Our Day is growing closer

[Mozziekatz]

To my understanding this current world power won't rule longer than the previous world powers. With my calculations if it is correct the great day will be approaching very soon. I calculated that it won't be longer than 73 years as one of the previous world powers ruled for 200 years. Please correct me if I am wrong 

[Friend of Peace]

3 hours ago, Mozziekatz said:

I calculated that it won't be longer than 73 years as one of the previous world powers ruled for 200 years. Please correct me if I am wrong

It’s good to see you keeping on the watch in obedience to our master. I found this reasoning balanced: 

Watchtower Study Edition, June 2025,

Study Article 26: “Modestly Accept What You Do Not Know,”

paragraphs 5 and 6 —
 

“In view of what Jesus said, we do not know how long we will have to wait until the end comes. (Matthew 24:36) As a result, we might become impatient or discouraged, especially if we have already been waiting for some time for Jehovah’s day. Or we might find it hard to endure ridicule from family members or others. (2 Pet. 3:3, 4) It is possible to feel that if we knew the exact day that the end would come, we would be more patient and we would be able to endure ridicule more easily.

 

Actually, by not revealing the date for the end, Jehovah gives us the opportunity to show that we serve him because we love him and trust in him. We are not serving Jehovah with a deadline in mind, as if our faith in him had an expiration date. Instead of focusing primarily on when “the day of Jehovah” will come, we do well to focus on what that day will accomplish. In doing so, we continue to deepen our devotion to God and do all we can to please him.—2 Pet. 3:11, 12.”

 

 

https://www.jw.org/finder?wtlocale=E&docid=2025444&srcid=share

[LeolaRootStew]

We know we are in the time of the end because of fulfilled prophecies, not because of any personal calculations. That is a trap people have fallen into many times and it always ends in disappointment. No one knows the day or hour.

[Mozziekatz]

I know we dont know the day or hour I done my calculations based on the years one of the previous world powers ruled and the scripture states that this world power won't rule as long as those previous world powers

[Jwanon]

5 hours ago, Mozziekatz said:

To my understanding this current world power won't rule longer than the previous world powers. With my calculations if it is correct the great day will be approaching very soon. I calculated that it won't be longer than 73 years as one of the previous world powers ruled for 200 years. Please correct me if I am wrong 

 

Irenaeus, in his work Against Heresies (Book II, Chapter 28, Section 6), when discussing Jesus' statement in Mark 13:32 ("But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father"), has said:

“If, therefore, the Son was not ashamed to ascribe the knowledge of that day to the Father only, but rather declared what was truly the case... how much more should we feel shame who draw our conclusions from our own false notions, and make assertions respecting things so high and inscrutable to us?”
(Against Heresies, 2.28.6)

[carlos]

 

 

5 hours ago, Mozziekatz said:

I know we dont know the day or hour I done my calculations based on the years one of the previous world powers ruled and the scripture states that this world power won't rule as long as those previous world powers

 

Marcel, I understand your point but I don't think it fits the facts nor can be used to calculate any deadline. Please, have a look at Appendix B9 in the NWT:

 

 

Babylon became the head of the statue in 607 BCE when it destroyed Jerusalem, until 539 BCE when it was conquered by the Persians. That means the Babylonian world power lasted only 68 years.

 

The US and the UK, on the other hand, became the 7th power during World War I, between 1914 and 1918. That means it has already lasted between 107 and 111 years, almost double than the Babylonian power.

 

[grain of mustard]

On 6/27/2025 at 1:37 AM, Jwanon said:

 

Irineu , em sua obra Contra as Heresias ( Livro II, Capítulo 28, Seção 6 ), ao discutir a declaração de Jesus em Marcos 13:32 (" Mas daquela hora ou aquela hora ninguém sabe, nem os anjos do céu, nem o Filho, senão somente o Pai "), disse:

“Se, portanto, o Filho não se envergonhou de compreender o conhecimento só dia somente ao Pai, mas antes declarou o que era real o caso... quanto mais deveríamos sentir vergonha nós, que tiramos conclusões de nossas próprias noções falsas e fazemos afirmações a respeito de coisas tão elevadas e inescrutáveis para nós?”
( Contra as Heresias , 2.28.6)

Day and time is not date. For example: Today is 26.06.2025. If today they gogged the people of God. Would you have questions if Armageddon would come this year? The date of Armageddon will all know. But the day and time maybe? There is no way to know, just Jehovah. This is because day and time is not a date.
I know many will make a joke, I don't care, my conscience is quiet. I do not make a point by date, although I have my reasons to believe. Who can not see this I respect.

Edited Saturday at 12:04 AM by Dages

[Mozziekatz]

Thank you very much Carlos that was the information I was looking for . I was under the impression that this world power won't rule as long as the previous world powers I personally think that the end is very close because of all the prophecy's fulfilled and that the organisation requires us to have go bags and also due to the fact of  Jesus words regarding this Generation one brother in our congregation explained it clearly to me.

[Witness1970]

I don't think the years mean much.  Babylon destroyed Jerusalem in 607 BCE (which is shown in the picture), but Babylon conquered Assyria several years earlier.  Even before Babylon destroyed Jerusalem, Babylon was in control of Jerusalem.  The destruction of Jerusalem was significant, but Babylon was exerting its power earlier than that.

 

Medo-Persia conquered Babylon in 539 BCE but was not conquered by Greece until 321 BCE.  That period was 217 years.

 

The picture does not give a date for when Rome became the dominant world power.

 

England was a world power much earlier (even if they were not the dominant world power).  It is said that "the sun never set on the British Empire" because Britian had colonies all over the world, including the Americas, India, Africa, and Australia.  After the revolutionary war and the war of 1812, The US took the Americas and England kept their holdings in Europe, Asia, etc.  England is more like a colony of the US now.  

 

World War II was fought in Europe.  After the war the European countries had to rebuild, but the US was spared that expense.  The only battle that affected the American continent was Pearl Harbor.  While the European countries were rebuilding, the US was building their wealth.  The global currency had been the British pound but after WWII, it became the American dollar.

 

On the way up, the US spent money on educating people.  The educated populous made technological advances and made the US more powerful.  Today, China is spending money to educate their people, and the US is less willing to do that.

 

The American empire has been declining since the 70's.  The Chinese economy has been growing at 2 or 3 times the rate of the American economy.  If the trend continues the Chinese economy will overtake the American economy by about 2035. (That date may vary especially with what is going on right now.)  The US paid for things in the past with taxes.  No one wants to pay taxes.  If the US raises taxes people will be upset.  Rich people can spend large sums of money to remove a politician that dares raise taxes on them.  Therefore no one raises taxes on the rich.  So, the US has taken to borrowing money to pay expenses, thus the tremendous debt.  Japan and China are the two biggest creditors, but Japan and China are no longer willing to buy American bonds because the US has shown to be unreliable in paying back the debt.

 

The US has the largest economy in the world (25% of global GDP), but when you alienate the rest of the world it is hard to compete with all of them, the other 75% of the global GDP. 

 

The US is presently spending 9 (nine) times as much as its nearest competitor (China) on military.  How long will that last?  Who knows.  Can the US continue to spend huge sums on military as their economy continues to fall, and their debt continues to grow?  Other countries are unwilling to buy the US bonds, essentially loan money to the US.  It is much more fun for empires on the way up than it is when the empire is declining.  The Bible tells us that the Anglo/American empire will not completely fall before the end comes.  We don't know when the end will come but it seems to be very close.  

 

(Daniel 2:44) 44 “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. And this kingdom will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it alone will stand forever."  

 

(Luke 21:28) . . .But as these things start to occur, raise yourselves erect and lift YOUR heads up, because YOUR deliverance is getting near.”

[Shawnster]

20 hours ago, Mozziekatz said:

I know we dont know the day or hour I done my calculations based on the years one of the previous world powers ruled and the scripture states that this world power won't rule as long as those previous world powers

 

You're still calculating, though. Once the math comes out, we've begun a fools errand. 

 

Since there is nothing in the scriptures that discusses the length of time previous nations existed, this is a non factor. 

 

That being said, we understand based on Bible prophecy that there is not much time left.  Jesus said the last days would be seen by 1 generation, which indicates a limited time. Those keeping on the watch see clearly all the indicators that we are in the final part of the last days. 

 

But we still cannot calculate anything. Not the day, month, nor year. 

[dljbsp]

 

---

Please, let’s not lose sight of the most important truth in all of this: it’s Jehovah’s day — not ours (Joel 2:1; Zeph. 1:14). That changes everything. If it’s Jehovah’s day, then it’s also Jehovah’s timetable.

 

Are we meant to calculate what we’ve been clearly told we cannot know (Matthew 24:36)? Or are we meant to show faith by waiting — not with charts and timelines, but with obedience and trust?

 

Jesus never said, “When the numbers add up, you’ll know.” He said, “When these things start to occur, raise yourselves erect.” Why? Because your deliverance is getting near — not measurable (Luke 21:28).

 

What if the real test isn’t about understanding prophecy perfectly, but about trusting the One who fulfills it? What if we’re being invited to prove that we’ll keep serving, even without knowing how much longer?

 

Jehovah’s day will come — not a moment too soon, and not a second too late. The question is: will He find us waiting with faith, or waiting with a calculator?

[cme]

Isaac Newton made many private calculations.   (1) 19th - then the 20th/21st century but, he knew it would not come in his lifetime.

 

He said in one of his diaries "This I mention not to assert when the time of the end shall be, but to put a stop to the rash conjectures of fanciful men who are frequently predicting the time of the end and, by doing so bring the sacred prophecies into discredit as often as their predictions fail.  Christ comes as a thief in the night and it is not for us to know the times and seasons which God has put into his own breast".

 

He was a brilliant scientist and respected the bible with the utmost respect.  So, this is above our pay grade.  We know its close, very close and I guess we should be content just with that.

[Qapla]

"Now as for the times and the seasons, brothers, you need nothing to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know very well that Jehovah’s day is coming exactly as a thief in the night. 3 Whenever it is that they are saying, “Peace and security!” then sudden destruction is to be instantly on them, just like birth pains on a pregnant woman, and they will by no means escape. 4 But you, brothers, you are not in darkness, so that the day should overtake you as it would thieves, 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We belong neither to night nor to darkness"  (1 Thessalonians 5:1-5)

 

We know that people give birth 9 months after conception. A doctor may or may not know the day conception took place. Either way, he can predict when the 9 months will end, and the baby be born. However, can a doctor, even if he knows the exact time conception took place, predict exactly when the baby will be born? The Day? The month? The time of day?

 

NO!

 

Labor happens when labor happens. When a family knows there is a baby coming, and they are given a "due date", they usually begin right away getting a place prepared for the new baby. As the time get close, they may even gather supplies to care for a newborn and making sure they are ready. Sometimes a baby is born well before the "due date" and sometimes well after. There is just no way to know the exact date ahead of time. Even when the birth pains start, how long labor will take is still a question. Some mothers deliver quite quickly while others take hours and hours. Of course, some will say, "If it is born by cesarean section the date can be know ahead of time." Approximately 10-14% of women scheduled for a cesarean section at 39 weeks will go into labor before their scheduled date. This means they will have an unscheduled, often emergency, cesarean delivery.

 

When it comes to birth pains, we don't know exactly when they will start, how long they will last or when they will end. There is no use trying to calculate when a baby will be born in advance ... we just need to be ready and have everything in place. The same holds true for the end of this system. We cannot calculate it - Jehovah told us we can't. We just need to be ready and have everything in place.

 

[carlos]

On 6/27/2025 at 1:04 PM, Witness1970 said:

I don't think the years mean much.  Babylon destroyed Jerusalem in 607 BCE (which is shown in the picture), but Babylon conquered Assyria several years earlier.  Even before Babylon destroyed Jerusalem, Babylon was in control of Jerusalem.  The destruction of Jerusalem was significant, but Babylon was exerting its power earlier than that.

 

Medo-Persia conquered Babylon in 539 BCE but was not conquered by Greece until 321 BCE.  That period was 217 years.

 

The picture does not give a date for when Rome became the dominant world power.

 

England was a world power much earlier (even if they were not the dominant world power).  It is said that "the sun never set on the British Empire" because Britian had colonies all over the world, including the Americas, India, Africa, and Australia.  After the revolutionary war and the war of 1812, The US took the Americas and England kept their holdings in Europe, Asia, etc.  England is more like a colony of the US now.  

 

Randall, the understanding by the Slave is that the image is about world powers that had something to do with Jehovah's people. There have been other huge empires in history (the Mongol empire was had the biggest extension ever, the Spanish empire, and so on) but they are not in the image because they didn't have anything to do with Jehovah's people. 

 

In the past our publications understood the 7th power came into existence in 1763 when the UK took over most French and Spanish possessions in North America as a result of the Seven Year's War and became the foremost commercial power of the world. Yet more recently that view was adjusted, since at that time there was no Jehovah's organization on earth that empire could interact with. That understanding was improved in 2012. It was understood that only at World War I the US and Great Britain started to cooperate as a world power. Besides, it was at that time that they opposed Jehovah's people and caused them trouble.

 

I agree the dates are not really relevant as they don't indicate anything about the closeness of the end. But I think it's an interesting detail to share.