In the 45 years since then, at least 42 types or prophetic pictures of that “great crowd” of Har–Magedon survivors have been set forth in Watch Tower Society publications. (See You May Survive Armageddon into God’s New World, published in 1955, and pages 367, 368.)
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. April 1, 1980 p. 26
In October 1949, we saw a group of our companions from the 11th class leave San Francisco by ship for their assignment in Japan. They were Lloyd and Melba Barry, Percy and Ilma Iszlaub, and Adrian Thompson. “See you after Armageddon,” we called out as the ship slid away from the wharf. (Rev. 16:14, 16, Authorized Version) But the authorities refused to grant us visas for Fiji. So January 1950 saw us following our friends to Japan, where we joined them in the missionary home at Tarumi, Kobe.
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. June 15, 1980 p. 26
OUR COVER: Ominous signs in the world and in the state of religion today indicate the approach of God’s war—Armageddon.
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. October 15, 1980 p. 2
Section heading: Are We Nearing Armageddon?
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. October 15, 1980 p. 11
THE word “Armageddon” rings ominously in the ears of many people. Some understand it to be the “end of the world” when all human life will be destroyed and the earth made uninhabitable, perhaps by means of a nuclear war between nations. True, the English word “Armageddon” does denote a cataclysmic event, a war. But the Bible says that it is “the war of the great day of God the Almighty,” which is fought at a place called “Har–Magedon.”—Rev. 16:14, 16.
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. October 15, 1980 p. 11
Could God’s war of Armageddon possibly mean the end of all mankind, or the end of this planet?
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. October 15, 1980 p. 11
While Armageddon will not mean the end of all mankind, nor of the earth, it certainly will mean the end of a system of things (or, “world”) as we know it. Armageddon will be God’s way of totally crushing out of existence today’s deteriorating political, economic, social and religious systems that have caused so much grief.
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. October 15, 1980 p. 11, 12
Thus, God’s war of Armageddon will mean the execution of his adverse judgment against “kings,” “nations” and “kingdoms.”
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. October 15, 1980 p. 12
In that new order after Armageddon, Bible prophecy tells us, “righteousness is to dwell.” (2 Pet. 3:13)
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. October 15, 1980 p. 12
God’s war of Armageddon will be the final part of a period of time called the “great tribulation.”
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. October 15, 1980 p. 13
For many decades, Jehovah’s Witnesses alone have been very active on the international scene in sounding the warning about this coming time of trouble that would climax at Armageddon. (Mark 13:10)
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. October 15, 1980 p. 13
Secular: For example, on May 4, 1980, the editor of the Miami Herald, Jim Hampton, wrote:
“Do you have, growing deep in your gut these days, the same kind of knot I have growing in mine? The awful, keep-you-awake-nights knot that tells you something is dreadfully wrong with your country, with the whole world? The knot that makes you shiver sometimes because it has just dawned on you that Armageddon isn’t just some allegory you read about in the Bible, it’s real? And that for the first time in your life the match is so close to the fuse that Armageddon is actually possible?
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. October 15, 1980 p. 13
While this editor was not viewing Armageddon entirely from the Biblical context, he was correct in saying that mankind is nearing a time of trouble “such as the world has never seen.”
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. October 15, 1980 p. 14
Therefore, if we love life and want to live in a righteous new order of God’s making, we very much need to learn about this coming “great tribulation” and its Armageddon climax.
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. October 15, 1980 p. 14
We are indeed very deep into the “last days” of this system of things and nearing the final part, the “great tribulation” with its Armageddon finish.
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. October 15, 1980 p. 16
1. (a) What do some people understand “Armageddon” to mean? (b) Is Armageddon merely another war between nations?
2. Will Armageddon mean the end of mankind, or of the earth?
3. What will Armageddon accomplish?
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. October 15, 1980 p. 11
4. How does Bible prophecy describe conditions after Armageddon?
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. October 15, 1980 p. 12
Coming to the rescue of his loyal servants, God swiftly and with crushing force strikes the nations at the “war of the great day of God the Almighty,” Armageddon.
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. October 15, 1980 p. 23
After Armageddon, the marvelous new order begins!
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. October 15, 1980 p. 23
Graham Fears Armageddon
● Speaking at a Baptist World Congress in Toronto, evangelist Billy Graham cried out: ‘Oh God, turn us back from the War of Armageddon . . . because that is where we are headed!” Columnist Dick Beddoes of “The Globe and Mail,” who reported the statement, also observed that Graham sees Armageddon as a war between superpowers.
However, the Bible shows clearly that Armageddon is not a war between nations.
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. November 1, 1980 p. 27
Hence, Graham ought to be crying out for Armageddon to come, because that means ‘God’s kingdom will come,’ so that then ‘God’s will might be done on earth as it is in heaven.’ (Matt. 6:10)
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. November 1, 1980 p. 27
OUR COVER: When a volcano exploded in Martinique, it was too late to act on the warning given. But it is not yet too late to heed God’s warnings concerning Armageddon
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. December 1, 1980 p. 2
Rather, it is warnings, now being broadcast earth wide, of an imminent world destruction—Armageddon—that we are talking about.
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. December 1, 1980 p. 5
“The war of the great day of God the Almighty,” commonly called Armageddon, is sure to come. (Rev. 16:14-16) It will be the final part of the “great tribulation.” So does it not make sense, at least, to give consideration to the warnings that Armageddon is near, within the lifetime of most persons now living?
ARMAGEDDON—WHEN?
In connection with the “great tribulation,” including Armageddon, Jesus went on to say in this vital prophecy: “For just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be. For as they were in those days before the flood, eating and drinking, men marrying and women being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark; and they took no note until the flood came and swept them all away, so the presence of the Son of man will be.”—Matt. 24:37-39.
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. December 1, 1980 p. 5
Do we have any way of knowing the time of Armageddon?
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. December 1, 1980 p. 5
Also, Jesus foretold that his followers would be persecuted, and yet the “good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth . . . and then the end [including Armageddon] will come.”
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. December 1, 1980 p. 5
Over two million Jehovah’s Witnesses believe they are, and that is why Jehovah’s Witnesses are everywhere sounding the warning that Armageddon is near.
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. December 1, 1980 p. 6
Illustrating the fulfillment of these things are the comments of the editor of the Miami Herald, Jim Hampton. Although not viewing Armageddon entirely from the Biblical viewpoint, he wrote on May 4, 1980:
“Do you have, growing deep in your gut these days, the same kind of knot I have growing in mine? The awful, keep-you-awake-nights knot that tells you something is dreadfully wrong with your country, with the whole world? The knot that makes you shiver sometimes because it has just dawned on you that Armageddon isn’t just some allegory you read about in the Bible, it’s real? And that for the first time in your life the match is so close to the fuse that Armageddon is actually possible?
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. December 1, 1980 p. 6
But such ridiculers are mistaken. The fact is, things have changed. Bible prophecies are being fulfilled. The evidence is just as clear that Armageddon is near as it was clear earlier this year that Mount St. Helens was due to erupt.
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. December 1, 1980 p. 6
By all means, do not dismiss the Bible-based warnings they are sounding of Armageddon’s approach. These are warnings that deserve careful examination—and should be heeded.
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. December 1, 1980 p. 7
Since there is a prospect of being Armageddon survivors, rejoice in looking ahead to the time of the resurrection and the wonderful work of then informing and educating those who come out of the graves.
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. December 15, 1980 p. 22
Just following the description in Revelation 19:11-21 of the war at Armageddon, in which Jesus leads the heavenly forces to victory over all earthly opposers, John envisions the abyssing of Satan: “And I saw an angel [undoubtedly the archangel Michael] coming down out of heaven with the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he seized the dragon, the original serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. December 15, 1980 p. 30