When Is Armageddon?
For those of you that are still in the Watchtower and looking to get out, when you do leave, there are times where you may just want to consider reading the Bible and not do much more than just mediate on the Words contained within scripture alone and by itself. Today, I am going to do something similar, with the focus as the title says, When Is Armageddon? As a Witness, this drum is mentioned continually in Watchtower Literature. This goes back to the days of Russell. I know it’s mentioned only in Revelation but it escaped me where it exactly was. I did a search for “where is armageddon mentioned in the bible” and I wasn’t surprised to see the organization listed as the first link. It is Revelation 16:16. Quickly looking at this verse it says, "And they gathered them together to the place that is called in Hebrew Har-Magedon." (New World Translation. 2013 edition)
This is a great contrast to what Dan (on the Hen's Pen Show) was saying earlier when he spoke of “the love of God.” One is driven by an exterior stimulus (death and destruction) one is driven by an interior stimulus (God dwelling within) II Timothy 1:14 as Ann Marie referenced and Wendy read. Which one has the greater effect? I’d contend that it’s the latter since God indwelling occurs once. Contrast that with how much the organization mentions Armageddon. Let’s break it down from the organization’s official website (only from present day back to 2000 which still bothers me since the Witnesses have the WT Library which contains more information):
Armageddon:
2013 NWT 6 times
1984 NWT: 3 times
Watchtowers:
2014: 11
2013: 20
2012: 58
2011: 18
2010: 6
2009: 11
2008: 45
2007: 11
2006: 13
2005: 54
2004: 9
2003: 4
2002: 3
2001: 13
2000: 21
Total: 306
Love of God:
2013 NWT: 13
1984 NWT: 9
Watchtower
2014: 6
2013: 5
2012: 2
2011: 9
2010: 3
2009: 10
2008: 8
2007: 2
2006: 15
2005: 18
2004: 8
2003: 7
2002: 7
2001: 10
2000: 13
Total: 145
Love of God-145 times
Armageddon-306 times
With that in mind, I tried to do a batch search on the old publications ranging from 1879-1949. For them go HERE and you will find a lot of "old light." My computer ran all afternoon and it wasn’t close to being done.
I want you to meditate on the timeframe as I read these quotes regarding this event:
The Battle of Armageddon, to which this war is leading, will be a great contest between right and wrong, and will signify the complete and everlasting overthrow of the wrong, and the permanent establishment of Messiah’s righteous kingdom for the blessing of the world.
The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. April 1, 1915 Reprints p. 5659
Timeframe: World War I
In the meantime, our eyes of understanding should discern clearly the Battle of the Great Day of God Almighty now in progress; and our faith, guiding our eyes of understanding through the Word, should enable us to see the glorious outcome-Messiah’s kingdom.
The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. September 1, 1916 Reprints p. 5651
Outcome of Revelation 16:17?
Instead of heeding this, under Satan’s direction they are rapidly gathering the people to another great conflict, described in the Scriptures as Armageddon. (Revelation 16:13-16)
The Golden Age. September 26, 1923 p. 811
In progress yet marching again.
The hosts are marching toward Armageddon now.
The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. September 1, 1926 p. 262
Still marching.
The truth and light that God sheds upon his Word today is strong corroborative evidence that we are in "that day" when the forces are gathering for Armageddon.
The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. October 1, 1928 p. 293
Corroborative evidence previously said in progress.
All observe that at this very time darkness is in the earth and gross darkness upon the people concerning the Word of God, and the whole world is in the very shadow of death because Armageddon is just ahead.
The Kingdom the Hope of the World. 1931 p. 60
Just ahead even though it was technically just behind.
A trumpet sound is symbolic of a warning, and in fulfillment of this part of the prophecy Jehovah's witnesses, under the command of the Lord Jesus Christ, now sound the message of the Lord, which message gives warning to the organization that now rules the earth informing them that the battle of Armageddon is about to begin.
Universal War Near. 1935 p. 47, 48
So it didn't begin?
The time limit is up. God’s kingdom is here, and Armageddon is impending. Mark this, that Jehovah said that just preceding Armageddon he would cause his slam to be testified in all the earth. (Exodus 9:16)
Face the Facts. 1938 p. 9
Impending for three years now?
Receiving the gift, the marching children clasped it to them, not a toy or plaything for idle pleasure, but the Lord’s provided instrument for most effective work in the remaining months before Armageddon.
The Watchtower and Herald of Christ’s Kingdom. September 15, 1941 p. 288
Ah much better, we only have months.
Jehovah God is approaching the grand climax of his “strange work”, which work precedes the battle of Armageddon. The not distant future, into which the postwar road of mutilated humanity leads, will witness the end of a work that he will never repeat.
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. October 15, 1944 p. 307
What qualifies as none distant future?
The opportunity will close with the battle of Armageddon, now drawing near, when this gospel of the Kingdom will have been preached adequately and the final end of this world will have come according to God’s due time. Then Jehovah will arise to give his own testimony.
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. October 15, 1948 p. 311
Months to drawing near.
Today it is the hope of these other sheeplike ones to survive Armageddon into God’s new world. In this short remaining time till Armageddon it is the due right of the non-Israelite sheep from all nations to come up to the exalted “house of the God of Jacob” to worship Jehovah there and gain salvation. Instead of doing anything to ‘turn them aside from their right,’ let us do everything in obedience to God to direct and help them to their right.
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. November 15, 1955 p. 700
Months, drawing near, now short remaining time.
Soon the war of Armageddon will finish off the wicked old world.
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. February 15, 1957 p. 112
Soon and still waiting 59 years later (as of February 15, 2016).
There is another vital reason why no Christian can stop speaking: The need to warn others of the impending destruction of this system of things at God’s universal war of Armageddon.
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. April 1, 1962 p. 199
Is it really impending at this point?
This good news tells the people that God’s kingdom has been established in the heavens, that Satan has been cast out of heaven, that God’s war of Armageddon is near, that soon the blessings of God’s kingdom will make this earth into a paradise and that then even the dead in the memorial tombs will arise.
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. December 1, 1968 p. 715
Lead up to 1975….
Shortly, within our twentieth century, the “battle in the day of Jehovah” will begin against modern antitype of Jerusalem, Christendom.
The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah-How? 1971 p. 216
Lead up to 1975….
The nations are indeed “getting ready for Armageddon,” though they do not realize that fact. In Scripture it is identified as God’s war. Soon the Biblical Armageddon will rid this globe of the wicked who are “ruining the earth” and will open the way for lovers of righteousness to live here in peace, really ‘getting on together.’—Rev. 11:18.
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. October 1, 1976 p. 583
Perhaps the timing was off…
Events will move quickly to a finish. Those same political “horns” that devastate the great “harlot” will turn on the seemingly defenseless witnesses of Jehovah. But now they will find themselves battling with none other than Jehovah’s “Lord of lords and King of kings.” They will be at Armageddon.
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. May 1, 1982 p. 18, 19
It takes over 50 years to get to this place?
How many of these are there today? Hundreds of millions. And the number is fast increasing as world conditions rapidly deteriorate and the present system of things approaches its complete end at the battle of Armageddon. (Revelation 16:16)
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. March 1, 1989 p. 7
How much further do world conditions need to deteriorate during the past 27 years?
Our dedication to Jehovah was not on the understanding that we would serve him for just a short time and then Armageddon would come. Our dedication was forever.
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. November 1, 1991 p. 12
Dedication to an organization that has gotten it wrong an awful lot.
Before he begins his Thousand Year Reign, however, Jesus Christ must rid the earth of all who oppose his rulership. He will do this at the battle called Armageddon in the Bible. (Revelation 16:16)
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. November 1, 1999 p. 7
Wasn’t this supposed to have happened a number of times?
Over the centuries, a pressing question that has generated endless speculation has been, When will Armageddon come? Examining the book of Revelation in the light of other parts of the Bible can help us determine the timing of this crucial battle.
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. December 1, 2005 p. 4, 5
So in short the Watchtower in the past with “war leading up to” or “within months” is guilty of endless speculation.
Events You Are Soon to See Happen
Prophecy 1. The Bible says that the nations will issue a significant declaration of “peace and security.” They may think that they are on the cusp of solving major problems. However, the events that follow this statement will be anything but peaceful.—1 Thessalonians 5:1-3.
Prophecy 2. Next, various governments will decide to move against the world’s religious organizations. In the Bible, these governments are symbolized by a wild beast; and the world’s false religions, by a woman who rides the back of the beast. (Revelation 17:3, 15-18) The symbolic beast will unwittingly do God’s bidding by destroying religions that falsely claim to represent God.
In symbols, the apostle John describes the drama this way: “The ten horns that you saw, and the wild beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her devastated and naked, and will eat up her fleshy parts and will completely burn her with fire. For God put it into their hearts to carry out his thought.”—Revelation 17:16, 17.
Prophecy 3. Following this successful attack on false religion, Satan will marshal the nations for an assault on those who worship Jehovah God.—Revelation 7:14; Matthew 24:21.
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. February 1, 2012 p. 9
So what is the result when the organization focuses on Armageddon? For this I want to focus on one specific event, 1975. The following website talks about the statistics: http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/1975.php
In the years leading up to 1975, there was significant growth. It was driven by the exterior stimulus of “the world is going to end.” When the exterior stimulus proved to not happen, those who were drawn in were the ones most likely to leave.
I would contend that the external action of losing family and your life since the organization has claimed to be the proverbial savior in The Watchtower, May 15, 1983 p. 12-13.
Armageddon has been coming from the first quote I read until the last one from 2012. This organization has not been right yet? Should you place faith in this “victorious organization” that Sunshine mentioned (on the Hen's Pen Show) or God’s word alone? If they can't get this right, should you trust you're eternal state to this organization? Eternity is a long time to be wrong. The decision is yours and yours alone to make.
Added bonus: Armageddon and 1975 quotes