Closed Ano “ang wakas”? “. . . at kung magkagayon ay darating ang wakas.”—mateo 24:14.

[Gentleman007]

WARING wala nang katapusan ang usap-usapan tungkol sa katapusan ng mundo. Ginagawa pa nga itong katatawanan at paksa sa siyensiya sa mga aklat, pelikula, at magasin. Nariyan ang pagkalipol dahil sa digmaang nuklear, pagbangga ng asteroid, nakamamatay na mga virus, di-makontrol na pagbabago ng klima, o pagsalakay ng mga taga-ibang planeta.

Iba-iba rin ang pananaw ng mga relihiyon. Itinuturo ng marami na “ang wakas” ang katapusan ng lahat ng buhay sa lupa. Bilang komento sa You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., ganito ang nakatatakot na sinabi ng isang teologo: “Ang tekstong ito ang isa sa pinakaimportanteng talata sa Salita ng Diyos . . . Ang ating henerasyon ay napapaharap sa isang potensiyal at lubusang pagkalipol na ayaw man lamang isipin ng karamihan sa atin.”

Sa gayong mga pananaw, karaniwan nang nakakaligtaan ang isang mahalagang bagay: ‘Matibay na itinatag’ ng Diyos na Jehova ang lupa; ‘hindi niya ito nilalang na walang kabuluhan, kundi inanyuan ito upang tahanan.’ (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) Kaya nang banggitin ni Jesus “ang wakas,” hindi niya sinasabing gugunawin ang lupa ni lilipulin man ang mga tao. Ang ibig niyang sabihin, ang masasama—yaong tumatangging mamuhay ayon sa maibiging patnubay ni Jehova—ay pupuksain.

Isaalang-alang ang isang ilustrasyon. Ipagpalagay nang mayroon kang isang magandang bahay at may pinatira ka rito nang walang bayad. Ang ilan sa kanila ay mapayapang naninirahan doon at iniingatan ang iyong bahay. Pero ang iba ay magulo, nag-aaway, at pineperwisyo nila ang mababait na naninirahan. Sinisira nila ang pag-aari mo at matitigas ang ulo.

Ano ang gagawin mo? Gigibain mo ba ang iyong bahay? Tiyak na hindi. Malamang na paaalisin mo ang masasamang naninirahan dito at kukumpunihin ang mga nasira.

Ganiyan din ang gagawin ni Jehova. Ginabayan niya ng kaniyang espiritu ang salmista na isulat: “Ang mga manggagawa ng kasamaan ay lilipulin, ngunit yaong mga umaasa kay Jehova ang siyang magmamay-ari ng lupa. At kaunting panahon na lamang, at ang balakyot ay mawawala na; at pagtutuunan mo nga ng pansin ang kaniyang dako, at siya ay mawawala na. Ngunit ang maaamo ang magmamay-ari ng lupa, at makasusumpong nga sila ng masidhing kaluguran sa kasaganaan ng kapayapaan.”—You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now..

Binanggit din iyan ni apostol Pedro. Sa patnubay ng espiritu ng Diyos, isinulat niya: “May mga langit mula noong sinauna at isang lupa na nakatayong matatag mula sa tubig at sa gitna ng tubig sa pamamagitan ng salita ng Diyos, at sa pamamagitan ng mga iyon ang sanlibutan ng panahong iyon ay dumanas ng pagkapuksa nang apawan ito ng tubig.” (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) Tinutukoy rito ng apostol ang Baha noong panahon ni Noe. Ang mga taong di-makadiyos ay napuksa, ngunit ang lupa ay hindi nawasak. Ang pangglobong Delubyong iyon ay nagsisilbing “isang parisan para sa mga taong di-makadiyos tungkol sa mga bagay na darating.”—You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now..

Idinagdag pa ni Pedro: “Ang mga langit at ang lupa sa ngayon ay nakalaan sa apoy.” Ibig bang sabihin niyan ay magugunaw ang lupa? Pansinin ang pagpapatuloy ng talata: “At ng pagkapuksa ng mga taong di-makadiyos.” Ang pupuksain ay ang mga taong di-makadiyos, hindi ang lupa. Ano ang kasunod? Isinulat ni Pedro: “May mga bagong langit [ang Mesiyanikong Kaharian ng Diyos] at isang bagong lupa [isang matuwid na lipunan ng mga tao] na ating hinihintay ayon sa kaniyang pangako, at sa mga ito ay tatahan ang katuwiran.”—You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now..

Ipinakikita rin ng hula ng Bibliya na “ang wakas” ay malapit na. Basahin ang You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. at You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. upang makita ang mga bahagi ng hula na nagpapatunay na ito ay totoo.You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.

Hindi ba kakatwa na marami ang nalilito tungkol sa You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., isang talata na mauunawaan kahit ng isang bata? May dahilan ito. Binulag ni Satanas ang mga tao sa mahahalagang katotohanang nasa Salita ng Diyos. (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) Gayundin, hindi ipinaalam ng Diyos ang kaniyang layunin sa mga palalo kundi isiniwalat niya ito sa mga mapagpakumbaba. Kaya sinabi ni Jesus: “Hayagan kitang pinupuri, Ama, Panginoon ng langit at lupa, sapagkat itinago mo ang mga bagay na ito mula sa marurunong at matatalino at isiniwalat ang mga ito sa mga sanggol.” (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) Isa ngang karangalang mapabilang sa mga mapagpakumbaba na nakauunawa kung ano nga ba ang Kaharian ng Diyos at makaaasa sa mga pagpapalang dadalhin nito sa lahat ng sumusuporta rito!

 

[PHC-tricks]

Amen

 

[nakatartaraki]

1914 – Jehovah’s Witnesses have now stopped predicting exact dates for the end of the world after a string of high-profile failures. Charles Taze Russell, who founded the Watch Tower magazine, calculated that Jesus Christ would impose his rule on earth in 1914. The outbreak of the First World War seemed to lend support to his Armageddon prediction, but there was no Second Coming.

You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.

 

[CutedoC]

We should just trust and the Lord and live our life like it is our last day. Embracing the molding character of God.

However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. Matthew 24:36.

But yes we are in the last days. Pero no one really can predict the exact day or date .
But i believe before the last days. One world religion will come. Pag hindi ka umanib sa kanila you will be persucted. But God promised redemption for the faithful people of the Lord

 

[Gentleman007]

1914 – Jehovah’s Witnesses have now stopped predicting exact dates for the end of the world after a string of high-profile failures. Charles Taze Russell, who founded the Watch Tower magazine, calculated that Jesus Christ would impose his rule on earth in 1914. The outbreak of the First World War seemed to lend support to his Armageddon prediction, but there was no Second Coming.

You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.

Dates (1914; 1975)

It appears that some anti-Witness writers (especially the apostate ones) like to use such information as "proof" that the Watch Tower Organization is a "false prophet." Most often they concentrate on dates such as 1914 and 1975 which haven't had the fulfillment that was originally expected for them. Then they find one of the extremely rare instances where the Watch Tower Society apparently calls itself a "prophet" in some sense (such as one particular 1972 WT article) and then conclude that the Organization claims to be a Prophet, but its predictions fail to come true. Therefore, they reason, the WT Organization must be a False Prophet as defined in the Bible and must be strongly resisted by honest-hearted Christians. (See the PROPHETstudy paper)

At no time did Russell, Rutherford, or the WT organization claim to be an inspired prophet with the gift of inspired prediction like some of those mentioned in the Bible. In fact, Russell himself taught that the miraculous gifts of the Spirit (which includeinspired prediction) ceased long before the beginning of the 3rd century! - WT, Sept. 15, 1911.

Russell himself taught this understanding of prophets: "There were a number of prophets (public orators) and teachers in the [early] church."

He continues,

"We see a distinction drawn in our lesson between prophets and teachers. The Greek word rendered `prophet' signifies a `forth-teller.' Itmight be understood to mean one who tells in advance, or foretells, or prophesies coming events; but in its general use in the New Testament the word seems to indicate one who tells forth, in the sense of proclaiming, giving public utterence to, or standing up before the people in declaration of the Lord's Message. The distinction between prophets and teachers, as here used, seems to be that the former were persons of natural talent and ability for teaching the truth in a public manner, in orderly discourse, etc., while the teachers would be those possessing talent as instructors, but not necessarily in a public, or oratorical manner; comparatively few have the qualifications for public speaking [prophets] .... some others, who have not ability as public discoursers, have talent for presenting the truth in a less public manner, as in Bible studies, etc. [teachers]." - p. 3005, May 1, 1902 WT.

Again, in the June 15, 1909 WT, Russell writes:

"We are not to despise prophecies, but to respect them and to heed them. But this is not what the Apostle refers to [1 Thess. 5:20]. By the word `prophesying' he meant teaching, public utterance. Do not despise what anyone may publicly utter as a child of God in the church of Christ....
"Nevertheless prove all things and hold fast to that which is good - that which stands the test. Because a brother is sincere, in earnest, does not prove that he is right in his Scriptural expositions .... Even if you cannot accept his proposition, the study of the subject, the searching of the Scriptures in the proving may be of lasting benefit to yourself, establishing you more than ever in the truth. But let us be sure that we hold fast to the good." - p. 4419.

So, by understanding what Russell (and Rutherford, et. al.) meant by the term "prophet" and that they certainly never considered themselves as inspired predicters of the future but merely imperfect, fallible men, we can see how their detractors twist their statements to make them appear to be "false prophets" in the Old Testament sense.

Russell wrote on pp. 5367, 5368 of the 15 Dec. 1913 WT (republished from an October 1, 1907 article):

"A dear Brother inquires, Can we feel absolutely sure that the Chronology set forth in the Dawn-Studies is correct? - That the harvest began in 1874 and will end in A.D. 1914....?"

"We answer," Russell continues, "as we have frequently done before in theDawns and Towers and orally and by letter, that we have never claimed that they were knowledge, nor based upon indisputable evidence, facts, knowledge; our claim has always been that they are based on faith. We have set forth the evidence as plainly as possible and stated the conclusions of faith we draw from them....

"Many have examined these evidences and have accepted them; others equally bright do not endorse them....

"We neither urge nor insist upon our views as infallible, nor do we smite or abuse those who disagree; but regard as `brethren' all sanctified believers in the precious blood.

"On the contrary, it is those who differ who smite us and speak evil of us .... They are our critics who always claim the infallibility. We go humbly onward following the Apostle's example and words, `We believe and therefore speak,' whether others hear or forbear to hear. Is not this in accord with the Spirit of Christ? ....

"But some of those who come to a trifling point on which they disagree seem to imagine that the entire harvest work must be overthrown, or at least stopped, until they get their little jot or tittle satisfactorily adjusted." - p. 5367.

"But let us suppose a case far from our expectations: Suppose that A.D. 1915 should pass with the world's affairs all serene and with evidence that the `very elect' had not all been `changed' .... What then? Would that not prove our chronology wrong? Yes, surely! .... one of the strings of our `harp' would be quite broken!

"However, dear friends, our harp would still have all the other stringsin tune and that is what no other aggregation of God's people on earth could boast. ....

"If, therefore, dearly beloved, it should turn that our chronology is allwrong, we may conclude that with it we have had much advantage everyway. If the attainment of our glorious hopes and present joys in the Lord should cost us such disappointment as our friends fear, we should rejoice and count it cheap!" - p. 5368.

And in the Jan. 1 1911 WT, Russell wrote:

"Suppose that our chronological calculations (never set forth as infallible) should prove to be fallible and in error. Our conclusion would merely be that the error could not be very great ....

"If, then, it should prove eventually that the crisis of earthly government will not be reached by the end of 1914, should we not be very faithful anyway, and remember that had it not been for that alarm clock which helped awaken us from the worldly stupor, we might not have been sufficiently awake to appreciate and enjoy the wonderful spiritual blessings which daily crown our lives?" - p. 4743
.
And in the Oct. 15, 1913 WT, Russell wrote:

"We wish still, however, to reiterate what we have said from the first respecting the date of the close of the Times of the Gentiles; namely, that the calculations as we presented them in Vol. II, Studies in the Scriptures, are the truth to the best of our knowledge and belief. Nevertheless, there is enough uncertainty about the matter of chronology to make it a matter of faith rather than of positive knowledge. We remind our readers that our consecration to the Lord is not to October, 1914, nor to any other time except that mentioned by the Savior - `Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.' - Rev. 2:10." - p. 5336.

Attempting to determine dates of future scriptural events in order to encourage fellow Christians was important to Russell (and Rutherford). If they did it honestly and publicly (which they did), it was a part ofprophesying (in the sense of speaking out publicly), but it was obviously never considered as (nor promoted as) infallible inspiredprediction! Nor was it considered to be an essential element of the essential work of a modern Christian "prophet." When it comes to proclaiming the truth of essential Bible doctrines, "where else is there to go?"

 

[Gentleman007]

Why have there been changes over the years in the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses?

Since the beginning, the Watchtower Society has NEVER claimed to be an inspired prophet of God:

"We have not the gift of prophecy." - Watchtower, January 1883, page 425

Nor to be infallible:

"Nor would we have our writings reverenced or regarded as infallible." - Watchtower, December 15, 1896, page 306

Even the prophets who were divinely inspired to write portions of the Bible did not understand the meaning of everything that they wrote. (Dan. 12:8, 9; 1 Pet. 1:10-12) Even the apostles of Jesus Christ realized that there was much they did not understand in their time. (Acts 1:6, 7; 1 Cor. 13:9-12)

The Bible has shown that Jehovah enables his servants to understand his purpose in a progressive manner. (Prov. 4:18; John 16:12) The Bible shows that there would be a great increase in knowledge of the truth during "the time of the end." (Dan. 12:4) Increased knowledge often requires adjustments in one's thinking. Jehovah's Witnesses are humbly willing to make such adjustments.