[this article is contributed by Alex Rover]
The Governing Body has been steadily working toward a new prophetic framework over the past decade or so. An ounce of ‘new light’ at a time, just the right amount of change to make the friends excited, but not too much to cause large divisions.
In the past two years things have begun to come together and we can start to see the larger picture. Yet, even for Jehovah’s Witnesses, it’s still hard to see how all the pieces fit. So, in this article, we will try to tie it all together for you.
The timeline below comes with an extensive appendix at the end of this article to list all the source material.
Observation 1: The Governing Body is ‘Faithful’
With the Governing Body’s repeated calls that the Great Tribulation is now ‘imminent’, we have to understand what this means in light of their clarified understanding of final sealing.
“Just before the great tribulation, God will give his final approval to the hardworking anointed ones who are still on earth at that time. This is their final sealing.” (WT 3/15 pp.17-23 p.13)
At that time, the anointed will know it in their heart that they have been sealed. (w07 1/1 pp. 30-31) One wonders if the members of the Governing Body believe that they have already received their final sealing. It would certainly explain why they have declared themselves faithful and discrete before the master’s return.
The final sealing is to give confirmation that the anointed are now “once saved, always saved”. It is a conviction caused by Holy Spirit as a seal on the heart. Just like one knows they are anointed, they can know that they have received the final sealing. Paul knew when he was confirmed. He said: “From this time on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness.” (2 Timothy 4:6-8)
“The sealing in a final sense serves to confirm that this chosen and sealed individual has fully demonstrated his loyalty. Only then, at the final sealing, will the seal be permanently placed ‘in the forehead’ of the anointed one, identifying him conclusively as a tried and faithful ‘slave of our God.’ The sealing mentioned in Revelation chapter 7 refers to this final phase of the sealing.—Revelation 7:3.” (w07 1/1 pp. 30-31)
Observation 2: The Heavenly Calling Will End Soon
Up until 2007, Jehovah’s Witnesses believed that the heavenly call ceased in 1935. (w07 5/1 pp. 30-31) I have no doubt that view emerged from the now-defunct teaching that the Great Tribulation had already started in 1914 and was cut short in 1918 (w56 12/15 p. 755 par. 11), because once the last of the anointed is sealed in their forehead, the Great Tribulation commences. (Revelation 7:3)
Thus once the beginning of the Great Tribulation is announced, we can expect that no new anointed will be accepted anymore among Jehovah’s Witnesses. The pressure to not partake will be even greater, since I believe there will be no room for a resurrection of the now-defunct replacement doctrine after declaring the start of the Great Tribulation. The replacement doctrine taught that the anointed were sealed as a class, but not as individuals, so it was possible for there to be very few new anointed as replacements for those lost.
“In time the prescribed but limited number of 144,000 would be reached. After this no more would be anointed by holy spirit as witness that they had the heavenly hope, unless, in a rare occurrence, the unfaithfulness of one of the remaining ‘chosen ones’ made a replacement necessary.” (w82 Feb 15 p.30)
As the teaching that the generation of 1914 would not all die proved untenable, the ‘generation teaching’ changed and rendered the replacement doctrine unnecessary, so Jehovah’s Witnesses abandoned it. Should a new Tribulation be announced, I don’t think the Governing Body would see a need for resurrecting the replacement doctrine, which means that the door for the heavenly hope will be firmly closed.
And since the existing anointed would be fully sealed, what should brothers and sisters think of a partaker who becomes disfellowshipped at this time? If they were truly anointed, they would have gotten their final sealing. If they truly received their final sealing, how can they become bad association? Perhaps they were not truly anointed.
Observation 3: The Time Will be Cut Short, again
When the attack on religion begins, the time will be cut short by Jehovah to allow his faithful ones to preach the judgment message.
We must never forget that supposedly this already happened. Until 1969 [1], Jehovah’s Witnesses believed that The Great Tribulation started in 1914 and was cut short in 1918 (w56 12/15 p. 755 par. 11). After realizing that the days had been cut short, Witnesses expected a very short time until Armageddon.
Learning from the past, I find this dusted-off doctrine an alarming development. Why? Because they were able to stretch this period that the time was cut short from 1918 to 1969 — over fifty years! If it happened before, it can happen again.
So what might Jehovah’s Witnesses believe years after the Governing Body one day “soon” announces the Great Tribulation has started? That there is no more heavenly calling, that the faithful slave is fully sealed and approved, and that the time is cut short to allow for an urgent preaching campaign unlike any before in history? The generation of anointed ones would be dwindling fast. The reduction in their numbers will be clear evidence that Armageddon will be near. Does this sound familiar?
Observation 4: The Kingdom Good News
In 1995 Jehovah’s Witnesses abandoned the teaching that the Sheep and the Goats would be separated by means of the preaching work. I remember the Watchtower of October 1995. It was a period of soul-searching. If our message does not help separate the sheep and the goats, then what is the purpose of the preaching work? To address this question, the Organization published the following Questions from Readers:
“We were thrilled with our study of Jesus’ parable of the sheep and the goats. In view of the new understanding presented in “The Watchtower” of October 15, 1995, can we still say that Jehovah’s Witnesses today are sharing in a separating work?”
“Yes. Understandably, many have wondered about this because Matthew 25:31, 32 says: “When the Son of man arrives in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” The Watchtower of October 15, 1995, showed why these verses apply after the great tribulation begins. Jesus will arrive in his glory with his angels and will sit on his judgment throne. Then, he will separate people. In what sense? He will render decisions based on what people did or did not do before that time.” (w97 7/1 p. 30)
The newest understanding is that there will be a future preaching of a judgment message, but that the current preaching is one of good news. So the question above may be raised once again: can we still say that we share today in a separating work of the sheep and the goats if there is a future preaching of a judgment message during the Period of Calm?
The answer may be found in the Watchtower of January 2014, keeping in mind that the current work is labeled as the “Kingdom Good News”:
“By 1919, the “good news of the Kingdom” had taken on added meaning. (Matt. 24:14) The King was ruling in heaven, and he had gathered a small group of cleansed earthly subjects. They eagerly responded to Jesus’ rousing instructions: Preach the good news of God’s established Kingdom in all the earth! (Acts 10:42)”
This is the good news that should be preached TODAY. And as the above quote demonstrates, since 1919 it was continuously about the Good News of the Kingdom, never about the judging of the sheep and goats. This is historic revisionism at its best: they have rebranded the preaching work from 1919-1995 as one preaching the Good News of the Kingdom and not a message of judgment.
Really?!
Why are we unable to preach Jesus as our mediator, that Christ died for YOUR sins and MY sins personally and directly? That Jehovah calls you to become his adopted child? That we may all be brothers in Christ? Many today object: If the Heavenly Calling has not ceased, then the preaching work should not be different than the preaching work from the first century.
Just how dangerous is the true Kingdom Good News, whereby more anointed can be found and eventually become sealed? The fastest growing segment of Jehovah’s Witnesses are the anointed. Yes their ranks have just about doubled in the past 7 years alone.
With a teaching that the total number of anointed are just 144,000 — and the number of anointed rising so rapidly — how much longer until the start of the Great Tribulation is announced?
Appendix A: Sources for the Timeline
1: The Final Sealing of the Anointed occurs just prior to the outbreak of the Tribulation.
Source: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/402015206?q=final+sealing&p=par
Paragraph 13
Source: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2015203
Paragraph 11
“They will know it in their heart” (w07 1/1 pp. 30-31)
“Just before the great tribulation, God will give his final approval to the hardworking anointed ones who are still on earth at that time. This is their final sealing.” (WT 3/15 pp.17-23 p.13)
2: The Cry of “Peace and Security!” occurs.
Source: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102014263
Paragraph 3
3: The Tribulation must begin before the Overlapping Generation dies.
Source: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102014240
Paragraph 18,19 (chapter 1)
4: The United Nations (“Disgusting Thing”) receives extra authority from the nations and outlaws the organizations within Christendom.
Source: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102014263
Paragraphs 5-6
5: The United Nations then does the same thing to all other religious groups (Babylon), but the WT organization will be saved.
Source: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2013530
Paragraph 7
6: Now begins a short time of calm during the Great Tribulation.
Source: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2015523
Paragraphs 6-9
Source: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102014263
Paragraph 7
Source: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2013530
Paragraph 7
7: Former members of false religion can choose to repent and assist the Anointed (thus becoming a sheep instead of a goat) as long as the Anointed are still alive.
Source: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2015207?q=sheep+and+goat&p=par#h=13
Paragraphs 3-6
8: Signs in the Heavens and on the Earth now occur.
Source: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2015523
Paragraph 11
Source: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102014263
Paragraph 9
9: A supernatural sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky when Jesus comes to judge the sheep and goats.
Source: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2015523
Paragraphs 12-13
Source: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102014263
Paragraph 9
10: Gog of Magog attacks Jehovah’s Witnesses
Source: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2015523
Paragraph 10,16-17, see point 12 below
Source: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102014263
Paragraph 12-14
11: The Gathering of the Anointed occurs.
Source: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2015523
Paragraphs 14-15
Source: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102014263
Paragraphs 15-16
12: Armageddon
Source: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2015523
Paragraph 17
Source: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102014263
Paragraph 17
13: Satan and the demons are cast into the Abyss.
Source: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102014263
Paragraph 18
14: The Heavenly Wedding Ceremony of Jesus and the 144,000.
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2014123
Paragraphs 10-13
15: The start of the Millennial Reign of Christ.
Source: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2015207
Paragraph 12
Footnotes
[1] The discourse “Peace with God amid the ‘Great Tribulation’” shed light on Bible prophecy and led to much discussion among the conventioners. It showed how completely Matthew 24:3-22 had a miniature application in apostolic times. Reasons were given showing why the now-approaching “great tribulation” first begins with the destruction of Babylon the Great and ends with Armageddon. It will be “cut short,” the speaker showed, in that it will take place in a comparatively short period of time. (w69 9/1 p.521)
Couldnt help noticing the discussion on wether or not the last days started in the first century heres some scriptures to think about 1 john 2 v18 jude 1 v18 2 peter 3v 3 1 peter 1v 20 james 5 v3 hebrews 1v 2 acts 2v 17 i understand the reasoning that how can we still be in the last days 2000 years later but looking at those verses how can we say that the apostles never felt they were living in the last days ? Ps i am just saying what i see .
Thanks Alex, Excellent Article! Of course it all started with Russell who said that 1914 would be the end of the time of trouble. “Now, in view of recent labor troubles and threatened anarchy, our readers are writing to know if there may not be a mistake in the 1914 date. They do not see how present conditions can hold out so long under the strain. We see no reason for changing the figures – nor could we change them if we would. They are, we believe, God’s dates, not ours. But bear in mind that the end of 1914… Read more »
That is an extremely good question. An even better question is how Rutherford could (almost in the same breath) extol the virtues of Russell, only to repudiate nearly everything that Russell stood for and taught, and also repudiate and abandon the original Bible Students that would not follow him instead of Russell. If what Rutherford taught and how he led the organization was true and correct, then Russell of necessity was wrong. And if Russell was truly wrong, would Jesus have chosen Russell as the faithful and wise steward? But if Jesus did not in fact make that choice, did… Read more »
I love that the Society or aka the Organization keeps wanting to put the fear into us, look do I think we are living in the last days, Sure I do, but am I gonna start throwing the fear in everybody face, No!!! When you got Anthony Morris aka one of the Guardians of Doctrine up in the Convention saying well it looks like Soon God will bring the Hammer down soon. Where in all that is holy does he get his information, I mean maybe we should say it is near, but oh yeah it is very soon, and… Read more »
Thank you Alex for taking what must have been, as you said a ton of time to research. It is quite laughable the desperation that is reflected in present JW theology to come up with something that doesn’t upset the house of cards. While I appreciate the work that has been done, I have to go along with one of the comments below,re,when are we going to hear what truth is ,rather than what it is not ? I know that I don’t have the time to do the kind of research that you are doing,but I am really feeling… Read more »
Thank you Wild Olive, I wholeheartedly agree with you on the need for a “truth” book, and I can promise you that I’ll be making it a priority going forward. In fact, we have an internal email thread which stands at 61 replies in the past week alone, relating to how we might go about creating such a study aid. Even so it might take quite some time to complete. I appreciate your patience. To our defense in relation to a comment Deborah made, we have not just broke down, but also “built up” in many articles on this site.… Read more »
Alex Rover, A suggestion. Many Christian sites provide a statement of their beliefs, their foundation. Such a statement might include the scriptural answers to the suggested questions below (as well as others) thus giving visitors a quick review of this site’s core beliefs: -Who is God? What did Jesus Christ teach about his Father, his God? -Who is Jesus Christ? For what purpose did he say he was born? -What did Jesus Christ teach concerning the spirit of God? -Is the Bible a “good book”? What did Jesus say about God’s written word? -What does being a disciple of Jesus… Read more »
Thanks Deborah for your suggestions. Unfortunately they all require time, our most precious commodity. Eventually we’ll get around to more and more. Just keeping the articles flowing consistently on Beroean Pickets is already quite demanding. Then there’s the forum moderation, supporting brothers and sisters who contact us via email, etc. We have families and secular full time employment to maintain ourselves. If you want to help out drop a line on the comment box on the comment page, since we can always use an extra pair of virtual hands around here 🙂
Alex Rover,
I cannot make a short list of the basic beliefs held by you and Meleti, that is outside my purview. It is something only you and Meleti can do. So is choosing encouraging articles already contained in the site that could be highlighted on perhaps the Knowledge Base section. You have a better idea of which articles would suit better than I would.
I apologize if you felt my suggestions would be too time consuming.
Deborah
Hi Deborah, you have good suggestions, we just need time to get around to them. That is to say, I agree with you. Consequently, I’m not going to accept your apology. Instead let me give you three different ways you could help out. 1) You could go through the BP articles and see which ones you feel are upbuilding, send me your initial list, titles of articles along with the url. Then you saved us time, because we can edit your list and deliberate on how we can use it on this site. At the very least, we can use… Read more »
Would it be wise on my part to become more involved with a forum which has not firmed up its beliefs to the point of gathering them together on the front page in order that visitors may see at a glance what you believe? Perhaps there is something you hold to that I do not. Would it not be the wiser course for me to refrain from participating more deeply on this site until I know exactly what those in charge here believe? To the list I suggested in the post above could be added: The resurrection- where and when… Read more »
God has “appointed times” for all of His plans.
“Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration. But my people do not know the requirements of the Lord.” Jeremiah 8:7
“They do not say to themselves, ‘Let us fear the Lord our God, who gives autumn and spring rains in season, who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.'” Jeremiah 5:24
Thanks Alex, believe it or not, we just had CO visit, the Public Talk was on the events of last days, or the scene of this world is changing-he kept it brief to the script, cry of peace and security, fall of Babylon-God puts it in their hearts, gathering of nations, abyss of satan…that was pretty much it, and after armegeddon , wars cease and no wicked-I must say, he seemed exhausted, well it was the week of royal commission.
Thank you Alien Resident.
Thanks for all your hard work in researching and organizing this article, Alex.
Thank you my brother.
Alex Rover,
Could you give a general sequence of events you believe will occur before Christ’s coming in Kingdom power?
Deborah
Hi Deborah .. there’s the article I wrote on the seventh trumpet, and that’s the only thing I wrote about this topic. http://meletivivlon.com/2015/05/20/the-seventh-trumpet/ So it follows that right before the seventh trumpet, the events of the 6th trumpet take place, Revelation uses the expression “But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet.” (Rev 10:7) These events are symbolic but should be expected to be fulfilled shortly before Christ’s coming. I want to refrain from speculating, and a proper response to your question may be on my list one day to write about .. but… Read more »
Alex Rover,
Thanks for the reply.
It’s a thousand times easier to deconstruct than to construct. Much easier to tear apart than to build.
I hope Beroean Pickets will soon build, will soon post a detailed statement of faith, and in the near future a biblical commentary on a specific book in the NT.
Deborah
Our deliverance may be near, perhaps more so than previously. (But then, time being linear, how could it be otherwise?) However, those of us who are all too familiar with the WT’s doctrinal flaws, this is hardly a reason to get “excited” over. Their “prophetic framework” is a house of cards, one they must carefully tweak with utmost exactitude, lest it all come crumbling down. One of the foremost problems is the ongoing issue of “new light”, so often criticized in ex-JW and dissenter sites. It has been often observed and commented on that the passage in Proverbs 4:18 and… Read more »
Your point is noted; it was in fact treading on bashing territory. Although, even the Bible does its share of “bashing”. Consider how the Israelites were based for bowing down to “dungy” idols, and how Babylon the Great is bashed for being the mother of the harlots. There is indeed a fine line between telling the truth and bashing.
I’m slightly curious what followed “and we are not living in the biblical last days”? There are a great many Christians besides JW’s who feel we really are living in the last days, but I don’t know if it is in our jurisdiction to know for sure until the moment is literally upon us. Still it is undeniable that the world is being galvanised specifically to resist Christians and that is something you would expect of the final time as well. That doesn’t mean it can’t go further still – just that the agenda is accelerating in an observable way.
Perhaps the world is indeed becoming more anti-Christian. In some cases, that is outright opposition, and in other cases it’s apathy. But to call this an “agenda” suggests that it is being caused or orchestrated by someone, and that would be much harder to prove. We must bear in mind that there was a time the Catholic Church had almost total control over what was deemed “Christian” and anyone who violated their rules (in order to practice a more-correct version of Christianity) risked death. That could be seen as a form of resistance to (true) Christianity, but was something that… Read more »
On the other hand if the “last days” began with Jesus’ ascension (seasons of God), then “this generation” would mean the “last days” generation. cp Luke 16:8; Mark 8:38; Matthew 11:16. Proverbs 30:11 is interesting – genea as “brood”.
I think the bible itself seems to indicate that the term (last days ) refers to a period of time at least starting in the first century . 2 tim 3 v 1
If that is the case, and the “last days” did begin back then at the time of Jesus’ ascension, then in harmony with Luke 16:8; Mark 8:38; Matthew 11:16 and Proverbs 30:11, the scripture at Matthew 24:34 “this generation” (genea) would refer not to a period of years, but rather to a “type of people”, that is a “wicked society” which would continue until Jesus returns when he establishes the Kingdom of God. I haven’t fully understood the topic of “the seasons of God”, but it is very interesting and I have a list of scriptures of how it relates… Read more »
Yes skye and i personally do believe that the generation jesus spoke of was more than likely the generation of the seed of the serpent that statement is based on reading matthew 23 and 24 together .
Matthew 24:34 “this generation” (genea) in this scripture would refer to “the evil society” as constituted by the world systems which would continue to exist in that form, all throughout the “last days”, until the time when Jesus returns and replaces all the world systems with his Kingdom.
Meleti, A friend of mine, a sister, (not a JW) has done considerable research on the last days, and she kindly gave me some notes about “the seasons of God” and how it all relates. It’s quite lengthy and I didn’t want to post it here without your permission. Please advise if you would be so kind. Thank you.
You can reach meleti via the contact us page.
I have read similar thoughts before. I understand, up to a point, how some could view the generation as beginning in the first century. The problem I have is that, as you read Jesus’ words, it does seem as though there is an undertone of urgency to it. For the first century Christians, that urgency was a real and meaningful thing, since the Romans were coming just 33 years later to surround and then destroy Jerusalem. Could the span of 2,000 years really be viewed as “urgent” in the minds of the average faithful person of average reasoning ability? Does… Read more »
The years which precede Christ’s return are so crucial that all God’s holy prophets foretell the events which will take place during that time. We have been told “everything in advance” (Mark 13:23) so that we can be prepared for the future, and we know what to expect. To all those who are unprepared events leading up to the second coming will be unexpected. Rev 3:3. Our lifespan for now is only 70 or 80 years, and so no matter at what period of time we are living at during the “last days” we must be prepared for the Kingdom… Read more »
I share your view Joel. Personally I feel we live in the last days, but when we desire something intensely, we often look for signs to confirm it. Such has been proven by history. Many Christians have expected the return of our Lord in their lifetimes and were convinced they saw all the signs.
Nevertheless we must remain alert, keep expecting him, since his return is promised at a time many wouldn’t expect it, in the night, while most are asleep.
Thank you Alex for the research on the confusing presentation by the “faithful slave” of end-time elements found in Watchtower publications. In 1975 we had to cope with three expectations. *** w75 11/15 p. 681 Events That Still Lie Ahead *** By 2012 we were up to five in the same article. *** w12 9/15 p. 4 How This World Will Come to an End *** FIVE EVENTS TO COME: 1. Proclamation of “Peace and security!” 2. Nations attack and destroy “Babylon the Great” 3. Attack on Jehovah’s people 4. War of Armageddon 5. Satan and his demons are abyssed… Read more »