose that Christians were all judged in 1914? Ironically, 1914 was a significant stumbling block for the vast majority of Bible Students at the time, as none of the events the Watchtower had led them to believe would happen happened.
Finally, in the second chapter, Paul urged his brothers to keep shining as illuminators in a darkened world, saying: “Then I may have reason for rejoicing in Christ’s day, knowing that I did not run in vain or work hard in vain.”
Are Jehovah’s Witnesses not similarly exhorted to keep working hard and to keep preaching? If Christ’s day had begun in 1914, the race for life would have been over before it even started.
But what about the sign of Christ’s presence appearing right on schedule in 1914 in the form of WW1?
Let us reason together. Did not Jesus say, “When you see all these things?” Have you personally seen any of these things? You were not alive in 1914. It is not possible for you to see all these things. However, is it possible that all these things could occur in rapid succession in the future? Of course it is.
But not according to the Watchtower. They say another world war is not possible? And why do they make such a bold statement? Let them answer in their own words. In the Reasoning from the Scriptures minister’s handbook, under the topic of Last Days, it is suggested to reply to a skeptical householder by saying:
“That’s an interesting question, and the answer highlights the fact that we really are living in “the last days.” How? Well, part of the sign given by Jesus involves war between nations and kingdoms. But what would happen today if fulfillment of the sign required that we wait until another all-out war were to break out between the superpowers? Such a war would leave few if any survivors. So, you see, God’s purpose that there be survivors indicates that we are now very close to the end of this old system.”
The Watchtower raises a very pertinent question: “But what would happen today if fulfillment of the sign required that we wait until another all-out war were to break out between the superpowers?” It is a vital and timely question considering that at no time in the history of the world have two nuclear superpowers been this close to war. As of last week a spokesman for the Russian Federation said that NATO was at war with Russia. Most nations in Europe, with a few exceptions, are preparing for war with Russia. Hospitals in France have been alerted to prepare for mass casualties. And this is just the crisis revolving around NATO’s proxy war in Ukraine.
Although it has never acknowledged possessing nuclear weapons, Israel is a nuclear power and capable of destroying the entire Middle East and beyond. As of last week, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan (a nuclear power) entered into a military alliance, thus backstopping the Saudi kingdom with nuclear weapons.
So, what will happen when the Israelis launch an attack on Iran or NATO creates a false flag attack on some European city to create the justification for direct conflict with Russia? Then we will have a global war that will far exceed the destruction of the previous world wars.
What does the Bible say about this event destined to occur in the Lord’s day? Revelation 6:12-15 describes that day in a word picture: “And I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and a great earthquake occurred; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the entire moon became as blood, and the stars of heaven fell to the earth as when a fig tree shaken by a high wind drops its unripe figs. And the heaven departed as a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and every island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth, the high officials, the military commanders, the rich, the strong, every slave, and every free person hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains.”
Jesus used similar phraseology when speaking about the great tribulation. It will seem as if the world is ending. And indeed, it will end unless God intervenes. Jesus said he would. I believe him.
So, why does the Watchtower claim there cannot be another world war because it would be an extinction-level conflict? Did not Jesus foretell this very thing 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. In fact, unless those days were cut short, no flesh would be saved; but on account of the chosen ones those days will be cut short.”
Jehovah’s Witnesses have been led to believe that the great tribulation will be the destruction of false religion. If that were true, though, why would it be necessary for God to directly intervene to prevent the extinction of mankind? No one among the leadership of Jehovah’s Witnesses can offer any sensible answer. But the only sensible conclusion to draw is that the Lord’s day did not begin in 1914 or at any time since then.
Do you know what will signal the beginning of the day of Jesus Christ? Paul foretold that the Lord’s day will come as a thief in the night. “Whenever it is that they are saying, “Peace and security!” then sudden destruction is to be instantly on them, just like birth pains on a pregnant woman, and they will by no means escape.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:3
The sudden destruction will be the beginning of birth pangs that bring war, famine, and pestilence, and will plunge the world into a great tribulation—a calamity unlike anything that has ever occurred or will ever occur again.
And if you wish to know the truth, the Lord’s day will culminate in the manifestation of Christ, also known as the parousia. Just as Paul always spoke of the day of Jesus Christ as the end of a Christian’s race, so too the presence of the Lord. That is why James wrote the following: “Be patient then, brothers, until the presence of the Lord. Look! The farmer keeps waiting for the precious fruit of the earth, exercising patience over it until the early rain and the late rain arrive. You too exercise patience; make your hearts firm, because the presence of the Lord has drawn close.” (5:7-8)
Judging by the gathering storm clouds of war, as Jehovah’s watchman, I can confidently say the presence of the Lord has drawn close.
