Is Armageddon Near?

Wayne Jackson wrote this article which appeared in the November, 1980 Christian Courier. The paper was published by the East Main Street Church of Christ in Stockton, California and was edited by Jackson. Even though Jackson references some dated material, the thrust of the article is obviously as true now as when it was written.

The cover of the October 15, 1980 edition of The Watchtower magazine dramatically asks the question, "Are we nearing Armageddon?" A feature article by the same title (pp. 11ff) answers affirmatively. It is certainly no surprise that mis-named "Jehovah's Witnesses" are again announcing the imminent destruction of this present world order. They have been doing this for the better part of this entire century and never learning from their date setting blunders of the past, one supposes they must feel that the calculations they are continually concocting will eventually prove correct.

Prior to 1975, it was widely taught among the Witnesses that THAT year would usher in the end and when such never materialized, thousands forsook the movement. As a cult that thrives on "prophetic" hysteria however, the Watchtower organization continues to capitalize upon chaotic world conditions and so, frightened, ignorant people are easy prey for their error.

Two portions of Scripture are heavily relied upon as proof-texts that Armageddon is near. The first concerns the Lord's warning in the early part of Matthew 24. In 24:5ff, Christ gave certain "signs" that would herald an impending destruction of Jerusalem. He plainly declared that, "this generation shall not pass away, till all these things be accomplished" (v. 34). But a most unusual twist is given to the expression "this generation" by the Witnesses. They contend, "It is the generation of people who saw the catastrophic events that broke forth in connection with World War I from 1914 onward" (Ibid, p. 31).

The careful Bible student will note that just before the Olivet discourse of Matthew 24 (that same day), Christ announced that a great punishment was to visited upon, "this generation" (23:36). Now Watchtower literature acknowledges that this passage refers to the 1st century destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans! (Aid to Bible Understanding, 1971, p. 642). My question is this: by what rule of Biblical interpretation does the expression, "this generation" (Matthew 23:36) refer to the first century while the same, "this generation" of 24:36 allegedly alludes to this century?!

Another passage which the Witnesses pervert in an attempt to establish their Armageddon theory is Second Timothy 3:1-5. There, Paul catalogues a list of grievous conditions that will be characteristic of, "the last days." The Watchtower cult is fond of quoting news items regarding current events, suggesting that these fulfill Paul's prophecy exactly; hence, the end of the present world order is at hand.

But note very carefully the apostle's admonition in Second Timothy 3:5. After listing the ungodly traits of, "the last days," he warns, "from these also turn away." Turn away translates the Greek word apotrepou, a present tense, middle voice form. It reveals that Timothy at that very time is to turn away from ungodly men of the aforementioned character. Even the Watchtower's Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures acknowledged the force of this by rendering the final three words of the Greek as, "and these be turning yourself away from." The passage thus describes the conduct of certain rebellious individuals throughout the Christian age, from the day of Pentecost, the commencement of the "last days" (Acts 2:16-17) onward. This context is not even remotely related to a time indicator pointing to Armageddon.

There are absolutely no Biblical signs to indicated when the end of time will occur. The Lord plainly taught that the time of His coming would be unexpected (Matthew 24:42-43). As for Armageddon, it is mentioned but once in Scripture, Revelation 16:16. It is a spiritual conflict, not carnal. Christians must be prepared to refute this false teaching.