Peace and Security, Great Tribulation, Armageddon

[Ysaias]

Oh, Daniel! If you had had the JWTalk forum back in your day... would you have been more or less anxious?

 

Daniel 12:

4 “As for you, Daniel, keep the words secret, and seal up the book until the time of the end.+ Many will rove about,* and the true knowledge will become abundant.”+

 

8 Now as for me, I heard, but I could not understand;+ so I said: “O my lord, what will be the outcome of these things?” 9 Then he said: “Go, Daniel, because the words are to be kept secret and sealed up until the time of the end.+ 10 Many will cleanse themselves and whiten themselves and will be refined.+ And the wicked ones will act wickedly, and none of the wicked will understand; but those having insight will understand.+

[Ric]

It is worth remembering some recent new understandings.

 

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12 Even after the great tribulation starts, it is possible that some who see the destruction of “Babylon the Great” will recall that Jehovah’s Witnesses had long spoken of this event. Might some who see these events have a change of heart?—Rev. 17:5; Ezek. 33:33.

13 Such an outcome would be similar to what occurred in Egypt in Moses’ day. Recall that “a vast mixed company” joined Israel in the Exodus. Some of these individuals may have started to develop faith when they saw that Moses’ warnings about the Ten Plagues came 

 

true. (Ex. 12:38) If a similar development should occur following the destruction of Babylon the Great, would we be disappointed that people were able to join us shortly before the end comes? Of course not! We want to reflect the personality of our heavenly Father, “a God merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and abundant in loyal love and truth.”

 —Ex. 34:6.

https://www.jw.org/en/library/magazines/watchtower-study-may-2024/What-Do-We-Know-About-Jehovahs-Future-Judgments/#:~:text=12%20Even%20after,34%3A6.

 

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15 It is also reasonable to conclude that a person’s eternal future does not depend on where he happens to live. It is unthinkable that Jehovah would automatically label as “goats” millions of people who live in lands where they never had an opportunity to respond to the  

Kingdom message. (Matt. 25:46) The righteous Judge of all the earth cares even more about these individuals than we ever could. We do not know how Jehovah will maneuver events during the great tribulation. Perhaps some of these people will have an opportunity to learn about Jehovah, put faith in him, and take their stand on Jehovah’s side when he sanctifies himself before all nations.—Ezek. 38:16.

After the great tribulation starts, . . . might some who see these events have a change of heart?

https://www.jw.org/en/library/magazines/watchtower-study-may-2024/What-Do-We-Know-About-Jehovahs-Future-Judgments/#:~:text=15%20It%20is,change%20of%20heart%3F

 

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Previously, we understood that we would stop preaching the good news when the great tribulation began with the destruction of Babylon the Great. (Rev. 17:3, 5, 15, 16) This event, we believed, would mark the end of the figurative “year of Jehovah’s goodwill.” (Isa. 61:2) We also felt that those who would survive the great tribulation would prove their devotion to Jehovah before that event. We compared them to the Jews who survived the destruction of Jerusalem in 607 B.C.E. These individuals had been marked for survival earlier because they worshipped Jehovah and hated wickedness. (Ezek. 5:11; 9:4) That comparison, however, does not harmonize with Jesus’ words found at Matthew 24:14, which indicate that people may have the opportunity to respond to the good news until just before the final end at Armageddon.

https://www.jw.org/finder?wtlocale=T&docid=2025527&par=4&srcid=share

 

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Note, too, that the symbolic hailstorm will be “unusually great.” This suggests that during the great tribulation, the preaching work may become more hard-hitting, that is, Jehovah’s name will be made known as never before. (Ezek. 39:7) At that late point in time, after the destruction of Babylon the Great, will some be drawn to the message as to a sweet fragrance? This is quite possible. Perhaps they may recall or learn that for many years Jehovah’s Witnesses had announced the end of false religion.

https://www.jw.org/en/library/magazines/watchtower-study-august-2025/questions-from-readers/#p6

 

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12 Our clear understanding of Jehovah’s mercy can help us to remain hopeful. When false religion comes to an end, our relatives may recall that we had told them about this event.

 (Rev. 17:16) They may even join us in pure worship after the great tribulation starts. And if our relatives are facing hard times now, we will certainly do all we can to be there for them. Perhaps they will be more receptive to Bible truths as they see that our love and kindness are genuine.

https://www.jw.org/finder?wtlocale=E&docid=2026281&par=21&srcid=share

 

How long will the great tribulation last?

 

From what we read in the Bible and in the publications of the faithful and discreet slave, it seems reasonable to believe that it will not last many years.

 

If it is years, it seems that it will be few years. How many? Less than 10? Seven years? Three and a half years? Two years, one year? A few months? In fact, it is not easy to predict.

 

But, the closer we get to that period, the more the light becomes clearer and it becomes easier to discern how long the phases of the great tribulation will last.

 

Before the recent understandings, we may have imagined that with the proclamation of peace and security occurring first, the sudden destruction of Babylon the Great and Satan's entire system would happen very soon after, perhaps almost instantaneously. We thought that the preaching would stop and no one would have any more opportunity to take a stand for Jehovah.

 

But, after the adjustments, we realize that Jehovah still wants to save many lives. And we are amazed at Jehovah's patience and mercy.

 

To ensure ample opportunity is given and no one will question in the future that there was some flaw in the judgment process of the sheep and goats due to insufficient time for a favorable reaction to the judgment message, we cannot rule out the possibility that, after the destruction of Babylon the Great, this period may last longer than we previously imagined, perhaps even several years.

 

Obviously not many years or decades, since the prophecy says that “sudden and instantaneous” destruction will come soon after the proclamation of Peace and Security, but it seems reasonable to believe that Jehovah will allow sufficient time for Him to be recognized as a gracious and merciful God.

 

Currently, many study with us and even agree with our beliefs. But they are reluctant to attend our meetings for fear of displeasing family and friends and because, deep down, they have not fully understood the truth and are still attached to their form of worship.

 

But the scenario will be completely different after the destruction of false religions. The Bible shows that people returned to worshiping Jehovah when a good king destroyed the altars and idols of false worship.

 

Can you imagine when sincere people of traditional religions realize that there is only one active religion on Earth proclaiming a biblical message of judgment in a more intensified way than ever before? And when they realize that this organization had accurately predicted the time when the UN would receive all power and authority, that it would eliminate false religion, and that world leaders would think they were bringing a new era of peace and security to the Earth?

 

And beyond all this, we do not know what else Jehovah may do at that crucial time to testify beyond any doubt who his people on Earth truly are. After all, he does not want anyone to be destroyed.

 

Does it not seem reasonable to conclude that many who are now reluctant to take a stand for the truth and other sincere people may turn to true worship and decide to support Christ's brothers, thus qualifying to be part of the great crowd?