The Witnesses believe that since the year 1914 mankind has been living in the last days of this wicked system. Deliverance from Satan’s system into Jehovah’s righteous New Order under Christ’s Kingdom rule will come about by eliminating the incorrigibly wicked at God’s war on the battlefield of Armageddon.—Rev. 16:16.
They also believe that millions will survive Armageddon to live in the earthly Paradise of God’s promise and that they will be joined by many millions more through a resurrection from the dead. Those finally approved will live forever in perfection on an earth created to last forever. That is the Kingdom good news that Jehovah’s Witnesses are declaring throughout the world “for a witness to all the nations.”—Matt. 24:14.
1984 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses. 1983. p. 3
Upon the arrival of Hitler’s troops, the brothers thought that the battle of Armageddon had begun. Fearing to be discovered by the Nazis as being in possession of these booklets, some brothers started distributing them.
1984 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses. 1983. p. 65
Since no instructions were forthcoming from the Society’s office in Brussels, Brother Wozniak made arrangements to keep the work alive. He got in touch with the brothers and reassured them that Armageddon had not yet begun and persuaded them to stop distributing the publications free of cost.
1984 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses. 1983. p. 66
“Just a few days later a stranger walked into my office and, after introducing himself, opened up like this: ‘In 1914 there was war in heaven and Satan and his demons were cast down to the earth. Since then they have been preparing all nations to fight against God at the battle of Armageddon, when they will be destroyed, and God’s Kingdom under Christ will rule the earth forever.’ I was immediately struck by the dynamic nature of the message, so different from what the churches handed out.
1984 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses. 1983. p. 169