the prophecies about the end of the world as experienced ... · the prophecies about the end of the...

The prophecies about the end of the world

as experienced by a Jehovah’s Witness family

Lecturer : Roberto di Stefano

Critic and Observer of Jehovah’s Witnesses religious movement

Apocalyptic cults: failed utopias and consequences for followers

FECRIS Annual Conference

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Multipurpose hall, Salses-le-Château – France

Contents

• Lecturer’s profile

• JW beliefs: doctrinal and eschatological

• JW: their message

• Failed expectations

• 1975 expectations and deceptions

• JW current message, prophecies and

expectations

2012-10-13 The prophecies about the end of the world as experienced by a Jehovah’s Witness family 2

Lecturer’s Profile

Roberto di Stefano

• Born in Alexandria Egypt to a catholic family

• Brought-up as Jehovah’s Witness at age 2

• Baptized as Jehovah’s Witness at age 12

• Served as “Elder” for almost 30 years

• Left the movement at age 59, 8 years ago


JW beliefs: doctrinal and eschatological

More than doctrines, eschatological beliefs have

the highest impact on their life and expectations

You are attracted by their message

You become a witness because of their message

You remain a witness because of their message


JW beliefs: their eschatological message

The Stick


The Carrot

“End of the world” Paradise Earth

SALVATION

JW beliefs: their Survival condition message


Charles Taze Russell - original belief

- Armageddon period of 40 years 1874-1914

- Culminating with Rapture of the Saints in October 1914

- The conversion of the Jews to Christianity

- The destruction of all human institutions – Political, Commercial, Babylon the Great

- The survival of most of mankind into Paradise Earth

Joseph Franklyn Rutherford - current belief

- Armageddon is the final judgment day for ALL mankind

- Only Jehovah’s Witnesses will survive

- 1936 Armageddon p. 34:

“He is the source of all life, and all creatures who live must serve him. All

will have to take their stand on one side or the other, either for or against

Jehovah, and all who take their stand on God's side must now become his

witnesses.”

Failed expectations

2012-10-13 7

Dates published by JW

in relation to the “end of the world”

Source: http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/1800s.php

• 539 AD • 1874 • 1917 • 1935

• 1780 • 1878 • 1918 • 1940s

• 1798 • 1880 • 1919 • 1951

• 1799 • 1881 • 1920 • 1975

• 1829 • 1891 • 1921 • 1986

• 1840 • 1906 • 1925 • 2000

• 1844 • 1910 • 1926 • 20th century

• 1846 • 1914 • 1928

• 1872 • 1915 • 1932 • 2034 (?)

The prophecies about the end of the world as experienced by a Jehovah’s Witness family

Last Failed “Prophecy”

1975


1975 expectations and deceptions

Start of the Millennium

• Chronology – End of 6000 years of existence

• Chronology – Length of “The Generation”

• Chronology – Sealing & death of Saints

• “Sign of the End”




Chronology

1. End of 6000 years of existence

Creation days (7000 years each)1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th

|_______ |_______ |_______ |_______ |_______ |_______ |_______ |

7th day4026 B.C. ->----------------------------------->1914 AD >----->-1975 ->---------------------->2975

Adam Christ’s return end 6000 years end 7th day

Armageddon -> Millennium

DECEPTION:

Abandoned Silently- Adam would have lived 37 years before God realized … he needed a woman … Eve!)


1975 expectations and deceptionsChronology

2. Within This Generation

(Matthew 24:34) . . .Truly I say to YOU that this generation will by no means pass away

until all these things occur. . .

(Psalm 90:10) . . .In themselves the days of our years are seventy years;

And if because of special mightiness they are eighty years. . .

w1984-05-15 p.4-7 “1914—The Generation That Will Not Pass Away”

1914 >------------------------------------------------------>1994 ?

Christ’s return ArmageddonDECEPTION:

Abandoned in 1995w1995-11-01 p.16-21 A “Time to Keep Awake”

- Interpretation changed 6 times

- today would be over 100 years old!



Chronology

3. 144’000 - Sealing and Death of Saints

33 A.D. ->---------------------------------->1935 >------------->-1975 ->---------> ? Armageddon

Pentecost Sealing of 144’000 � Death & Rapture

# 120 5000 52’465 10’550 11’824

DECEPTION:

Abandoned in 2007w2007-05-01 p.31

- Age of last 1935 ‘sealed’ (Anointed) Saints in 2011 over 95 years old!

- Number ‘Anointed’ increase instead of decrease 1994=8’617 2011=11’824



4. “Sign of the end”

– war, food shortages, earthquakes, man’s behavior …

(Matthew 24:7) 7 “For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom,

and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another.

(2 Timothy 3:1-5) . . . in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here.

2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty,

blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, 3 having no natural

affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without

love of goodness, 4 betrayers, headstrong, puffed up [with pride], lovers of pleasures

rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its

power.

DECEPTION:

Only sign left !!!

- Common and ordinary for human beings since the age of time

1975 – Impact of Failure

– On the Watchtower’s Organization

– On individual members



On the Watchtower’s Organization


1975 – Impact On the Watchtower’s Organization

Rate of increase in % in number of publishers


Annual average increase in %

1970->1975 + 9.5% peak point + 13.5% in 1974

1975->1980 + 1.1% low point - 1.4% in 1978

10.2

9.1

5.7

3.8

13.5

9.7

3.7

-1.0-1.4

0.5

3.7

-4.0

-2.0

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

16.0

1970 1975 1980

JW % growth rate p.a. 1970-1980

Rate of increase in % in number of publishers


Annual average increase in %

1940->1975 + 10.8% peak point + 38.45% in 1940

1975->2011 + 3.5% low point - 18.4% in 1945

-30.0

-20.0

-10.0

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2011

% increase

JW % growth rate p.a. 1940-2011


On individual members


1975 – Impact On individual members


- Sold house & property

- Left their rewarding job

- Gave up education

- Built-up food stock

- Postponed dating / marriage

- Postponed having kids

- Took on debts

- Gave-up medical treatments / operations

1966

How members are indoctrinated


How members are indoctrinated

Mind control techniques to recruit & retain

Between the many techniques:

• The power of an illustration, image, picture

• The overwhelming number of articles

• The weight of words

Ending up in:

- Absolute loyalty to the Organization

- Blind belief and commitment


The power of an illustration


Armageddon according to Jehovah’s Witnesses

1975 – just an opinion?

The Watchtower (16)

October 15, 1966, pp. 627-631; x 10

January 1, 1967, pp. 28-29;

February 1, 1967, pp. 73-79;

April 15, 1967, pp. 229-237;

May 1, 1967, pp. 259-262;

July 15, 1967, pp. 444-447;

April 15, 1968, pp. 227-230;

May 1, 1968, pp. 270-277;

August 15, 1968, pp. 488-494;

August 15, 1968, pp. 494-501; x 10

December 15, 1968, pp. 750-756;

February 1, 1969, pp. 68-71;

July 15, 1969, pp. 425-431;

September 1, 1969, pp. 517-524;

October 1, 1969, pp. 592-598;

October 15, 1969, pp. 612-625;

Awake! (14)

October 8, 1966, pp. 17-20;

November 8, 1966, p. 26;

January 22, 1967, p. 26;

September 8, 1967, p. 29;

January 8, 1968, p. 19;

February 22, 1968, p. 31;

July 22, 1968, p. 30;

September 22, 1968, p. 29;

October 8, 1968, pp. 13-16 x 10

January 22, 1969, p. 15;

January 22, 1970, p. 6;

December 22, 1970, p. 10;

July 8, 1971, p. 7;

October 8, 1971, pp. 7, 27-28;


Books, brochures (7)

- Life Everlasting - In Freedom of the Sons of God 1966, pp. 26-30, 35, 357;

- The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life 1968, pp. 9, 88-89;

- Is the Bible Really the Word of God? 1969, p. 125;

- Aid to Bible Understanding 1971, p. 1100;

- Paradise Restored to Mankind - By Theocracy! 1972, p. 282;

- God‘s Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached 1973, pp. 14, 44;

- 1975 Yearbook of Jehovah‘s Witnesses, pp. 240, 256.

The Watchtower (16)

February 15, 1970, pp. 117-120;

May 1, 1970, pp. 265-271;

May 1, 1970, pp. 271-277;

September 1, 1970, p. 539;

September 15, 1971 pp. 559-564;

October 15, 1971, pp. 612-625;

December 15, 1973, pp. 739-742;

January 1, 1974, pp. 5-8;

April 1, 1974, pp. 195-197;

June 15, 1974, pp. 375-380;

July 1, 1974, pp. 397-400;

October 15, 1974, pp. 632-639;

December 15, 1974, pp. 759-766;

March 15, 1975, pp. 183-189;

May 1, 1975, p. 285;

July 15, 1975, p. 445

Awake! (13)

October 8, 1971, pp. 7, 27-28;

April 8, 1972, p. 16;

July 22, 1972, p. 12;

October 22, 1972, pp. 9-12;

June 22, 1973, pp. 3-6;

July 8, 1973, p. 29;

September 22, 1973, p. 29;

October 8, 1973, p. 5;

October 8, 1974, pp. 18-22;

November 8, 1974, p. 10;

December 22, 1974, p. 29;

February 22, 1975, p. 29; April 22, 1975, p. 29.

The overwhelming number of articles -> 66 !

1975 – The weight of words


*** km 5/74 pp. 3-6 How Are You Using Your Life? *** - excerpts

This is something for all of us to give serious thought to: It would be entirely

inappropriate for us, while professing to be Jehovah’s people, to try to live our lives

with regard to ourselves only. As the apostle Paul wrote: “You do not belong to

yourselves, …

Are we not thankful that Jehovah God has purchased us … with the life of his own

dear Son … Does it not cause you to want to show Jehovah your deep

appreciation? … Are there ways in which you could share more fully in doing the

will of God?

Jehovah makes clear … that his will for us [is to] accomplish … a great work … we

have such a short time left now in which to complete the Kingdom-preaching …

Yes, the end of this system is so very near! Is that not reason to increase our

activity?

By carefully and prayerfully examining our own circumstances, we also may find

that we can spend more time and energy in preaching during this final period

before the present system ends. Many of our brothers and sisters are doing just

that.

1975 – The weight of words


Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and

planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the

pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time

remaining before the wicked world’s end.

… pioneer ranks include many who have health limitations, as well as

some persons with families … do not be too quick to dismiss the

possibility that you, too, may be able to pioneer. Give it careful and

prayerful consideration. …an analysis will reveal that your life is

encumbered with needless weights

ask yourself: How am I using my life? Can I make adjustments that will

enable me to pioneer? If I can, will failure to do so indicate to Jehovah

that I am living to satisfy personal desires, rather than to do His will?

So do not delay in giving serious consideration to this matter of how

you are using your life.

*** km 5/74 pp. 3-6 How Are You Using Your Life? *** - excerpts

The weight of words

• Km 1974-05 “How Are You Using Your Life?”

• Personal experiences:

– Mimma: 35 years after

– Silvano: how he ruined his life


How about today?


What about today?

Have they changed their message or

their mind control techniques?

What are their last prophecies and

current expectations?


What about today?

Their today’s message


JW – Has their message changed?


- w1989 9/1 p. 19 §7 “Remaining Organized for Survival Into the

Millennium”

“Only Jehovah’s Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the

‘great crowd’, as a united organization under the protection of the

Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural hope of surviving the

impending end of this doomed system dominated by Satan the Devil”.

- w2006 5/15 p. 22 §8 “Are You Prepared for Survival?”

“During … Flood, Noah was a faithful ‘preacher of righteousness.’

(2 Peter 2:5) In these last days … Jehovah’s people are making known …

good news about the possibility of surviving into the new world.

(2 Peter 3:9-13) Just as Noah … preserved in the ark, survival of

individuals today depends on their faith and their loyal association

with the earthly part of Jehovah’s universal organization.”

Read: “baptized and active (preacher) Jehovah’s Witness”

What about today?

Their today’s mind control techniques


Continued Indoctrination• 2012-02-01 “The truth about Armageddon”

• 2012-02-01 “When will the war of Armageddon come”

Weekly WT congregation study 2012

• 2012-01-15 “Learn Watchfulness from Jesus’ apostles”

• 2012-02-15 “Imitate Jesus’s example of Watchfulness”

• 2012-03-15 “Maintain your sense of urgency”

• 2012-03-15 “Do not look at ‘the things behind’”

• 2012-04-15 “Jehovah safeguards us for salvation”

• 2012-05-15 “Trust in Jehovah; the God of ‘Times & Seasons’”

• 2012-06-15 “Jehovah reveals what ‘must shortly take place’”

• 2012-07-15 “Let Jehovah lead you to True Freedom”

• 2012-09-15 “How this World will come to an End”

• 2012-09-15 “Peace for a thousand years – and beyond”

• 2012-10-15 “Obey God and benefit from his Sworn Promises”


The overwhelming number of articles

Youngster’s indoctrination


Rejoicing in our hope

“The Watchtower” March 15 – page 24

Note: Family head studying with children the Noetic illustration of the End of one World and its

application to the current days, as taught by Jesus. Drawing Parallels!

Keep the hope alive in your family

What about today?

Their last prophecies and current

expectations


Today’s expectations

Start of the Millennium

• Chronology – End of 6000 years of existence

• Chronology – Length of “The Generation”

• Chronology – Sealing & death of Saints

• “Sign of the End”


What do JW expect to happen today?


Satan will maneuver both governmental and military agencies into an all-out assault on those

who worship Jehovah God.

The scale of the attack will be global. The response from Jehovah God will be of a magnitude

greater than any action that he has taken in the past.

- w 2012-02-01 p.7 “The truth about Armageddon”

“How this world will come to an End” - w 2012-09-15 p.4

JW and the end of the world – 2034?*** w03 12/15 p. 15 Our Watchfulness Takes On Greater Urgency ***

“Warned of ‘Things Not Yet Beheld’”

6 In Noah’s day, Jehovah declared: “My spirit shall not act toward man indefinitely in that he is also flesh. Accordingly his days shall amount to a hundred and twenty years.” (Genesis 6:3) The issuance of this divine decree in 2490 B.C.E. marked the beginning of the end for that ungodly world. Just think what that meant for those then

living! Only 120 years more and Jehovah would bring “the deluge of waters upon

the earth to bring to ruin all flesh in which the force of life is active from under the heavens.”—Genesis 6:17.

7 Noah received the warning of the upcoming catastrophe decades in advance, and he wisely used the time to prepare for survival. “After being given divine warning of things not yet beheld,” says the apostle Paul, “[Noah] showed godly fear and constructed an ark for the saving of his household.” (Hebrews 11:7) What about us?

Some 90 years have passed since the last days of this system of things

began in 1914. We are certainly in “the time of the end.” (Daniel 12:4) How should

we respond to warnings we have been given? “He that does the will of God remains forever,” states the Bible. (1 John 2:17) Now is therefore the time to do Jehovah’s will with a keen sense of urgency.””


1914 2034>120 years

>

JW and the end of the world – 2034?

120 YearsB.C.

2490 >-------------------------------------------------------> 2610

Noetic decree Flood

A.D.

1914 >-------------------------------------------------------> 2034

Christ’s parousia Armageddon(?)


The end is yet to come

Don’t worry !


Jehovah’s Witnesses & the end of the world


Armageddon is still around the corner

Thank you!

THE END

Of the speech … not the world!




Publishers

Year publ. % increase

p.a. 5 years 36 years

1970 1 384 782 10.2%

1971 1 510 245 9.1%

1972 1 596 442 5.7%

1973 1 656 673 3.8%

1974 1 880 713 13.5%

1975 2 062 449 9.7% 9.8%

1976 2 138 537 3.7%

1977 2 117 194 -1.0%

1978 2 086 698 -1.4%

1979 2 097 070 0.5%

1980 2 175 403 3.7% 1.1%

1939->1975 47 143 11.1%

1975->2011 7 395 672 3.5%



Newly Baptized ratio to Publishers & hours

Year publ. Baptized ratio Hours ratio

1970 1 384 782 164 193 11.9 267 581 120 1 630

1971 1 510 245 149 808 9.9 291 952 375 1 949

1972 1 596 442 163 123 10.2 291 894 945 1 789

1973 1 656 673 193 990 11.7 300 468 676 1 549

1974 1 880 713 297 872 15.8 371 132 570 1 246

1975 2 062 449 295 073 14.3 382 296 208 1 296

1976 2 138 537 196 656 9.2 359 258 019 1 827

1977 2 117 194 124 459 5.9 321 424 305 2 583

1978 2 086 698 95 052 4.6 307 272 262 3 233

1979 2 097 070 113 672 5.4 318 974 347 2 806

1980 2 175 403 113 779 5.2 339 427 608 2 983

1990 3 846 311 301 518 7.8 895 229 424 2 969

2011 7 395 672 263 131 3.6 1 707 094 710 6 488



1. Chronology

Creation days (7000 years each)

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th

|_______ |_______ |_______ |_______ |_______ |_______ |_______ |

7th day – Millennium

4026 B.C. ---------------�1914 AD------�1975 AD---------------------� 2975 AD

Adam Christ’s return end 6th millennium end 7th day

(Adam would have lived 37 years before God realized … he needed a woman … Eve!)

silently abandoned since

2. Within a Generation

The 1914 would have seen the end. 1914->1994. Interpretation changed 6 times –

abandoned in 1995 (today they would have been 100-120 years old)

3. Rapture of the Holly ones

Sealing of 144’000 ->1935: 1975 ~60 - abandoned in 2007 - Watchtower May 1 2007

p.31 (today they would have been 110 years old)

4. “Sign of the end”Mt.24; Luc 21; Marc 13 – war, food shortages, earthquakes … Only one left

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