Armageddon

            Introduction by D.M. We all know that Armageddon is going to occur, (Psalm, 110:5-6; Joel 3:2; Micah 4:11-13; Zechariah 12:3; 14:1-5; Revelation 14:18-20; 16:14-16; 17:4; 19:17-21). No argument about that. According to theologian, Charles Ryrie,

the war will consist of several battles, beginning with Antichrist’s campaign into Egypt (Daniel 11:40-45) and including a siege of Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:2) as well as the final battle at Armageddon (Revelation 16:16).

         [Charles Ryrie, The Ryrie Study Bible, Moody Press, 1976, 1978, page 1914].

        According to Ryrie, and many other theologians, during the war of Armageddon, the second coming of Christ, to earth, will occur. [Ibid., 1918]. While not one of us know the time, the day, nor the year, of Christ’s return (Matthew 24:36-39) we are told to look for particular signs of His coming (read Matthew 24:29-21; Revelation 19:1-21; specifically 19:17-21). Again, while we can look forward to His coming, not one of us is to predict the year, the hour of His coming.

         As most of you know, Jehovah’s Witnesses will come to your door and tell you that we live in dangerous times. They will talk about all the current problems in the world, and how very soon, all this will lead to Armageddon (they won’t say during this time there could possibly be the return of Christ–they believe He already came).

         At this point, tell your JW visitor that you are interested in this topic of Armageddon, and that you’ve done some reading about it, from their own literature.

         **Show them the statements from Joseph Rutherford’s, Face the Facts (Watchtower, 1938), pages 46, 50. (Link below, for printout)

Click here to view Armageddon

After showing your visitors the printout, and reading aloud Rutherford’s words, ask them the following:

1) In regards to children: Was your president, Joseph Rutherford, wrong in 1938, when he told married people NOT to have children because Armageddon was approaching?

2) In regards to marriage: Was your president, Joseph Rutherford, wrong, in 1938, when he told the J.W.’s to “wait a few years, until the fiery storm of Armageddon is gone, and to then enter the marital relationship”?

3) In regards to being misled: Turn to 1 Timothy 4:3. Have the Jehovah’s Witness read this verse aloud. If they read from their Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures (verses the KJV), they will be reading:

However, the inspired utterance says definitely that in later periods of time some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to misleading inspired utterances and teachings of demons, by the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, marked in their conscience as with a branding iron; forbidding to marry...

Ask: Were there Witnesses, in 1938, listening to “misleading inspired utterances and teachings of demons” when Rutherford and Watchtower were telling people not to marry, or to have children?

4) In regards to the JW teaching: How can I be sure your Watch Tower organization is correct, that Armageddon is soon coming, when they’ve been wrong in the past?

© Donna Morley, 2008

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