Do JW's Really Believe That the End is Near?

As I listened to the Brother giving the public talk

Sunday, he mentioned several times how close we

are to the end.  If JW's really believed that the end

is a close as they say it is, then why don't they show

this by all pioneering?  If this really is a life saving

work,  does driving around in a car with 5 people as

they go on return visits make sense?  My wife went

out last week for 2 hours with a full car group and

talked to 1 person.  If this preaching work is so urgent,

why not every one take their own car and cut down on the

butt time in the car or skip the coffee breaks or how about using

the internet to preach.  Maybe they are just pretending

that the end is near in order to stay in the JW Club House.

Sour Grapes

I find it odd that JWs would do any preaching work at all....  considering the fact that they teach that people who are not "reached" get an automatic free pass to the "paradise on earth".

Every time they talk to someone, and that person shuts the door because they are "not interested", they have been condemned to being destroyed at Armageddon and will be bird food! 

If JWs were REALLY interested in saving people, they would AVOID talking to people about the bible!  That way the people would at least be able to survive Armageddon and live in the "paradise on earth".

Almost every time they talk to a person, they are KILLING that person!  They are bible thumping serial killers!

                                  The end is so near..

                   Jehovah`s Witness`s can Smell it!

                                                     .................... ...OUTLAW

Elsewhere,

I think that you have got a good point.  They actually believe because a householder

turned down an Awake magazine about wild flowers from a pimpley faced teenager

that they deserve eternal death.  They are killing people rather than saving them.

Maybe the world should put big signs on their doors "no JW's because I want to live

in Paradise."

Sour Grapes

I agree with Elsewhere.  It would be a lot easier to convert to the WTBTS if we all despicable unbelievers woke up one day in Paradise Earth and saw it was true after all.

I used this argument to convince my wife (successfully!) about how this is a cult.  I would say how if this is TRULY the end, why isn't the society doing more than just preaching as it is.  Why no radio ads, tv ads, billboards, internet advertisements?  Why aren't people selling their assets and pioneering.  If LIVES are on the line, then why not more emphasis????

If JWs were REALLY interested in saving people, they would AVOID talking to people about the bible!  That way the people would at least be able to survive Armageddon and live in the "paradise on earth"..

Elsewhere!  I successfully used this with my wife too!  Basically you'd have more success to save people by NOT preaching, because they would be resurrected and given a chance, versus 'marking' everyone to death.

No, most do not really believe it.  How many have 401k's or life insurance?  Most all young and middle aged will speak of when they get old or have grandkids in casual conversation.  I know an elder whose whole livleyhood depends upon selling financial products that will only pay returns at retirement.  The days when the average JW really believed the end was imminent is past.  Today it is just a watchword, a rallying cry for a movement that has lost it's mojo.

I honestly believe that most JW's are so confused anymore they don't even know what they believe. They just do as they're told. Baaa....

The older JW's (like the ones in my family) still believe the end is near. Most of them don't have any retirement plans or 401K's. I'm not sure how well they're going to fare in a few more years. Even my mom is counting on the end being near so she doesn't have to work to support herself.

The elders in my old congo are a little younger and they have 401K's and savings. I can't say for sure, but I would suspect that the better off Witlesses actually have retirement plans.

JW's are able to talk out of both sides of their mouth. On the one hand, they unswervingly teach that the end is near. On the other, some set aside money for the future, since they don't know for sure just how near the end is.

I tried researching on the WT CD just how often the WT recommended saving up for retirement and I really couldn't find anything. Has anyone else tried looking? On a shepherding visit, one of the elders tried arguing that saving up for retirement was "a personal decision". My argument was that the WT teaches the end is near, so an average Witless wouldn't even think about saving up. I did find an article or two on the WT CD stressing that even though the Levites "retired" from temple service, this did not mean that the Witlesses would be able to retire from the preaching work. Now that's sick!

My JW father recently said this: "I cannot see this system lasting even another year."

So, yes, SOME of them really do believe it. They put off needed medical care and they neglect to save money for the future.

MANY, however, are preparing to grow old and die.

My JW father recently said this: "I cannot see this system lasting even another year."

Man, if I had a dollar for every time I heard that over the years...I'd have enough money to retire.

No they don't really, at the innermost level, believe it.

That's why they spend so much time talking about how close and imminent and near and impending it is. That's all an attempt to convince themselves that it is really going to happen.

Their subconscious minds do this. The implications of it not being close (missed opportunities in life, shunning of close family & friends, the prospect of death) are too painful for the conscious mind to bear, so they "whistle in the graveyard" by commenting about how "it can't go on much longer".

I always took the view prepare for the worst and hope for the best. I used to  believe that my parents wouldn't die and so talk of who would inherit what was pointless. I have pension schemes and although I never expected to benefit from them I was concious that many had lived on small means in their old age as Jehovah's day hadn't come as expected.

Not only do JWs believe it I find many Christians believe the end of this system.(.Except they believe Christ) is coming soon.

Yes I think if your a JW you do believe it is close.
I knew so many who sold their homes
didnt get new teeth,gave up their GOOD JOBS ( like me
because they are really under mind control.
My daughter ( a JW) is out banging on doors & she is crippled
so the pain must be excruciting ...Poor souls we should really pray for them all,

I think that there are two main groups within the Witnesses as far as this belief is concerned.

There are those that don't fully believe it--whilst somehow convincing themselves and others that they do, so as not to appear weak--and are being financially responsible by making sure that they have a decent job, some savings and a pension plan.

On the other hand there are those that do just enough work to tide themselves over as they "work for Jehovah."  I am acquainted with a newly married self-righteous pharisee and he is the epitome of the smug, overly-righteous type who truly believes and who has no plans for the future.  In fact one of his circle rudely laughed in my face when I said that I was currently working towards a professional career with a good pension scheme.  I wonder who will be laughing in forty years time.  I try not to think such vindictive thoughts, as the JWs really deserve pity, but they truly do make it difficult for one to be charitable sometimes.

It is truly saddening when contemplating the future of the "true believers" who have been taught that financial irresponsibility is a virtue.

Maybe they are just pretending

that the end is near in order to stay in the JW Club House.

BINGO  ... and the elders get to stay in power in god's house

The two prominent psychological suggestions are fear and guilt

and more guilt and fear. This helps in the circulation of the literature and aids

in the financial support to the organization,

so the end is near now proclamation will continue indefinitely .

The governing body certainly does not believe the end is near. When they go to conventions or to give talks in local kingdom halls they do not mix with people to save them from sudden destruction and they typically do not engage in the field service. Rather they are cloistered from those who need saved and who need spiritual help. The gospel-jesus mixed with those who needed spiritual help. They are so far removed from the work described in the gospels that even suggesting that they are Christ's brother is a joke.

In addition to the personal behaviors of the governing body and its lackeys, the massive building projects, the removal of the bookstudy arrangement, the focus on meeting/assembly attendance rather than saving souls also shows that deep down they do not believe the end is coming.

We have been on vacations with several high ranking witnesses (whatever that means) and there is not preaching, there is not an effort to reach people and save them. It is relaxation to the full.

Bottom line, the current activities of the leaders of the WTS illustrate that they do not believe the end is coming. I am sure there are some local brothers and sisters that do believe but they seem to be a minority. Most local pioneers knock on very few doors. Most local elders do fake witnessing - a little coffee, a little shepherding, a little windshield time - and it seems that only one or two individuals in each congregation really do the best that they can do.

zarco

When I was pioneering in the years before 1975, most of us REALLY believed the end was near.

Today, since the WTS has been screaming the end is near for so many decades, I think most JWs just parrot "the end is so close" as more of a mantra than something they actually think is true.

Farkel