I read with interest jw.org’s recent banner article entitled: “Is World War Inevitable?—What Does the Bible Say?”
Several bullet points quote news sources highlighting the numerous flashpoints around the world. Perhaps because the article was already penned weeks ago, it does not mention the latest, most egregious provocation: the NATO-backed invasion of Russia that some analysts claim is an attempt to goad Putin into using nuclear weapons.
As I expected, although the brief article did not specifically mention 1914 and World War One, it cited Revelation 6:4, inferring that peace has already been taken from the earth.
Perhaps those unfamiliar with the Watchtower’s teachings may not realize that the Watchtower asserts that peace was “taken away from the earth” in 1914, and constant war has been the world’s condition for these past 110 years. The problem with that interpretation is that there has been an extended period of relative peace since the last world war, so much so that the world’s population has increased to over eight billion souls, and nations have developed in ways undreamed of not-so-long ago.
This statement is particularly disingenuous: “The Bible did not foretell any specific war that we are seeing today.”
As all of Jehovah’s Witnesses surely know, the Watchtower resolutely claims that the two world wars of the 20th century fulfilled Jesus’ prophecy so completely that no other war in the future can. Here is what was stated 40 years ago:
Can you see now the real reason why the great wars of this century are so important? They fulfill Jesus’ prophecy. No other wars of history measure up to the two world wars. Only a suicidal third world war could be greater, but Jesus was not prophesying that, since the wars he spoke about were part of “a beginning of pangs of distress.” Troubles were to continue and even intensify after their outbreak. Without a doubt, his prophecy has had fulfillment in the world wars that began in 1914. (Wt 1984 5/1 What 1914 Could Mean to You)
So, contrary to the statement that ‘the Bible does not foretell any specific war’ —the Watchtower claims that it does. The Governing Body is quite certain that World War One uniquely fulfills Bible prophecy, and for that reason, no future war can or will. Why, then, does the little snippet of an article say the Bible does not foretell any specific war? Why the blatant contradiction? Bethel’s writers have employed a bit of trickery by saying, “…that we are seeing today.”
To interpret Bethel’s linguistic legerdemain, they are saying that none of the wars breaking out around the world today can fulfill Bible prophecy. And why is that? Because World War One already fulfilled prophecy, every war since then has been just a continuation of what was set into motion in 1914.
Although they do not say it outrightly, the Watchtower is adroitly answering “no” to the question posed: “Is world war inevitable?” By the reasoning put forth in the paragraph quoted above, world war is not only not inevitable, it is impossible since a third world war would be “suicidal.” And because God has promised to give the earth to the meek, we know Jehovah will not allow puny humans to wreck the world and destroy mankind totally. But how far will God let the demonically driven nations go? The answer is in the Bible.
Personally, I think the word “suicidal” is inadequate. Perhaps the time has come to coin a new phrase. I propose “cosmoscidal” because there is no doubt that a war between the nuclear powers —such as is ominously developing now —would destroy the world. Isn’t that what Satan intends to do? Why else have the brightest minds under his influence been harnessed to develop the most potent and fiendish weapons imaginable? Why is there now such bellicosity and recklessness on the part of the arrogant leaders of the Anglosphere, provoking war in every hemisphere?
Does not Revelation reveal the things that must shortly take place? What things? The ouster of Satan and his demons from heaven, which will bring woe for the earth and sea. Have we experienced that foretold “woe”? Was WW1, as barbaric and horrific as it was, really an expression of the rage of Satan and his angels after having been ousted from heaven? Has the Devil really vented his rage, knowing he has a short period of time?
The Watchtower, of course, has deluded Jehovah’s Witnesses into imagining that the Devil has already been hurled down and that we are being subjected to Satan’s wrath even though here in America, we live in a time of peace, prosperity, freedom, and leisure —at least for now.
Why is the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses, who regard themselves as seers and God-appointed watchmen, even a prophet, unconcerned about the ominously developing storm looming on the horizon, which a growing number of qualified observers expect to strike in the next few months? It is because Jehovah has blinded them. Here is what is written in the Book of Truth: “For Jehovah has poured a spirit of deep sleep on you; He has closed your eyes, the prophets, and he has covered your heads, the visionaries.” — Isaiah 29:10
It is not as though the leadership of Jehovah’s Witnesses does not see what is happening in the world. Obviously, they do. That is why jw.org posed the question: Is world war inevitable? They are blind, though, to the significance of the conspicuously approaching storm. And that is because they have deluded themselves with Russell’s phony chronology that assertedly divines the end of the appointed times of the nations. (They are oblivious to the simple fact that when Jesus spoke of the appointed times for Jerusalem to be trampled upon by the nations, he was not referring to the Babylonian conquest centuries before. He was speaking about the future desolation of Jehovah’s organization, represented by Jerusalem, the city where Jehovah caused his name to reside.)
However, there is more to it. Although I believe that C.T. Russell was a sincere child of God who brought many obscure truths to light, nonetheless, the arcane seven-times chronology that he claimed pointed to 1914, which was seemingly validated by the outbreak of the Great War, is the dark side of the light. How so?
As just one example of the many inexplicable contradictions Jehovah’s Witnesses have embraced, the apostle Peter, having been an eyewitness to the Transfiguration of Jesus, explained that the event validated the certainty of the parousia of Christ and the culmination of Christianity. Because of that, Peter urged the brothers to keep paying attention to prophecy, as to a light shining in a dark place until day dawns and a daystar arises in our hearts. If the day dawned in 1914, as the Watchtower claims, it would preclude the need to keep paying attention to prophecy. But, alas, the Watchtower has published millions of magazines and books urging us to keep paying attention to prophecy.
The prophet Paul warned anointed Christians to beware of official-sounding announcements and apostolic-like written material claiming that the parousia and the Lord’s Day had begun. The apostle went on to explain that God has allowed an operation of Satan to employ every powerful work, lying signs, and portents so that those who know the truth may also get to believing “the lie.”
And what is “the lie”? That Christ has come. That an invisible parousia has begun —that Satan and his demons have been hurled down to the earth. By means of powerful works, such as orchestrating the Great War to commence in 1914, and many other things, the wily serpent has faked his own demise in order to deceive God’s people. This is the operation of Satan. And that is why the leadership of the Watchtower assumes world war is impossible.
As regards their reasoning —a third world war cannot happen because it would be “suicidal —that assumption leaves God out of the picture.
In all the years the Watchtower has been in existence and all of the Bible research it has undertaken, it seems that Jehovah’s Witnesses still do not have a clear understanding of what the great tribulation will be. If the tribulation that is coming upon the entire inhabited earth will begin when the United Nations destroys organized religion, why would Almighty God intervene to cut it short? Why would a campaign to eradicate religion call into question the continued existence of humanity?
Can any of the anointed seers at Bethel please explain what Jesus was talking about when he said the following: “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”?
Clearly, Jesus intended to say that the tribulation, which will be unlike any disaster that has ever occurred or ever will occur again, will pose an existential threat to the world of mankind, requiring divine intervention to preserve humanity from extinction. So, the very thing Bethel’s seers claim is not going to happen —namely, a “suicidal” third world war —is precisely what Christ foretold will happen.
Under the subheading: “A war that is coming,” there is an oft-repeated phrase that ought to be phased out of the Watchtower’s theocratic lexicon: “That “great tribulation” will culminate in a war called Armageddon.”
How can the great tribulation “culminate” in the war Armageddon if it is cut short? A reexamination of everything the Watchtower has taught concerning the supposed fulfillment of Bible prophecy beginning in 1914 is long overdue.
I can only wish I were permitted to explain to the elders and Jehovah’s Witnesses what is going to take place during Satan’s short period of time, which will begin when God cuts short the tribulation. I have much to say about chronology, about the enigmatic 42 months and 1,260 days. I wish Jehovah’s Witnesses were interested in what God has in store when the chosen ones, symbolized by the two witnesses, come on the scene, shining like the sun in the Kingdom of the Father, giving witness that they have seen Christ in his glory and that they are standing next to the Lord of the whole earth. But alas, the darkness is too dense —the blindness too gripping. Jehovah has indeed poured out a deep sleep upon them.
Ironically, only the shock and awe of the Devil and his angels being cast down to the earth will shake God’s people from their theocratically-induced stupor.
